On the Back Burner by Diane Muldrow Page A

paid her right away out of the first money we made.”
    “You have good references and a solid business plan,” he commented. His blue eyes twinkled behind his glasses. “Throw in a free batch of brownies and you’ve got yourself a loan.”
    “Thanks, Dad! Oh, and could you drive me down to Choice Foods this afternoon?” He gave her a thumbs-up. Molly smiled at him. “One batch of deep-dish brownies coming up.

    She made Matthew and Dad the brownies they wanted. While they were baking, she phoned Natasha. “I was thinking we should begin shopping for the Kramer job,” she explained when she got Natasha on the phone. “Do you want to go food shopping with me today? Dad will drive us to the supermarket.”
    “Is everyone going?” Natasha asked.
    “No, I don’t think Shawn and Amanda should be together right now. Amanda sent Shawn an e-mail apologizing for the first e-mail she wrote, but Shawn hasn’t responded and they’re still not talking. Amanda is over at Tessa’s, and if we invite Shawn and Amanda’s not doing the work, it will make Shawn even madder. And Peichi is still grounded, which leaves just you and me.”
    “Okay” Natasha agreed. “I’ll shop with you.”
    At Choice Foods, Mr. Moore helped by pushing the cart while Molly and Natasha ran around the large supermarket. Molly didn’t mind all the walking. It was all the thinking that started to tire her out. Comparing prices to get the best value, thinking about what they needed for each dish, reading labels, making sure to stay within their budget—it was a lot of work.
    “I’m exhausted,” she said as Mr. Moore paid for all the food

    “I have some bad news for you,” Mr. Moore said as the three of them walked out to the car with the food. “The work isn’t over yet. Now we have to load it into the trunk of the car, walk it up the stairs into the house, and then put it away.”
    Natasha and Molly groaned. They’d never before shopped for a food order this large. It took a little more than an hour before all the food was put away.
    “I am so tired,” Natasha said, throwing herself onto a kitchen chair. “Do you think it’s fair that we did all this work ourselves?”
    “It’s not fair at all, but I guess it’s my fault,” Molly replied. “We should have waited for the others to help us. I didn’t realize it would be so much work.”
    “I think we should force Shawn and Amanda to make up,” Natasha said.
    “You’re right,” Molly agreed. If they waited for Shawn and Amanda to make up on their own, it might never happen. She had an idea. “Feel like renting some movies tomorrow?” she asked Natasha.
    “Sure, as long as I can finish my homework first. You know how my parents are,” Natasha said.
    “I was thinking that an afternoon movie marathon would be a good way to get Shawn and Amanda back together,” Molly explained. “Movies are always fun, and nobody will have to talk to each other!”
    “It’s worth a try,” Natasha agreed. “Good idea!”

    The following day, Molly and Mrs. Moore rented three comedies at the video store and bought a bunch of fun snack foods—popcorn, candy, ice cream. The trip took them a little longer than they expected, though, and when they returned, Molly found Shawn and Amanda sitting quietly in the living room
    “Hello,” Shawn said to Molly. Just then, Natasha arrived. Thank goodness, Molly thought. I really hope this day goes okay.
    At first, things were pretty uncomfortable, but soon the four girls were drinking milkshakes and laughing at the movie.
    Molly pinched Natasha’s arm lightly. “This is going to work,” she whispered excitedly. Natasha nodded, her eyes bright.
    Molly settled in to enjoy the movie. Every once in a while she looked over at Shawn and Amanda. They weren’t talking to each other, but they were laughing hard. It was a good start. But as the afternoon passed, Molly found the movies less funny, though the other girls were still cracking up. Her face