Burnt Froyo

Chapter 1:

Plain vanilla with sprinkles…along with a dollop of fresh vibrant strawberries on top. The perfect solution to a sweltering summer day in south Texas. Of course, there were many other options, a pinch of tart lemon and a swirl of vanilla was also mouthwatering. Simple…but so incredibly mouthwatering. There was no ounce of sugar spared in its creation. As she watched her manager, Bert Vanders prance, around the shop, his belly flopped over his worn Wrangler jeans, a thought reoccurred to her. “I have been here for 5 years…5 birthdays and 5 Christmases.”

Bert was incredibly light on his feet for his size. His energy was unmatched until the hours of 3:00p.m, because of an imminent sugar crash.

She looked at the huge cup of frozen yogurt and her stomach lurched. The sweetness of the froyo was suddenly tinged with bitterness.

How could this happen to me? She thought. How could this happen to Mary Parks?

She had played life by the book, followed the rules, worked ambitiously through years of college and this was the result? Mary Parks, Queen of “Forever Froyo”, standing in all her glory.

She smiled as Bert passed her a silver pin, with the words “Forever Froyo” etched upon it. There was a black gift card sitting on the circular table, which gave her access to endless froyo for a year.

The gift card was a plus to the measly $0.50 raise Mr. Vanders had given her. She had blended up endless concoctions, created advertisements and she had finally earned the title of “Assistant Manager” last year...but it all felt like nothing. It felt like spilt froyo…unwanted and a complete waste.

“Mary…can you believe it?” Bert’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

“No, I can’t.” She shifted uncomfortably as her honey brown eyes darted between the few employees in the celebration.

Henry Vargas was busy on his phone, no doubt playing the latest and mindless role-playing game. A black baseball cap covered his red hair, and he was chewing erratically on a piece of stale gum. He would speed out of here as soon as his shift was over, reveling in the opportunities summer offered a young man.

Elouise Blark had a genuine and congratulatory smile on her lips. Her brown hair held hints of blonde, which brightened up her symmetrical oval face. She was 27 years old and married to an electrician named Joe. She was only 18 years old, when they said their I do's, Joe was nearing 30.

From an outsider’s perspective, she would have appeared perky, optimistic, and attractive, however due to her consistent quips about the state of her marriage, there was a sense of melancholy to her personality.She believed she had the wisdom of a guidance counselor, offering her advice whether or not it was wanted.

Sammy Thomlin however, seemed more invested in the small cake on the table, which was covered in multicolored confetti. Her round chubby face avoided all eyes, as she twisted a piece of her curly brown hair around her finger in anticipation.

“Thank you…all of you.” She spoke, grabbing the cup of water sitting on the table. “It means a lot…”

“Was that convincing enough?” She thought.

There was only so much a smile could hide, and despite her completing this action, there was no truth in it.

“Of course, Mary!” Bert grinned.

Henry yawned, tapping his finger impatiently against his thigh while Sammy was almost salivating.

“Well don’t make us wait all day!” Bert smiled; his hands already wrapped around a cup of chocolate froyo. “Oh, waiting wouldn’t hurt you at all, Mr. Sunshine...”

She cut into the vanilla cake with a steady hand, watching as the confetti fell carelessly upon the white cardboard beneath it. It was as festive as any birthday cake. She placed pieces of cake onto golden hued plates. Sammy watched her intently, grabbing a plate and scarfing the cake down without a second thought.

She then moved over to a random frozen yogurt machine, sending globs of the substance down onto the empty plate. Sammy was usually quiet until she had sudden thoughts of genius. Mary was certain her employment was only for the two free cups of froyo a day they were allowed.

She took a bite of frosted cake and her taste buds soared, silencing the negative emotions that plagued her.

“Can you believe Joe doesn’t like frozen yogurt?” Elouise turned towards her, wiping her lips with a napkin. “What kind of person doesn’t like frozen yogurt?

“Man’s dead inside for sure.” Henry grinned, biting into a piece of cake ferociously. As “Forever Froyo’s” youngest employee, he had a knack for speaking his mind without an ounce of remorse.

“See Mary…he just may be…” Elouise placed her fingertips on her chin.

Mary took another bite of cake, watching the scene play out in a sugar induced bliss. “Joe hates ice cream too, right? Also, anything that contains sugar and joy?”

Elouise raised her eyebrows. “My words exactly.”

“Well, try being married to a hater of joy…” she muttered.

She gave Elouise a smile before grabbing a cup and filling it with vanilla froyo. As she dug the spoon into the creamy confection, her mood continued to lift. She was almost to the moon when Bert tapped on her shoulder.

“We hope to have you here for 5 more, Mary.” Bert grinned.

“5 more huh…” She gulped down a few more spoonful's. “5 more? The rest of my thirties…” “Was this what the end looked like? Trapped within a hopeless job with substantial health benefits that I don’t even use?” She thought.

“I…like to take things day by day…” she spoke.

“I was thinking…you should make a flavor of your own…we could make it the special of the week...”

“A flavor of my own?” She smiled, her mood slowly lifting.

The yearning to create new culinary creations had always been a passion of Mary’s. In her spare time, she would test flavor combinations, combining vanilla with lemon, mint with orange, cherry with cinnamon…until she found that special combination that made her taste buds sore. When she looked at Bert’s beaming smile, she suddenly saw a second chance.

“I don’t see why not.”

For the first time in the while, she felt a sense of excitement course through her veins. After all these years, she had finally taken the reins on something. Who cares if it was just a froyo flavor? It would be her creation, her vision.

“When do you need it?” She stuttered, her mind scurrying to the possibilities.

“Next week if you can…we’ll see how it sells…if it’s good of course…but I expect nothing less from you.” Bert gave her a smile as he practically pranced to the other section of the shop, with only 5 minutes until opening he could not contain his enthusiasm.

Sammy was now licking her bowl clean, looking completely content before pulling out a stick of gum from her back pocket.

Mint? Lemon? Chocolate covered lemon. No...no that’s not right. She thought.

“Remember guys, smile, service, and chill out! Flavor of the week is the “Vanilla Raspberry!” Bert spoke, picking up a few towels and wiping some spotless table down.

Elouise loved to repeat “Forever Froyo’s” slogan in her own special version. “Smile, service and get out!” she would speak under her breath.

“Mary how about you leave early today? Get started on that flavor huh?” Bert suggested.

Mary beamed, suddenly aware of the way the sunlight sparkled on the pristine floor.

“Elouise you’re in charge of the toppings today, keep em fresh! Henry…well…Henry keep the floors clean. “Mary work the blender and keep the froyo fresh!”

“Is it alright if I work the register today?” She asked. The day passed by faster behind the register and usually people were in a good mood here, but her main reason for the swap was to watch what flavors customers were buying. It was a peek inside the most popular flavors and a dose of inspiration.

“If Sammy is okay with a trade…”

Sammy grinned. “Not a problem…however…”

“Sammy if an ounce of yogurt mix is missing it’s coming out of your paycheck.” Bert frowned.

Sammy’s shoulders heaved as she looked down at the pristine tile floor attempting to hide her disappointment.

“Energy up everybody!’ Bert shouted as he unlocked the front doors and turned on the neon “OPEN” sign before prancing back to his office.