Bistro Belle was a tiny quaint cafe managed by Anna. It had been 2 years since Anna opened the cafe instead of working as a Math teacher at the town’s Elementary school. Everyone had told her it was a terrible idea to become a business owner at such a young age. But Anna knew this was her passion and 2 Christmases ago, she opened Bistro Belle with great success.
Anna looked at the new sparkly Mall across the street with fancy signs and so many cafes that her cafe looked drab next to it. Everyone wanted to drink Starbucks and eat from Dunkin Donuts, Bistro Belle was soon forgotten. The bell rang and she looked up hoping it was a customer but it was just Jenny returning after setting up the menu board outside. If she didn’t revive her business at the end of this year she would have to sell the cafe. Maybe I should have just been a Math teacher, Anna thought sadly.
MERRIN ABRAHAM
Merrin completed her Integrated MA in English Studies from IIT Madras. She is a storyteller, bibliomaniac and a lover of indie music who had a passion for the English language that she dedicated her childhood to reading Victorian literature. Besides drinking bitter coffee and analysing Asian media, she is trying to find a horror story worthy of the genre.
‘’Anna, are we doing something on Christmas Eve or for Christmas this year? If not I would like to ask for 2 days off to spend Christmas with my family.’’ Jenny looked at boss expectantly, hoping she would say yes instead of making them work on a holiday. Anna nodded, ‘’Sure Jenny. It’s Christmas. Do tell the others that they can take those 2 days off too.’’ Jenny’s eyes lit up and she rushed off to tell her colleagues the good news. Anna stared at her Christmas plan for the cafe – BISTRO BELLE’S CHRISTMAS BUFFET. She crumpled the paper and got up to finish her tasks for the morning.
Christmas Eve was inching closer and Anna looked sadder with each passing day. She decided to have a tiny Christmas buffet with 1-2 items since she had no help to prepare a whole buffet. She finalized on Spritz cookies, plum cake and a chicken pie. On the morning of the 24th she set to work preparing what was needed for that evening. She whipped up the cookie batter, prepared the cake batter and marinated the chicken for the pie. While she was decorating the spritz cookies she heard the bell jingle and looked up to see Jenny walking in. ‘’Jenny! What are you doing here? You can take the day off, remember?’’
‘’Were you planning on cooking all these dishes by yourself for the Christmas buffet?’’ Jenny showed her the paper she had crumpled and left behind a few days ago. Anna was so surprised that she stood there speechless. ‘’Well come on then. Let’s get cooking. Don’t worry about my holiday. I would have been busy cooking and baking at home nonetheless. It makes no difference if I do it here or at home. By the way, my family will be baking the turkey for the buffet, so don’t worry about that.’’
Anna finally snapped out of her shock and asked, ‘’What do you mean your family will bring the turkey???’’ Jenny smiled and said, ‘’I know you’ve been feeling sad about the Bistro not getting enough customers, and we only have a few regulars. So, I talked to a few friends, my family, and our regulars and we decided to help you with the Christmas Buffet. What do you think?’’
Anna was overwhelmed but equally happy to know that there were people out there who cared for the Bistro as much as she did. They got to work immediately and soon people started streaming in offering to help in different ways – decorating the space, shoveling the snow, buying ingredients, setting the table, arranging the cutlery. By 7PM Bistro Belle’s Christmas Buffet was ready to be served. Anna looked at each dish on the table, made with love for this very occasion. Tearful, she cleared her throat and caught everyone’s attention.
‘’I don’t know how to thank all of you for coming in to help us prepare this buffet. I was ready to open the Bistro with just a few cookies, a cake and a pie. But all of you cooked and baked and made this delicious spread. Thank you so much for making this Christmas the best Christmas in my life. We are ready to open so let’s all have a great time. Thank you once again.’’
Bistro Belle’s Christmas Buffet was so successful that it became a yearly tradition to gather together and cook, enjoying each other’s company and all the delicious food.
