Read Online Boiling Point by Diane Muldrow - Free Book Online Page A

exactly.
    “Hi, I’m Amanda—”
    “Hello. Amanda! Oh, we even have a boy chef! Isn’t that cute! Well, they say that all the best chefs are men!”
    Justin smiled politely, but his face was turning beet red.
    “Um, this is Justin and Natasha,” continued Amanda.
    “Do come in!” said Ms. Barlow, propping the door open. She led them down the hall to the kitchen, her high heels clicking and clacking on the marble floor. There stood a little girl about four years old, wearing a rhinestone crown, a frilly pink party dress, and patent-leather Mary Janes. Her hair was curled and styled exactly like her mother’s. She looked surprised to see them, and a little bit afraid.
    “This is Morgan, my little precious !” announced Ms. Barlow, straightening Morgan’s dress. “Say hello, Morgan, like a little lady!”
    Morgan gave a cute little wave.
    “Hi, Morgan,” said all the kids. They were still holding all the boxes.

    “Oh!” said Ms. Barlow. “Just set everything right here on the counter.”
    This was the fun part. “Well. here’s everything,” said Amanda. “Cupcakes with chocolate icing and sprinkles—”
    “Look, Morgan, they’re for you, my precious! Don’t they look yummy?”
    Morgan didn’t say anything. She just stared at the friends with her round dark eyes.
    “And here’s the chicken with fresh herbs,” Amanda went on. “Just bake it at three hundred seventy-five degrees for about forty-five minutes. Here’s the salad... plum cobbler...and roasted potatoes. Just reheat the potatoes a little bit. Okay?”
    “Wonderful!” said Ms. Barlow, peeking into all the containers. “It all looks delicious! Thank you very much!” She gave them a big smile.
    Aren’t you going to pay us? thought Amanda.
    “We need to get going,” she hinted. “We have another job to deliver.” Get it, lady? J-O-B?
    “Oh, yes!” said Ms. Barlow, going to her purse. “Let me just check my pocketbook...Oh, dear. I currently have no cash!”
    Amanda, Justin, and Natasha stared at her. Then they smiled weakly.
    “Why don’t you come back tomorrow, Amanda, I’ll pay you then,” said Ms. Barlow. “Thanks so much. I’ll show you out. Thanks again. Bye-bye!”
    The kids walked back to the car.
    “I can’t believe she didn’t pay us!” exclaimed Natasha.
    “ ‘Come back tomorrow, Amanda,’ ” said Amanda, imitating Ms. Barlow’s high-pitched voice. “Why should I go back to her? Why can’t she come to me?”
    “‘Cause you’re a kid, that’s why,” said Justin, opening the car door. “It’s not fair, but that’s always the way it is.”
    “What’s the matter?” asked Mr. McElroy, noticing their upset expressions.
    “She didn’t pay us!” said Justin.
    “I’m really sorry, Justin.” said Amanda. “I’m so embarrassed. I’ll pay you so you don’t have to wait. You, too, Natasha.”
    “No big,” said Justin as Mr. McElroy headed toward the Jamisons’ house. “I snarfed down two of those cupcakes earlier. Consider me paid!”
    What! thought Amanda. Oh, no! I hope there’s enough. What if Ms. Barlow notices?
    “Right”, added Natasha. “It’s not a big deal.”
    “I’m sure she’ll have the money tomorrow,” Mr. McElroy assured Amanda. “Maybe she got too busy to go to the bank machine. It’s probably an honest mistake.”
    “Yeah. she was too busy—getting her nails painted!” snickered Justin. That made everyone laugh, but it didn’t really make Amanda feel better. She just felt like a dumb, ripped-off kid.

    “Well, at least Mrs. Jamison paid us,” said Amanda a little later. “And tipped us.” Amanda was counting the money as she, Justin, and Natasha walked back to the car. “Here you go, Natasha, and here you go, Justin.”
    “Hey, this is too much,” said Natasha. “This doesn’t leave you with anything. Here, take some money back. You can give us the rest after Brenda Barlow pays you. Really, Amanda—it’s okay.”
    “Yeah, we’ll wait for Ms. Brenda