Thatday,itwasbusinessasusuatDream-maker’sBakery.Buttheyweresoshort-haheywereonlywhatwasontheshelvesandwouldnotreplenishthestock.TheonlyoneinfronttakingcareofbusinesswasAmalia.Bynoontimeeverythinghadbeensold.ThedoorwasclosedandAmaliasatbythetertingthecash.Shediditoverandain,butthesumtotalnevercameoutthesame.Thatistosay,hertingwasnevercorrect.ButAmaliadidomindandyjustsittingtheretingmoherestofthestaffwerebusyattheback,wtoexhaustionwithperspiratioingtheirclothesbecausetheWorldBankferencewasscheduledforthedayandallproductsforthemeetingmustbefiheendoftheday.DimitrihadbeentrainingRichardandJamazallweekonhowtoworktheovewomayseemiandckadaisicalmostofthetime,theystepuptothepteandreallydeliveratcriticaljunctures.Then,theirasareswiftandeffit,muitri’sgratification.Theyhadanothererrand–delivery.Whentheproductswerebakedandpackedintoboxes,thetwoofthemwouldcarrythemtoRichard’sdipidatedtrureagWorldBank,theywoulddelivertheboxestotheemployee’scafeteria.Whentheywereoutdeliveringgoods,MarkandLavernewouldtakeoverthetendingoftheoven.Markwasretardedandcouldnotworkindepely,buthewasstrongasanox.WithLavernebyhissidetohelpanddirecthim,heworkedonhappily.Marawasthenewer,butYokotookherinhandandshebecamequiteapetentworker.Thenimblefingerswhichseticallypyedtheguitarwerejustaslivelyatwork.NottingDimitri,SheiandMarywerethetwoskilledpastrychefsintheworkroomandtheyusedboththeirbrainsandtheirhands,usingtheirpotentialphysicalfunstothemaximufterwork,SamanthaandMegginnalsocametohelpinaspiritofcamaraderie,neverfeelingthattheirpresentpositionofpresidentandvice-presidentofWorldBankmadethemsuperiorinanywaytotheothers.Assoonastheycamein,theywoulddonanapronadoithano-nonseitude.Timewentbyhourafterhour.Amaliawouldsometimesein,butiyshecausedmoremischiefthanhelp.Insustances,Dimitriwouldeoveranddivertherattentionelsewhere.Whentimewasoftheessenceeveryminutereciousandnottobewasted.Amaliaseemediedintakingdessertfromthebakiandpagthemintoboxes.Butherattentionspanwasshortandsoonshewouldwanderbacktothefrontandstarttingmoneyagain.Nightfell.Dimitrisawthat90%oftheprojectwasdone,soheletoutasighofreliefandrexedhistensemuscles.Themoodintheworkshopalsobegantoeasedownabitandentsandughterwasonceagainheard.Someoartedhumming.
Twht,powerfulheadlightsswungacrossthepavementandahalf-oldtaxicameoutoftheparkinglotstructurewhereOliverKaffee,theardentandfanaticalcarlover,usedtohaveexclusiverightsto.Therehestoredhismanyexpensivesportscar,sedansandSUVs.Amongthosehigh-priame-brandowparkedtwohalf-oldtaxicars,especiallyboughtfortheuseofMegginnandSamantha,thepresidentandvice-presidentofWorldBank.Sometimes,whentheywereoutonpersonalerrands,orwhentheywenttomeetDimitriorothermemberssotheKingdomofDreams,theywoulddisguisethemselvesanddrivetheseinspicuousrentalcarsioavoidrousingunwaention.NowSamanthadroveoutwithherkangacappulledlowdownonherforeheadandwearingapairofold,goofygssesthatcoveredhalfherface.Thosebeautiful,bewitgeyesbehindthelensesseemeddulndlistless.ShestoppedbythesecurityguardcheckpointandhegaveheraknowingsmileandmadeaVsignwithhisfingers.Samanthanoddedheraowledgementandquicklydroveaway.ShehadtalkeditoverwithMegginn.TheyagreedsheshouldgofirstatheBakeryandMegginnwouldeassoonasthepreparatorymeetingeheyheardthatthelong-lostMarahadbeenfoundandtherewastobeawelepartyforheraftertheworkwasdoneifeverythismoothly.WorldBankwasnotfarfromtheBakery,onlyabout10-15minutesawaybycar.SamanthadrovepastthekeandfromadistanceawayshecouldseeRichardandJamazloadingboxesontoRichard’sdipidatedtruck.HedidnotstartthecarimmediatelybuttookouttwobottlesofbearandgaveooJamaz.Theytwistedopenthelidanddrankamouthful.Theookoutacigarette,lighteditandstoodbythetrunkcoollysmokinganddrinking.Samanthakhenthateverythingwasgoingsmoothlyandtheyevenhadfihework.RichardandJamazalsosawSamanthacrossireetfromtheoppositeside,wearingfadedbluejeansandadenimjacket.Theclotheswereloosefittingandfortable,butcouldnothideherslenderwaistandfabulousfigure.Samanthawavedtothemandsaid,
“Hi!Goodevening.Howareyou?Howarethingsgoing?”
“Everything’sOK”repliedRichard.“Thisisthestdeliveryandthenwe’llbedoheyareallinthereingup.”
“Thatfast?It’snoteven8o’clockyet!Imustgoinandhelporit’llbetoote.”Sayingso,shewalkedthroughthebackdoor.RichardandJamazfiheirbeer,steppedontheircigarettebuttandstartedupthetruaketheirstdelivery.
SamanthacrossedthebackyardintotheworkroomandsawMarkingahuge,clumsybucketusedformixingdough.Lavernewashosingdownthekneadingboardsandtheremnantflour,butter,creamandothermaterialsdroppedonthefloor.Dimitriwasscrappingandingtheboardswithabrush.YokoandMarcelweremoppingthefloor.WhereverLaverne’shosewent,theyfollowedwiththeirmops.MaryandSheiwerewashingdirtytoolsandinstrumentsinwarmwater.Thiswasnotaaskastheywereallstidoilywithbutter,creamanddoughandcouldonlybeedater.Samanthawalkedinsaying,
“Sorrytobete.Sorry.You’veallbeenwhard.Letmehelp.I’mte.”Sayingso,shetookoffherkangadgoofygsses,rolleduphersleevesandpreparedtohelpwiththework.
“Isthatyou,Samantha?”askedDimitri.“We’realmostdonehere.Whydon’tyougointothekitauptheesetake-outsthatweorderedinthemicrowaveoven?Wehaveien,friedridoodstuff.We’vebeenwnon-stopalldaytomeetthedead-lineandhaven’thadtimetostopaadetmeal.Alsoutthegoodwiheback;we’llhaveapartytowelaraback.”
“OK.Noproblem”shesaidandwalkedtowardsthekit.SoonMegginnalsohurriedinsaying,
“Sorry.Sorry.I’mte.”Shetookoffhercap,releasingamassofgoldenhair,keptinpcebyahairband.DimitrikwasMegginnandasked,
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