The No Delay Cafe by Miller Chinle

Author:Miller, Chinle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Yellow Cat Publishing
Published: 2013-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

20

Bud sat at the kitchen table, trying his best to drink the smoothie Wilma Jean had just made for him. He had sipped it a bit and was now fiddling with the clicker in his pocket.

Wilma Jean came back into the kitchen and looked at his almost full glass, then said, “Hon, it’s really tasty. You just have to give it a chance.”

Bud replied, “But it’s green.”

Wilma Jean laughed. “Green is good. It’s full of antioxidants and stuff that’ll make you healthy.”

“What’s in it?” Bud asked, though he really didn’t want to know. He took another sip, trying not to gag. It was like drinking liquid alfalfa. He was glad he and Howie had managed yet another good solid dinner last night at the Cowboy Kitchen, and at least he wasn’t starving to death yet.

“I made it from all that stuff you brought home yesterday. Spinach, broccoli, and kale, and I threw in an apple to sweeten it up. I’ll use watermelon when they get ripe.”

“Oh, good, good,” Bud replied, “You on your way down to the cafe? I’m going to finish this yummy stuff all up, then get out to the farm.” He lifted the glass and pretended to drink.

She squeezed his shoulder and headed out the door, much to Bud’s relief, and he went over to the kitchen sink, starting to pour the smoothie out. Just then, she came back in. He quickly held the glass back up to his mouth as if still drinking, then said, “Almost done here, just gonna rinse out the glass and get going.”

Wilma Jean stopped and looked at him. “Bud Shumway, you better not pour that out after all the trouble I went to making it.”

“No, no, I would never pour something this good out, Hon, you know that.”

Bud was thinking he needed to become less predictable. Wilma Jean knew him too well.

She stood silently watching him until he finished the smoothie, then she left again. Bud rinsed out the glass, feeling kind of half sick. He wondered how something so good for you could taste so bad.

Just then, his phone rang.

Bud thought later, in his own defense, that he’d been in a bit of shock from trying to get the smoothie down and wasn’t thinking clearly, or he would’ve immediately tried to get more information from the caller.

“Yell-ow,” Bud answered.

“Is this Bud Shumway?”

It was a woman’s voice, one that sounded vaguely familiar.

“It is,” Bud answered. “What can I do for you?”

“Bud, this is Wanda from the No Delay Cafe. You remember me, don’t you?”

Bud was speechless. He finally managed to stammer, “Of...of course!”

“Well, I don’t know what to do. I’m calling you because you used to be sheriff, and I thought maybe you could give me some advice. Your deputy just doesn’t inspire confidence, or I’d call him instead.”

“I’ll help if I can, Wanda. What’s the problem?” Bud asked.

“Things are getting totally out of control. This wasn’t at all how I planned it to be, and now I don’t know how to deal with it.

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