//------------------------------//
// Chapter 15 
// Story: The Nerd and the Cellist 
// by HAKDurbin 
//------------------------------//

On Thursday, the Tasty Treat was the talk of the school. Thanks to the fliers and the MyStable page, some people were curious about the restaurant. A couple of people posted on the MyStable page that they have never been to the Tasty Treat before or that they tried their food the day before and enjoyed it. Needless to say, Pinkie Pie was optimistic about where things were going. 

Starlight Glimmer texted me what my assignment was the night before and I wasted no time memorizing everything on the menu as best as possible. I muttered the appetizers, drinks, main courses, and desserts under my breath in the exact order during classes. I was as disappointed as Octavia was that I couldn't be there when she was performing. Still, I had to remind myself that helping Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala was more critical. At lunch, Starlight Glimmer quizzed me and was pleased that I had the menu memorized. Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, and Rarity were given spots around town to pass fliers to bystanders. Pinkie Pie volunteered to host with Coriander Cumin if for no other reason than to try to help the owner of the establishment think positively. 

When school ended for the day, Applejack, Caramel, and Big Mac headed to Sweet Apple Acres to get the sound equipment, and Octavia went home to get her cello. Pinkie Pie took out a tower of fliers she had stashed into her locker and handed them to everyone on flier duty. Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, and Rarity were uneasy with how many fliers Pinkie Pie had made, thinking she made too many, but the pink girl just giggled and said, "You never know." After that, Starlight Glimmer and I followed Pinkie Pie to the Tasty Treat. When we went in, we found a few customers already there, and Saffron Masala was serving them. She had just finished serving two plates of oatcake to a young adult couple before turning to us and beaming.

"Guys, you're just in time," she said. "Let me show you your uniforms in the back."

Pinkie Pie grinned like a little kid while Starlight Glimmer and I just smiled and followed the chef to the kitchen. Two uniforms were the same as Saffron Masala's and one that was the same as Coriander Cumin's, but skinnier. The three of us took our respective uniforms, and Starlight Glimmer and Pinkie Pie went to the ladies' room while I went to the men's to get changed. I put my regular clothes in my backpack, changed into my uniform, and exit the bathroom to hang my backpack on a hanger next to the exit door. Starlight Glimmer and Pinkie Pie came out of the ladies' room in their respective uniforms, and the latter turned to me with a cheerful grin.

"Looking good, Rough Draft," she said. 

"Thanks, Pinkie," I said. 

Starlight Glimmer stared at me for a moment before she walked over to me and undid the buttons on my shirt. 

"You put the buttons on wrong," she said as she put the buttons back on in the right order.

"I guess I did," I admitted with a chuckle. "Thanks."

"My pleasure," Starlight Glimmer said with a smile before she looked away to hide a blush.

"Okay," Saffron Masala began with her hands clasped together. "Pinkie, Father is waiting for you at the front. Starlight Glimmer, Rough Draft, do you have the menu memorized?"

"Sure do," Starlight Glimmer said before playfully nudging me with her elbow. "I quizzed this one to make sure."

"Fantastic," Saffron Masala said before taking out two notepads and two pens and handing them to Starlight Glimmer and me. "These are for you. When you write down the orders, keep your writing brief and don't take so much space, especially if you take orders for a large group unless they are paying separately. There's a list taped at the bottom of the notepads for what to write if someone wants extra or no cheese, paprika, or something like that."

"Got it," Starlight Glimmer said before turning to me. "We totally got this. Right, Rough Draft?"

"Uh, I hope so," I said hesitantly. 

"You'll be great," Saffron Masala said as she patted my back with a comforting smile. "Right now, people are here for a late lunch or wanting something to snack on, so you two should use the few customers we have to practice."

"Okay, that's a little comforting," I said.

"Saffron!" Coriander Cumin called out from outside of the kitchen. "We have two tables waiting to order!"

"Coming, father!" Saffron Masala said before turning back to Starlight Glimmer and me. "That's one table for each of you already."

"Alright," Starlight Glimmer said before nudging my side again. "Let's do this, Rough Draft."

"Right," I said with a smirk before turning back to Saffron Masala. "Any last-minute tips before we go out there?"

"Just start out by asking if they're interested in any specials, and if they yes, then say that they are curried oatcake and a mutton sandwich that has been marinated overnight with dijon mustard," Saffron Masala answered. "Otherwise, just make suggestions based on what you've tried here."

I took a second to think about it and said, "I guess I can do that."

"Glad to hear it," Saffron Masala said. "Now go out there and take some orders."

Starlight Glimmer and I smiled and nodded, and we left the kitchen with our notepads and pens in hand. Coriander Cumin was waiting for us, and he handed us menus before pointing at the new customers who had just been seated. One group was an older couple sitting in a booth with their grandchild, and the other, to our shock, was none other than Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles seated at a table beside one of the windows. Rainbow Dash's parents were grinning in anticipation as though eating out at the Tasty Treat was going to be as epic as the game against Crystal Prep. Starlight Glimmer and I grew uneasy, and the former put hard and on my arm. 

"Why don't I take care of Rainbow's parents while you take the people in the booth?" she suggested. 

I opened my mouth to say yes, but I stopped myself to think about it and said, "No, I'll take Rainbow's parents."

"Are you sure?" Starlight asked. "You don't have to start with very.. unique customers."

"I know, but I think it would be good to start with people I already know," I said. "Besides, if I can get through serving those two, I bet I can handle anything."

Starlight Glimmer was still unsure of my decision, but she eventually smiled and said, "Okay. Good luck."

"You too," I replied.

Starlight Glimmer went out ahead to the booth, and I took a deep breath before walking over to Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles. Windy Whistles noticed me and said, "Look, honey, one of Rainbow Dash's friends is here to wait for us."

Bow Hothoof turned his head to me and grinned as he said, "Awesome! And it's one of the friends that was sitting next to us at the game, Rocky Dirt."

"Uh, that's Rough Draft, sir," I said calmly. "I take it you heard about what is going on from Rainbow Dash?"

"Sure did," Windy Whistles chirped. "You should have seen her out in the park on the way here. Best flier person ever! We even have a souvenir."

"A souvenir?" I asked. 

Bow Hothoof grinned and took out one of our fliers folded into his pocket. He unfolded it and held it out to me with a big grin as though the paper was made of gold. 

"We made sure to be the first people she handed out a flier to," Bow Hothoof said. "We're getting a frame on the way home and going to hang it in our hall of Rainbow Dash."

"The...hall of Rainbow Dash?" I asked. 

"Oh, yes. It's where we treasure every exciting moment revolving around our little girl," Windy Whistles said. "Would you like to see pictures of it?"

"Uh, maybe some other time," I answered politely. "Anyway, can I get you anything to drink?"

The couple chuckled, and Windy Whistles said, "Oh, dear. I almost forgot why we're here. We'll both take a soda if you please."

"Sure thing," I said while writing it down on my notepad. "Would you like to hear our specials before I get your drinks?"

"Fire away," Bow Hothoof said with a grin. 

"We have curried oatcake and a mutton sandwich that has been marinated overnight with a mustard dijon dressing," I said.

"Sounds delightful," Windy Whistles said. "Anything you recommend?"

"Well, I have had the tandoori chicken, which was tasty, and Octavia liked the fish curry," I answered. 

"Ooo, I like the sound of that," Bow Hothoof said. He turned to his wife, and they nodded before they turned to me. "We'll each have the specials and the chicken and curry."

"Each?!" I asked, flabbergasted.

"Each," Bow Hothoof confirmed. "If our daughter, Rainbow Dash, deems this a place worth trying to save, then we're going to do all we can to help."

"Besides, we intentionally had a light breakfast and held off lunch until we were off from work to come here," Windy Whistles said. "I don't want to speak for my husband, but I'm so hungry I could eat a whole turkey, bones, and everything."

"I'm so hungry I could eat two turkeys," Bow Hothoof said.

I stared at Rainbow Dash's parents, baffled by how determined they were to support the restaurant just because their daughter was. It took several seconds before I snapped out of my gaze and wrote down their orders, saying, "Alright, the specials and the recommendations for each of you it is. I'll go get your sodas now."

"Thank you," Bow Hothoof said as I took their menus, turned around, and walked towards the kitchen, I heard the muscular man say to his wife, "Let's take pictures of our table so that we have a record of where we were to help Rainbow's friends."

"Excellent idea, sweetie," Windy Whistles said in a giddy tone. "Let's make sure that we get a selfie with her friend too and post it on MyStable."

I dared to turn my head to see the couple get up from their seats to take several pictures of their table and chairs with their phones. When they finished, they looked at the photos they took, filled with glee as though they were tourists looking at a famous attraction from a foreign country. 

"Well, I guess as long as they have the money to afford that much food, it doesn't matter. Heck, they're basically giving us a small fraction of our goal in one check," I said to myself.

I gave Saffron Masala the order and came back to Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles for their drinks. When Saffron Masala finished making the order, Starlight Glimmer had to help me carry multiple food trays to the table. We went back to the kitchen and looked through the door window to see Rainbow Dash's parents wolf down their food like it was a race. Our mouth hung open as we watched.

"And I thought it was only Pinkie Pie who has an unnatural amount of energy," Starlight Glimmer said.

"Heh, right?" I chortled. "I assume your table didn't order this much?"

"Nope, just some sandwiches for the old couple and a little bowl of noodle soup for their grandchild," Starlight Glimmer said with a smirk. "I imagine there won't be as many people who are that extremely hungry when it's dinner time."

"Maybe not, but our friends might grab enough attention that some families or groups of friends will come and end up paying a good amount too," I said. "Those would be just what we need to reach our goal in one night."

Starlight Glimmer turned her head to me with a smile of admiration and said, "I like how you're thinking optimistically, Rough Draft."

I turned my head to look at her with a smirk and said, "Well, thinking positively has gotten us this far. Might as well keep it up till the end."

Starlight Glimmer's smile grew, and she turned her head to face the window before I could see her cheeks heat up. 

"Looks like your table is about ready for their check," she said.

My smile melted into a look of confusion, and I looked through the window and was thrown off balance to find most of Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles' plates empty, and they were taking large bites of what was left of their curry. I stared at the couple in disbelief until Starlight Glimmer nudged me to go out there. I take a breath to bring up a calm, professional demeanor before I exit the kitchen and walk over to Rainbow Dash's parents just as they finished their curry.

"I take it you enjoyed the food?" I asked. 

"Did we ever," Windy Whistles answered. "I can see why our Rainbow Dash wants to help this place. To think it's in danger of going out of business over a suit. How silly."

"You can say that again," I said, rolling my eyes. "Anyway, I assume you'd like your check?"

"Yes, please," Bow Hothoof said as he patted his belly. 

I took as many of their plates as I could and brought them to the kitchen before coming to Coriander Cumin to get the check with a nod. I brought it over to Bow Hothoof before stacking up more of their plates. When I returned to get the rest of the dishes, the couple was already at the front to pay the check to Coriander Cumin, who swiped Bow Hothoof's card in the cash register. Windy Whistles noticed me coming out from the kitchen and said, beaming, "Thanks for waiting for us. Good luck tonight."

"Thanks," I said.

With that, Rainbow Dash's parents left the building, waving as they went outside. I sighed and muttered, "Well, that wasn't so bad," before walking over to their table to get the last of their plates and their cups. But while I was stacking, I noticed through the window that Big Mac, Applejack, Caramel, and Octavia were outside. Applejack was setting up speakers, Big Mac was setting up the sound system, Caramel was setting up a microphone, while Octavia was sitting on a stool adjusting her cello. I noticed the gray girl smiling as she set up her instrument, and my heart skipped a beat as it hit me that I would be hearing my crush's music the whole night, but then,  I felt someone tapping my shoulder and turned my head to see a determined Pinkie Pie.

"Rough Draft, focus on the task at hand,'' she ordered. "You can check Octavia out later."

"What? I wasn't checking her out," I said with my cheeks heating up.

"You totally were," Pinkie said. "Now get those dishes back to the kitchen. More customers will be coming."

I opened my mouth to protest until I sighed, accepting there was no way I would convince Pinkie Pie… mostly because she was right. I gave Octavia one last glance before returning to the kitchen and waited for more customers to serve.