Helen's Donut Nook Novels & Stories

"There's going to be another food bank relief operation this Sunday, Viy. You're more than welcome to come with me." I bite into my taco, thinking about it. "Anything they need?" Helen has a door painted pink, make amazing food, and has a food bank that she organizes every Sunday. Helen's Hunger-Free Community had been running for thirty years. Sometimes, I fear that angel wings will sprout out of her back and just take her away from Thomas and me. "The usual, canned goods and lots of milk," She tapped her chin. "Oh, and sanitary napkins too." "Sure, that could be arranged. I can go shopping tomorrow. You can come with me too."

I grab my Starbucks pumpkin spiced latte latte and a croissant on the way for the much needed sugar rush on Mondays. “Hey hey, Ella, my girl had been naughty this weekend,” said Helen, looking down at the bright red hickey on my neck. “What the...f...shhh Helen stop, it's not what you think!” I did not sound very convincing though as I blushed bright red. “Oh I'm listening missy.” Now Helen could be a real pain but she was my best friend at work.

“Well, I did today.” Helen followed, her eyes scanning everything with the precision of a detective. She looked at the plates of food on the counter, the freshly poured cups of coffee, the slight disarray of the kitchen. “This isn’t just for one person,” she said slowly. I swallowed hard. “I—I made extra for thepregnant lady.” I tried to be funny. Helen still didn’t look convinced, but after a long moment, she sighed and plopped down onto one of the stools. “Fine. Whatever. I’m starving anyway.”

“They just ate cereal for breakfast. Girls, you guys wanna buy donuts? There's a delicious donut shop in front of the hospital." “I want donuts!” cried Emily loudly. It seemed that she was very hungry and wanted to get her donuts immediately. "I'd like some hot chocolate, Aunt Kate." Zinny whined spoiledly. Catherine and Hazel looked at each other. Through her eyes Hazel allowed Catherine to take the children to the donut shop while she talked to Calvin. “Then let's go get some donuts, girls. We'll see if we can get some hot donuts and hot chocolate implants there." Catherine winked playfully.

*** I was helping set up for afternoon snacks when I heard a commotion in the other room. “It’s missing!” Helen said. I ran into her office, where there was an impromptu staff meeting going on. “What’s missing?” I asked. “The donation envelope,” she replied. “It came in this morning and I put it on my desk.” People shifted uncomfortably, exchanging glances. “How much was in it?” Hannah asked. “Five hundred,” Helen said. “Are you sure you didn’t move it?” someone said quietly. “Yes. I’m sure.” A murmur rippled through the volunteers.

“I know right? Anyways, I’m gonna go shower. Because apparently I smell and look like a post-action porn star.” The donut shop I work at on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings is called Donut Be Jealous. Though it has a pun name it is considered to be a hidden jewel amongst the hole-in-the-wall businesses in Midtown. It’s simultaneously owned by the family who came up with the business idea and their employees so it adds that sense of intrigue to the consumers in the area who look for politically correct labor practices. Being that the shop is a co-op, the owners decided to give me special parking place behind the storefront so that I can avoid paying the exorbitant street parking fees, n

“Pearl, go ahead and book this chair every Saturday morning from today until the end of time. And about two weeks after. God, Helen, you are a genius.” “I wouldn’t go that far.” Helen laughed as she held her matching nails next to the other woman’s. “Whatever.” Bunny laughed. “We have to show off our nails. Let’s do brunch.” Bunny told Helen to keep her gift certificate, today was on her. Bunny then drove them over to have brunch at a little café just off the square where they sat near the fireplace. Bunny recommended the English breakfast and Helen was amazed at the amount of food placed in front of them.

I say even though I'm sure Demetrios would gladly let me close the entire diner down if I asked him to. I follow Helen toward the back where her security entourage cleared some room around the last booth before the kitchen. I sit on one side, and Helen sits on the other, and I feel frumpy and weird and small compared to beautiful and chic Helen Khazan. There's me in my diner uniform and beat-up vintage Nikes, and Helen in her designer silk top and pants, looking like a runway model. "Well," Helen says, smiling kindly. "I know I'm sort of ambushing you right now, and I'm sorry about that. I just heard that you were working here."

The door swings open and Helen walks in, a smile on her face and a tray in her hands with my hot chocolate and a plate full of chocolate chip cookies. “I figured a snack would go well with the hot chocolate.” Helen says before I can say anything, placing the tray on the table. I thank her, taking a cookie from the tray and nibbling on it, not really feeling hungry. Helen busies herself gathering the dirty laundry and picking up the small bag of garbage where I left it. After telling me to have a good night, I am left alone in my room, watching the clock tick away for five minutes before I am sure Helen would not hear me.