"You," declared the teen definitively, "are either crazy or stupid."
"Stupid," said Kyara, "but you shouldn't say so. I'm both your elder, and your boss."
"Sorry, Ms. B. I was drunk on cheese and cornbread."
"Apology accepted. I take it you think it'd sell okay, then?"
Crystal just nodded, and took a bite from a drumstick. Kyara felt an invisible weight begin to lift from her shoulders.
"Alright then. The only problem is going to be changing direction mid-stream, I guess."
Crystal turned this idea over as she ate, still trying each and every dish.
"Do you think you could make all this again?" asked Crystal.
"Of course," replied Kyara.
"Then I have an idea. Make a pile of your best stuff for tomorrow at lunch. Let me do the rest." Crystal looked triumphant, then horrified.
"Wait. You have your date tomorrow morning. You can't cancel that. We'll have to do it Friday."
"The date's off," Kyara said softly. "I canceled it. We can go through with this plan of yours tomorrow."
Crystal looked stricken.
"What happened?" the girl gasped, teenage melodrama heightening the situation to new levels. "Women have been chasing him since, like, the dark ages. And you broke up with him before you even went out? Why?"
Kyara shrugged.
"I really don't want to discuss it. Can we just focus on the food, please?"
Politeness warred with curiosity on Crystal's face, but politeness won out.
"Alright," allowed the teen at last. "But make sure there's more of this cornbread."
She really is a good kid, Kyara thought, getting ready to go back in the kitchen for the dinner shift. If only everyone in this town were as genuine as she is.
The next afternoon Kyara waited impatiently in the kitchen with a buffet of soul food spread before her. The fried chicken, mac n' cheese, ham, and cornbread were back. To that, she'd added a meatloaf, a slew of fried vegetables, fried crawfish, Cajun fries, and ribs.
She just hoped she hadn't made too much, or the leftovers were going to kill her.
Crystal was acting like a five year old with a surprise birthday party planned. She kept going between the kitchen and the dining area, giggling to herself as she did.
Each time, she brought out more food, returning with an empty tray. Vaguely, Kyara heard some exclamation from the dining area, but she had been warned to stay away.
Crystal had strictly forbidden Kyara from making an appearance or even peeking out there until she was called for, and Kyara was prepared to indulge her.
That, or I'm just terrified that this won't work either, Kyara admitted to herself.
Finally, after what seemed like ages, Crystal came back in, her eyes sparkling. She held up a single finger to her lips, warning Kyara to keep quiet, then gestured for her to come closer to the door to listen.
Through the door, she heard the voices of Kyara's friends, all muffled by mouths full of food.
"Holy shit, have you tried this cornbread?"
"Naw, I don't like cornbread."
"Dude, you have to try this. It's not like your mom's at all."