Catchy pop music was playing in the background as many of the customers have already taken their seats. Some were still standing up to read the menu board while others were lined up to win a prize at the claw machine. It was totally packed, but this was way too much to handle since it was only the three of them! Amy could only stand there with widened eyes, overwhelmed at the sight. Cream was feeling the same way, hiding behind the taller pink hedgehog with worried eyes. Big was standing behind the two girls, definitely taking it harder than them and said, "There's too many of them! Let's go home..."
What were they going to do?
Amy might have been clueless, but she knew going home wasn't the answer! As the leader of Team Rose and the creator of the café, she had to reject that idea on the spot! Turning around to face him, she says, "No way, Big! We can't just leave everyone here hanging! Come on! Let's work together and serve as many people as we can! We got a business to run!"
"But, how...?" asked Cream, looking up at her determined friend. She couldn't really picture being fast enough to do that, but she was willing to listen.
"I'm not exactly sure, but we have to try!" said Amy, not letting anything change her mind. "Here's the plan! Big, you're going to help me go to each table and write down those orders! Cream, you help your mom cook a lot at home, so I'm leaving the cooking to you!"
Was this really a good idea? Amy at least had Big to help her out, but Cream will have to prepare all those orders by herself! Amy seemed to have forgotten that she's only six, and her mom was still doing most of the cooking. Poor Cream!
"Wh...what? Amy, I don't think I-"
As the little rabbit tried to speak up, Amy was ready to get moving and gave a positive, "Let's go!"
"OK!" said Big with a nod. He then said to the green frog on his right shoulder, "Let's do our best, Froggy."
"Wait! I...!"
Cream tried again, but the two already went off to work. After a sigh, Cream went to the kitchen which was located in the back of the café. She was so worried. She really wanted to finish what she had to say. Cheese and Chocola sympathized with her as they fluttered along.
"Chao..." Cheese could only sadly say.
As Cream waited for the upcoming orders, Amy, of course, was in a total rush! She wrote down orders with speed on a notepad, sweating to get to the next table and then the next. She had so much on her plate, but she got into the role of being a waitress pretty well! But she did make some beginner mistakes and had to redo some of the orders.
"Medium fries with a strawberry milkshake? Coming right up!" said Amy as she departed from the table. But the girl who ordered the fries and milkshake called her back and corrected her. She wanted a blueberry milkshake.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I'll change that right away!"
Crossing out "1 Strawberry Milkshake" and writing underneath, "1 Blueberry Milkshake", Amy went to the next table.
Big, on the other hand...
"So... You wanted a burger without the tomato?" he asked for the 50th time to a customer. The customer, who seemed to be a spaniel dog in her late teen years was fed up with Big's slow, inaccurate service. And she should be. That's a lot of times to be repeating yourself!
"No! I said I wanted a burger without the tomato AND the pickles! I want a small salad! No fries!"
"...OK. So, one burger...without the tomato...pickles...onions..."
"KEEP the onions!"
"Sorry!" Big said, putting "onions" back on the list and repeats, "I have one burger without the tomato and pickles."
There was hope! The dog was so glad he finally got it right and said, "Yes! That's right!"
"I will also be back with your fries and salad."
...Maybe not.
"I said no fries! Ugh, can I speak with your manager!?"
"M-My manager? Um, OK..."
That didn't sound like good news to Big at all. But he went to find Amy and found her laughing and having a good time at a table of four. All at the same time, she was jotting down their orders.
"Um, Amy? Do you have a moment?"
"Huh?" she turned around and saw Big standing behind her, "Oh, hey Big! I don't have much time to chat, but what's up?"
"A doggy customer on Table... Um... I forgot what table, but she wants to speak to the manager. So, I came to find you."
Her first call as a manager! Could it be a positive review of her café? Did the customer want to meet her because of the wonderful experience? Or, did something bad happen? She hoped it wasn't the latter part. Only one way to find out, and that's by going. But how can she go if he forgot what table!? If they searched together, it would take up time, so Amy decided to look by herself.
"Uhhh, I'll go find that table! Here, take these orders to Cream!" said Amy, quickly giving him her notepad before heading off. Big did as he was told and went to the kitchen.
When he walked inside, he saw Cream softly crying to herself with both hands covering her face. Surprised to see her so sad, he wondered what happened? He didn't want her to cry. Forgetting all about the orders, he approached her to ask, "What's wrong? Don't cry, cute rabbit."
After a few sniffles, she responds, "I...really don't know if I can do this... I don't know what to do, Mr. Big... Amy trusted me..."
"Trusted you...? ...Oh, do you mean the cooking?"
"*sniffle* Yes..."
At that moment, Big realized that cooking for a lot of people by yourself, especially someone her age, was going to be a lot of work. Coming to this realization, he had an idea that would make a difference!
"Don't worry!" began Big with a smile, "Amy said we have to work together, and I'm going to help you!"
"Are...you sure? Didn't Amy tell you to take orders...?"
Big nodded and said, "Mhmm. But, it'll be fine. I don't think I'm very good at taking orders, to be honest. I get confused..."
Cream was so happy and relieved! Her tears came to a stop and smiled up at him, "Thank you so much, Mr. Big! I feel much better now."
Cheese and Chocola were happy, too! The twins danced and cheered in the air, "Chao Chao!"
Meanwhile, Amy was muttering to herself about how inconvenient Big made her search. She kept going to tables where dogs of all kinds were seated, but none of them said they requested her. If only Big didn't forget that table number. It took a bit, but her search soon came to end as she finally found the table!
"Hi! I'm the manager of Café Team Rose! Did you ask for me?" she asked the spaniel sitting there.
"Yeah! I was wondering where you were! I was starting to think that dumb employee of yours couldn't even do THAT right..."
"Hahaha! Yeah, here I am! What can I-?"
Wait a minute. Amy just realized something. Did she just say, "dumb employee"? What did she mean by, "couldn't even do that right?" That could only mean one thing. Big made this customer, apparently, very upset. "Um, I'm sorry, but is there a problem here, ma'am?"
"Of course there is!" the spaniel snapped, "I kept asking over and over and over again for a few things, and that fat cat just won't listen to me! I lost count how many times he had to correct my order!"
Either she's just really displeased with the service or she's just really unfriendly overall. Probably both. Regardless of which, Amy had to keep it professional and calm her down. "V-Very sorry, ma'am! Um, how about a discount on your meal today?"
Angrily getting up from her chair, she says, "No thanks! I won't be back! Just take care of him before someone else has to put up with him!"
"Waaaait!" Amy called out to the leaving customer. After taking a few more steps to chase after the spaniel, Amy came to a stop. There was nothing she could do but to just watch her go. Unless, she was willing to pay the price and look desperate by continuing the chase. Now Amy was boiling with anger! She had a thing or two to say to Big, and it won't be pretty.
Stomping in her red boots towards the kitchen, Amy stormed in and yelled, "BIIIIG!"
Amy's outburst startled both Big and Cream! Things couldn't get any worse for the new manager, but it did! The kitchen was a total mess for some reason! What happened!? Since Cream was in charge of the kitchen, she immediately wanted an explanation from her. "OK Cream, why is it a mess in here!?"
"Oh Amy, it was awful!" Cream began as she was wiping up the spilled milkshake on the countertop with a damped towel, "I had the blueberry milkshake ready, but Cheese and Chocola were playing and accidentally knocked it over!"
"Don't blame the cute rabbit! I knocked over things, too!" Big added, nervously sweeping up the shattered glass that came from plates and cups with a broom. Realizing Froggy wasn't on his shoulder anymore, he paused his cleaning to say, "Where's Froggy!?"
Amy could only think of 6 words. You've got to be kidding me.
To be continued! Team Rose will be right back!