Page 100 of Bewitch

The third door on the left is open, but I knock on the door anyhow.

A man who looks to be in his early forties looks up from his computer. He’s muscular without being too muscular, if you know what I mean.

“Come in. You must be Dawn, right? Pamela told me you’re the one who made those brownies the other day.”

“Yes, sir. Did you try some?”

“No, unfortunately. The entire pan was gone by the time I came in that day. She tells me that they’re delicious, but she prefers your protein bars.”

“Yes. I enjoy making them. They’re a nice little snack.”

He nods and motions for me to have a seat in the chair across from his desk.

I comply, sitting on the edge of it, my back perfectly straight. “I have a question for you.”

“Go ahead.”

I clear my throat. “I was wondering… if I might have another meeting with you tomorrow. I would like to come forward with a solid plan for how I would like to sell the protein bars and brownies and potentially other healthy dessert-type options for the gymgoers here.”

“Another meeting?”

“Well, yes.” I grimace more than smile. “The thought…”

“Ah, I see. This was Pamela’s idea, and she pushed you to do it spur-of-the-moment.”

“Yes, actually,” I admit. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to waste your time—”

“Not at all. Do you have any idea how you would accomplish this? I think Pamela told me you go to college?”

“I do. I’m attending Oak Park University.”

“I see. And your major?”

“Journalism.”

He nods slowly.

“Ah… Can I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Are you and Pamela related?”

“No, but she is best friends with my daughter. I guess you could say that I’m her second father.”

“Now that I answered your question, can you answer mine? Do you have any idea off the top of your head how you might do this?”

I hesitate. “I suppose I could bake up a storm over the weekend and bring them in on Monday morning, early, before my classes.”

“But you would expect Pamela or whoever is working the welcome desk to handle the sales for you?”

I hesitate. “Maybe it would just be easiest if it operates under the honor system.”

Gary wrinkles his nose. “If you do that, you might not even make enough to cover the cost of the ingredients, let alone your time and talent.”

“It wouldn’t be fair to ask Pamela or anyone else to handle the sales, though, on top of their duties to the gym.”

“Not unless they were compensated for their time in some way.”

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