The numbers swam in front of Kate’s eyes; offering further proof that her flunking Economics three times wasn’t a fluke.
She closed her eyes and opened them again. Nope, might as well be in Greek. She had no idea where to put the costs for things like equipment, rent and that light pink neon sign she just wanted to hang while she baked. Her dream only consisted of selling little delectable slices of heaven that made her the belle of every bake sale and the envy of every other mother on the block.
Instead, she was lost in the rows of numbers that never matched her projected estimates. What the hell were projected estimates anyway?
Kate put the pencil down and rubbed her eyes. Zach wandered into the kitchen banging two plastic drum sticks together.
“Hi Mommy” his little voice squeaked over the slap of plastic.
“Hi baby.” She answered, sighing and picking up the pencil, her fingers hovering over the calculator.
“Whatcha doin?”
“I’m…” Kate’s voice trailed off as her eyes scanned all the spreadsheets, bundled receipts and boxes of business cards with “Kate’s Kupcakes” written in hot pink cursive. Picking one up she ran the ridge of her thumb over the raised K’s and smiled. They were so pretty, the design all her own come to life and sitting right here in her own kitchen, but they couldn’t be handed out until she dealt with all this other shit.
“Mommy?” Zach had come over to her and was trying to crawl into her lap.
Laughing she pulled him up and settled him on , “what’s up little man?” she said as she pressed kisses into his hairline.
“I wanna know what’s you’re doin.”
“Oh,I’m just trying to figure out a way to be able to bake my cupcakes and have people buy them without having to do any yucky business stuff “she said squishing up her face to make Zach giggle.
“Why don’t you just ask Daddy?”
Kate sighed, “Daddy is just as bad with this stuff as Mommy.”
“Oh.” His little eyes squinting. “Hey Mommy? Ask Auntie Charlotte!”
Twisting her mouth into a knot, she picked up her phone. “Zach, you are such a smart little boy.”
“I know!” he called as he scooted off her lap.
Kate studied her cuticles as she waited for the phone to ring. Once, Twice, Three…
“Hi Katie!” Charlotte panted.
“Bad time?”
“No!Nope.” she answered, “I just had to ummmm run to get the phone.”
“Company?” Kate’s voice teased.
“Afternoon delight” Charlotte whispered.
Kate giggled.
“So what’s up?”
Kate took a deep breath, “Well remember how I said that I didn’t want you to be my business manager because it would ruin our friendship?”
“Mm-hmm”
“Well I might be ready to reconsider.”
“It’s the projected estimates isn’t it?”
“How did you know?” Kate laughed.
“I told you your baking would lead eventually lead to sweet retribution.”
This week we asked you to write about a time you or one of your main characters had to repay a debt. The debt can be legal, like sending taxes to the government or paying off a credit card, or it can be something promised in a back room deal, sealed by a handshake more binding than a written contract.
For more of Kate & Charlotte you can read their stories GATHERING BUTTERCUPS
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I can SO relate to Kate! I swear, numbers confuse me so much they seem to move around on the paper. I could never start a business w/o a partner who could handle that side of things!
This made me smile. Economics was about the only class I got straight A’s in, and I struggled in projections and statistics in maths.
I’d totally give you a cupcake for this! My only concrit is totally a personal taste one I think. For some reason that last line seems like it came from left field for me. I would have liked to see something along the lines of “Because I projected it”
I absolutely loved the description of her workspace and how her frustration played with the scene. Well done!
Gah! That’s why I never tried to go into business for myself… well… besides writing. Overhead? Estimates? Bah!
And little Zach. Cutie.
I hate numbers. Bane of my existence. Love how you worked paying a debt into this.
you got a new AVI, I LOVE IT!!! me too, I hate numbers..this is how Kate is a little like me.
The nuance of the economics of the business was very well done. You took what coudl have been a mundane part of this great story and made it central to the plot and very interesting. I hung on every word.
loved it
I could just “see” Zach in this scene; I love that he’s coming alive the way he is
In the paragraph where she’s looking at her business cards, you use “pretty” twice. That gave me a slight hitch in the flow of the piece. Otherwise it flowed so smoothly, so I wanted to mention that.
And now I want a cupcake
Clever ending. Your story lead full circle from title to last line.
I enjoyed it.