Coup De Tarte -13 - The Grind Design (Updated 5/4/24)

 So problems have been solved 

Plus the jellied are on the rise 

And though cream is highly favored 

The Caker suffered a loss in pride

For now he stocks the shelves

And he still has to bake his cakes 

While the Pieman gets to savor 

Whatever suits his jellied tastes 

So everything's more than fine

For the Pieman and his grind

He no longer has to worry 

About crossing any jelly lines

Indeed the Pieman lives the dream

Having fun jellying his treats

And he's always doing something sweet

Making donut trips or jellied drinks

And to add to the excitement 

He gets to jelly dishes in real time 

For the Jefe has informed him 

That he'll be assisting his front line 

And he's certainly not opposed 

For it sounds like a jelly victory 

Besides if he doesn't go with the flow

It could be the end of his jellied history 

[...]

So Mestuffstoplease was excited

But he also came to understand

That though they loved his jellied creations

How long would they stand the Jelly Man

For once they learned his jelly tricks

They'd have no further use of him

So he didn't feel as lucky 

Now understanding what this is 

So soon he became suspicious

Of the cameras on the walls

And he began to cloak his methods

So they couldn't understand at all 

He would speak in ambiguities 

And he would utilize sleight of hand

And he no longer wrote down ingredients

Unless it was on his jellied hands 

As he worked between two kitchens

He would never stay in one place

And some saw his furtive methods

As just uninhibited efficiency 

Feeling the added pressure

He started making more jellied drinks

And his donut trips to the bathroom

Became more of a frequent thing 

And his work within Cocina

Was just meant to be advisory

But he always took control

Claiming worker incompetency 

For now he seemed the staple

Of delicious jellied treats

But could that remain stable 

Given jelly's popularity 

For the job market can be fickle

Given the flux in wants and needs 

And soon some will pay a pretty nickel 

For just some jelly expertise 

He saw the light in his jelly funnel

But it wasn't just for him to see

So he would need to keep improving 

To maintain his jelly supremacy 

While walking to the donut rack 

Who of all people did he meet

It was the lady in red once again

But now she's in a halter top of pink

Thinking that she was back to complain

He approached her with uncertainty

But much to his surprise 

She asked if there were any similar treats

[Lady in Red]

Hi sweetie

Do you have anything similar to what I bought last time

I know it's been a while 

But that cake was so divine   

[Mestuffstoplease]

Yes, well we do have this Vanilla I made last night

Its jelly is pronounced and I believe it's the flavor that you like

[Lady in Red]

Thank you so much sweetie

I always see you running around a lot

How many people work here 

Do you own this lovely pastry shop?

[...]

Mestuffstoplease looks over his shoulder

And only sees Froster Felicity and Baker Brian

And no Caker and no Chef
But he rehinks his plan of lying 

[Mestuffstoplease]

Well, it's really a team effort ma'am

I wouldn't be able to do this myself

[Lady in Red]

Wow.  Well you're great at what you do

Do you need any extra help

[Mestuffstoplease]

Actually, yeah, we're currently hiring

So if you have anyone in mind
They should immediately start applying
For we're always kind of strapped for time *

[Lady in Red]

Great, it's not for me

I'm asking about my niece
She would like to serve at Cocina 

Should I have her stop by

[Mestuffstoplease]

Well, though now technically one

We still have yet to merge applications

But stop by their bar and mention me

I kind of have a stellar reputation 

[Lady in Red]

Well, look at you 

What's your name

[Mestuffstoplease]

Calvin

[Lady in Red]

Well, Calvin, I'm Charlene 

Hopefully I'll be seeing you again

[...]

 

Mestuffstoplease rings up the cake

Glad that he's finally made a friend 

[Calvin]

I would like that

I hope you enjoy this cake

[...]

He always finds it hard to break character

Though he knew that she read his face
There was an awkward tragedy 

Underneath his charm and grace

She smiles and exits suavely 

While Mestuffstoplease peers reluctantly

For too long he's known silence to be his friend 

Despite his desperate sense of urgency

Nevertheless he was somewhat elated

And he was going to stop by the donut rack 

But somehow that appetite abruptly faded

So he returned to hone his jelly craft *

Everyone was working on something different *
Their flow was so efficient it that became boring *

Baker Brian raised his voice in his direction *
Obviously frustrated and without warning *

[Baker Brian]

Do we not have any more Bundt Cakes

I have a large order due in an hour 

And I'm four shorter than what's expected
So I'm going to have to give them a discount voucher

[...]

The Caker seemed dumbfounded 

He just awkwardly began teeth grinding

Baker Brian rushed backed to the aisles
Maybe there was something there worth finding 

Mestuffstoplease was excited

For the Caker was making mistakes

While he himself was known for perfect timing

And his scrumptious jellied treats

And maybe it was just his thieving 

That sabotaged the Caker's performance 

But the Caker's not been himself lately 

Maybe he has an addiction that he's not owning 

And Caker's loss would be his gain

For as long as jelly's on the rise 

He cares not for a few missing cakes 

For jellied innovations are now his plight 

And since he started working at Cocina

He'd have a drink with Jefe late at night

They'd sit and talk for at least an hour

Of things going wrong and of things going right

And sometimes the Chef would join them

And though Jefe thought that Chef was fine

He seemed to like Mestuffstoplease more

But perhaps he just liked him for what he could provide

But Mestuffstoplease took a notice

There was something in Jefe's eyes

They both shared an unspoken kinship

It was like they knew each other's mind

They all talked of this jelly expansion

And how it could change the restaurant game

From pies to cakes to drinks to chips 

The advertising possibilities were insane

They were thinking word of mouth

They were thinking radio spots 

They started renaming all the jellies

Just to give them a little more pop

They came up with Jungle Jam
And then came Gucci Grape
And then there was Raspberry Smack
And then there was Key Lime Haze 

They even thought of the restaurant front

And how cool it would it be to see
"Now with Jelly" highlighted bright
With halo storefront channel lettering

They decided to make a pact

To never share their jelly dreams *

Nor their jelly proprietary blends

Lest the lesser employees become jelly thieves *

But in order for this to work

They'd have to bring in the Caker

For he knows Mestuffstoplease's desserts

And he'd be more than jealous if he were not favored *

With the four of them combined

They'd keep jelly's ingredients a secret

And keep the lesser employees in line

And fire those that proved not worth keeping *