SHORTS FROM THE SHELF features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, administrator of SHANNON MUIR’S THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. The story line featured currently is “Blacke and Nu Beginnings,”  that will appear on Saturdays and Sundays over the next several weekends, and then a special daily run from March 21st to March 27th, 2020. This is Part Two.

When Saundra came out of the kitchen closer to close, Cait still held her post, but worn down and exhausted. She’d gotten all the proper food handler permits to fill in for emergencies or backup, but usually Saundra tried to work it out so Cait worked the less stressful periods. Today must have been pretty brutal.

“Any sign of the guy that called for the gluten-free cupcakes?” Saundra asked Cait.

Cait shrugged, though could barely hold up her arms.

“He may have passed right by me for all I know. This place is a madhouse. How do you survive?”

“I’m used to thinking fast on my feet. I would have thought your attention to detail would help you keep up.”

“It’s one thing to keep it all in your mind, especially when I’m distracted about Vallie. The body keeping up, is something else. You must get practice having to juggle two kids.”

Saundra laughed.

“Perhaps you’re right.”

Then she looked and the clock.

“And perhaps that was just a prank caller. I guess I’ll just buy the cupcakes and feed them to my son. But I have no idea why someone would want to prank call ordering something like that.”

Saundra headed to the door to change the open sign to closed.

Just as she reached for the sign, the door flew open and knocked her to the ground.