The Dream Weaver by Reina Luz Alegre

Author:Reina Luz Alegre
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2020-06-22T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

The team played for another three hours before Zoey spotted Toni-Ann heading briskly to the exit. Zoey hadn’t even realized she was there.

“I’ll be right back,” Zoey told Patrick, and ran after Toni-Ann.

“Toni-Ann! Hi! Did you come to see José? He’s at the dentist, but he’ll be back soon. Maybe you could talk to Poppy now?”

Toni-Ann frowned. “I just talked to him. Sorry, Zoey. Your Poppy said he doesn’t want the Triple Threat Chicken Café to supply food to the arcade.”

“What? Why?”

“He didn’t say why. Only that he appreciated the offer, but it wasn’t necessary because the arcade has its own kitchen on site.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense!” Zoey exclaimed, swallowing down the lump that had suddenly formed at the back of her throat. “What is Poppy thinking? Everything in that kitchen is broken. We can’t use it to cook lunch for customers.”

Toni-Ann gave Zoey a sympathetic smile. “I don’t know. And I’m sorry it didn’t work out. I know you were really hoping for a partnership. But I gotta run. My shift starts in ten minutes. Let José know I stopped by, okay?”

Zoey nodded, frustrated, and watched Toni-Ann walk out the door with yet another of Zoey’s plans for saving Gonzo’s that Poppy had rejected.

What was wrong with her grandfather?

Angry, Zoey ran to the broom closet he used as an office at the back of the bowling alley.

“Poppy! We have to talk!”

Poppy sat at his desk and glanced up from the computer at Zoey. His reading glasses slid down his nose.

“¿Qué pasa mija?”

“I think you’re making a big mistake saying no to Toni-Ann. We might be able to get a lot more customers if we offer them lunch, and the Triple Threat Chicken Café’s sandwiches are legendary on the boardwalk.”

Poppy sighed heavily.

“I had a feeling you sent her to talk to me.” He shook his head sadly and went back to typing. “I thought we talk about this the other night when you try to clean the lanes with hand soap, eh? I want you to relax, my little jefa, to enjoy being a kid. But you are so much like your mami. Always wanting to help.”

“Then let me help!” Zoey said.

“Zoey, we cannot just change everything now. Don’t you remember how Abuela used to make the menu every week? The restaurant side of the business was her dream, and she cooked food so delicious. We were the only bowling alley in Jersey that sell frijoles negros and plátanitos fritos.” His eyes warmed with the memory, then misted. He took off his glasses and wiped them on his shirt hem.

“I always hope your mami would move back and take over the café,” Poppy said. “And then one summer when you visited, I can tell she seriously consider the offer for the first time. Your father just had something else fall through and she needed the work. But she want to bring new foods here, from culinary school and being on the road. She no respect the past and Abuela’s vision.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.