Nathan: Once back inside JobTrain, we all rushed into the kitchen to prepare for lunch.
While everyone cooked their chosen recipes, I hurried out of the storage room carrying three cans of pie filling to one of the working stations.
"What, are ya planning to make three pies?" asked Eugene.
"All together in one." I replied.
Eugene looked at Rapunzel, then at me, and said. "Carry on."
With that said, and a little help from Pascal, I proceeded working on my ABC pie, which consisted of apple, blueberry, and cherry filling all stirred in together.
"Pick it up, people! We don't have much time!" Eugene said to the other chefs when it came close to lunch hour. "Get those lunches ready and outside on the double!"
"Yes, Chef!" replied the chefs.
"Oh, hey, chefy." Eugene greeted Chef Adam, who had just arrived with Bertha, then turned to the Stooges, saying. "Hey, don't do anything stupid with that soufflé, boys. We don't want another explosion, now, do we?"
"No, Chef." replied the Stooges.
Chef Adam and Bertha watched in amazement as we put the finishing touches on our dishes while hearing Eugene taking charge.
"Increíble*!" exclaimed Bertha.
"I couldn't agree more." said Chef Adam.
With only five mintues left until one o'clock, Rapunzel called out. "Come on, everybody! Let's hit those tables! Now, now, now! Go, go, go, go!"
"Yes, sous chef!" replied the chefs as they hurried out of the kitchen with their finished food.
Ham, on the other hand, was about to eat one of the burgers he made when Rapunzel added. "You too, Ham!"
"Going! I'm a-going!" said Ham, who ran out of the kitchen with his burgers.
While taking my ABC pie out of the oven, I looked at the back door, fearing that Gothel is out there.
Cautiously, I opened it, but instead of Gothel, it was Max, who was outside.
"Whew. I was hoping you'd be back in time." I said, feeling relieved. "Did you bring them?"
Max nodded his head yes.
"Good boy, Max." I said, giving him a pat on the head and another apple, which I had taken out of the fridge.
"Who did Max bring?" asked Rapunzel, whom I faced, only to shift my attention towards...Corona's King and Queen, who had just entered room 48.
"Uh...no one in particular." I fibbed, before making a dash to the classroom with my ABC pie.
"Nathan, wait." Rapunzel said, catching up with me. "Whatever's going on, you can tell me."
I looked at her, then said to...
"Max, make sure she doesn't come out of the kitchen."
Max saluted in response.
"Wait, why can't I come out?" asked Rapunzel.
I looked back at the King and Queen, who just sat down, then at Rapunzel, to whom I said. "Look, I'm not trying to be like your mother, but I promise I'll explain everything later...and put in a good word for you."
Rapunzel raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, if I promise something, would I ever break it?" I asked, then hurried outside to place my ABC pie on the table as Chef Adam said. "I couldn't be more proud of all of you. You've shown how you could work in the kitchen without Bertha and I watching over you every minute."
As he spoke, I noticed Pascal climbling up to my table, winking at me, then looked at Rapunzel, who only shrugged while producing a little smile, which I returned back.
"But most importantly," Chef Adam went on. "I'm proud of you, Eugene Fitzherbert. You've shown great leadership while taking charge of the kitchen."
Eugene and I looked at each other and smiled.
"Learned everything I know from the best, chef." said Eugene.
"And I'm so very glad you did." said Chef Adam. "Care to say a few words?"
"Well, there's not much to say, except..." Eugene said with a clap of his hands. "Let's eat!"
As always, the JobTrain staff gathered around, filling their plates with what we made, from Ham's burgers to the Stooges' soufflé.
As for my ABC pie, Pascal helped cut out a slice and carefully set it down on a plate, which I took over to the King and Queen.
"Sir? Ma'am? I understand what you've been going through and...I hope this would help brighten your day."
Upon seeing the plate with the slice of ABC pie, the King smiled a bit and took it from my hands, saying. "Thank you, young man."
I gave him a nod and backed away, saying. "Bon appetit."
The King stuck a fork into the pie slice and took a bite.
But upon doing so, he felt as if something came back to him.
The King, then, let his wife take a bite of the ABC pie.
Once the Queen did, the same thing happened to her.
Seeing that they liked my ABC pie, Eugene placed his hand on my shoulder, saying. "Well, Nate, I think you've just whipped up another culinary masterpiece."
Pascal agreed by giving me a thumbs up.
I smiled at both of them, then at my pie...
...which was put inside a to-go box, which I gave to the King, who said outside Room 48. "You know, it is often said that food can bring back the happiest of memories."
"Well, that's no surprise." said Eugene. "'Cause Nate here recalls everything that's happened from years past."
I chuckled a bit. "That's true. Oh, and it's Nathan, not Nate."
"Frederic." The King introduced himself, extending his hand.
"Arianna." The Queen introduced herself, extending her own hand, which I shook, along with Frederic's, then asked. "So, what was that happiest memory you can think of?"
Frederic looked at Arianna, who gave him the nod to tell me.
"Well," said Frederic. "There was one that was the most joyous moment of our lives...before everything changed; the birth of our baby daughter."
Recalling the Stooges' story, after looking at Eugene, I asked. "Does your daughter, by any chance, have...green eyes?"
"Yes." replied Frederic.
"And has...long golden hair?" added Eugene.
Frederic gasped. "That's our Rapunzel!"
"You've seen her?" asked Arianna.
Eugene and I looked at each other, then peeked inside, where Rapunzel and the other chefs were cleaning the kitchen, then faced Frederic and Arianna.
"You could say that." I said. "In fact, why don't you come back early tomorrow and we'll find her by then."
Even if I said something like that, there was still one more obstacle to overcome; the return of Gothel.
Author's Note:
*"Increible!" is Spanish for "incredible."