Cassandra had the cab driver drop her off at The Palace Diner. Tired, she deposited her shopping bags onto the padded red bench and sank down next to them.
“Any specials today?” she asked, in the mood for something different.
“The chef is making jambalaya. It’s not on the menu.” Khean said. She nodded. “Cornbread?” He asked. She nodded again. He poured her a cup of coffee. “Good memory,” she said.
“Hey, Cal,” Khean walked into the kitchen. “I sold a batch of your jambalaya experiment. You can see if real people like it!”
“Oh…okay,” Cal was surprised. How should he serve it? “Does the customer like spicy or mild, do you know?”
“Una blanquita,” Khean explained, then remembered the hot sauce. “Spicy.”
Cal nodded. “Hey, when did you start speaking English like Mateo?” Khean shrugged. “I told her you had cornbread too, Casper.” Khean grinned and Cal rolled his eyes.
Cassandra pulled her new outfits from her shopping bags. She’d selected mostly white for the effect in the club’s lighting. She raised her cup to Khean as signal for a refill and gazed out the window.
I’m getting too old for this, she sighed. But, the cash…. She liked to carry a month’s take with her. She could do what she wanted. She’d even been able to pay her cosmetology school in full, in advance.
Speaking of which, she sighed again. Her hair highlighting exam yesterday had been a disaster. She’d created knots in the model’s hair, dropped foils and was clumsy enough that her model stopped the procedure. The instructor was outraged. “We have our reputation to uphold!” He relegated her to assisting senior students for the next two weeks.
“We hope you will like the chef’s speciality,” Khean put her meal on the side of the table, away from the white clothes. “With freshly made cornbread.”
“That smells like heaven!” She tossed the clothes in a pile atop the bags. Inhaling the savory steam she gently stirred the sauce, releasing more of the rich aroma.
Cal watched in anticipation from the kitchen.
She skimmed the sauce and brought the spoon to her lips. Oh, wow. She tried the rice and sausage next. Then, the shrimp and tomato. She closed her eyes in concentration, trying to identify the herbs and spices. She sampled the onion and peppers next, and suddenly remembered the cornbread. This is just what I needed. Forgetting her manners she sopped up the juices with the cornbread, pieces splashing into the dish and staining her sleeve. Her hiccups sent Khean rushing over with water, but she didn’t put down her spoon.
“Delicious!” she managed to declare.
Cal broke into a smile that lit up his whole face.
_________
Here is Part 2: Cassandra – Part II
Here is Part 1: Cassandra
This is also: Sunrise at The Palace Diner, Scene 13
Here is the rest of the story (so far): Sunrise at The Palace Diner
_________
******
It’ll come as no surprise that I fancy some jambalaya now…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too, J! I haven’t had any in ages and love it. :).
LikeLiked by 1 person
What does she look like, or is that up to me?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent question, Kevin! She’s 5’6″ with a slender build, like a ballerina. She changes her hair frequently and right now it’s honey blonde. Her eyes are hazel and can look grey depending on the light.
I’ve omitted physical descriptions of characters in an effort to streamline and keep the stories at bite-sized easy reads. Physical traits are mentioned in upcoming posts, but maybe more is needed?
LikeLike
BTW – I was going to leave physical characteristics up to the reader, so the story can be more their own, but I think that works better in shorter stories.
LikeLike
I first wondered what she looked like when she was on stage (my inner pervert, needing a visual). I wanted to “see” her. Personally, I like to know physical characteristics, but that could be a case of my own limited imagination. There is certainly merit in letting the reader determine such things, too, like when a songwriter doesn’t divulge exactly what a song is about, letting the listener interpret it however he/she feels it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, yes! I made the decision to omit her physical description when she was on stage — except for tousled curls — so that she could belong to the reader. I also wanted her allure to be based on her personality, energy and charisma rather than at a purely physical level.
Very interesting point about a songwriter not divulging what a song is about… I tend to avoid listening to songwriters talk because I like to keep my own interpretations of songs.
LikeLike
I kind of pictured her as just an average looking girl, Not typical dancer/stripper with bleach blond hair and fake boobs. She relies on her personality, energy and charisma to get by in that profession, and she knows how.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that! You’re pretty much on the mark with what I had in mind… and she does, indeed, do very well in that profession even though (or, because?) she doesn’t have the typical stripper look.
LikeLike
That said, feel free to send me a more detailed physical description of her, next time she goes on stage! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! 🙂
LikeLike
Your writing is always so vivid. I loved the failed highlighting exam!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rob! The failed highlighting exam was really funny, even though she doesn’t think so. Maybe after a good hit meal and a BI of distance she’ll see the humor….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I need to catch up with everyone’s blogs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, me too! I’m sure I missed lots of good stuff the last few days!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 I’ve got to pull my head out of the election and get back to writing whatever that other stuff I write is…
I like to avoid the writing that hurts but that’s where the best stiff is…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha 🙂 You write lots of other stuff — fantastic stuff!
You are so right about that, Rob. The writing that hurts is definitely where the best stuff is… was it Hemingway who said there’s nothing to writing “all you have to do is sit at the typewriter and bleed”….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right. It’s a whole different frame of mind–Well I guess in my guess that’s more than true. I just have to let myself switch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it really is. Maybe in smaller doses and planned projects is easier to start…then build up to more time and depth, if you decide you want to….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to learn how to efficiently manage multiple social media accounts. This is probably where a published schedule comes in handy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A schedule will help a lot with multiple social media accounts. Try a master calendar to plan or outline all your social media posts and activity. Funny you mention this — I just reduced my social media to focus on a smaller number. I’d love to include Pinterest, for example, but quality would probably suffer. Hopefully I can do more in the future.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right. I also use different social media for different functions. Flickr used to be a main account but now it’s where I store images. I’ve learned to enjoy Twitter. WordPress has to remain the focus, I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That seems like a very good approach. I’ve started a twice-a-week post schedule on my blog. I started a couple of weeks ago and it’s the first time I’ve ever had a schedule. So far it seems good… there’s less spontaneity but the tradeoff might be worth it. A predictable schedule might be better for me as well as readers… we’ll find out! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I’ll try that too…growing pains. I’m grateful for them. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Growing pains are…painful! You’ve made so much from them already that I have no doubt they’ll be worth it and more for you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re an inspiration to many readers, Rob. It might help to keep that in mind when you’re struggling.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Danica. Most of my struggles are related to time management and consistency. It’s a kind of perfectionism that so many people struggle with, even those who are in good physical and emotional health.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“This is just what I needed”
Amen to that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those moments are grand, aren’t they?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cldn’t agree more! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I hope you enjoy something similar today, Brad! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you! You made my day, M. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Cassandra – Part IV – Living a Beautiful Life