[Shhaaa!]

The sounds of the oil hitting the griddle was loud as the warm liquid hit the hot plate. The oil sizzled as my spatula moved it around.

The indistinct murmur of the customers talking filled the air as worked. I grabbed a handful of sliced onions and threw them onto the griddle.

[Cha-Sha!]

The smell of oil and onion mixed, and I smiled. The familiar smell of our cooking filled my senses. With no embarrassment, I used the butter knife to drop a dollop of butter onto the cooking onions.

[Shhaaa!]

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. The smells were getting closer to becoming mixed with smoke and onions. I looked down to see the caramelized onions, and I used my two spatulas to flip it over.

I reached into the cooler and grabbed out a puck of ground meat. The 11 herbs and spiced patty were then dropped onto the grill.

[Cha-Sha!]

It became silent for a moment as I focused on the griddle. The patty absorbed the leftover butter and oil. I moved the onions up to the top where it would stay warm.

I looked up to my current customer, and the girl was staring at the patty with wide eyes. It was as if she could will it to cook with faith alone. I chuckled as we lost her in her own little world.

I grabbed the big butter knife and grabbed a large dollop of butter. Then I chucked it onto the patty’s backside before turning it over with the spatulas.

The cooked side had a rich brown and black color. To ensure a heart attack, I dabbed it with another wad of butter. It sizzled and the rich, soft white oozed into the patty.

I nodded to myself as I turned to grab some buns. Gwen always made fresh butter buns in the morning. We designed the super-rich burger to commit murder.

Once eaten, it would ensure all other burgers would be dead to your tastes. Though constant consumption would also stop your heart. Moderation was key.

I grabbed a bread knife and used a quick [Dagger Slash] skill. The straight and clean-cut was perfect. It allowed me to drop the sliced bun onto the griddle and toast. It would soak in the residual oils and fats as it browned at the center of the griddle.

I moved the patty to the top and rested the onions on top. I waited for a few moments longer before I grabbed the bun. I moved them to the cooler’s countertop. I laid the bun inside up, showing its darkened and toasted surface.

I raided the cooler next. Mayo. Ketchup. Lettuce. Tomatoes.

Usually, I would add mustard and a thick slice of a pickle, but alas it was not to be. The customer was always right. If my little stall valued anything, it was customer satisfaction.

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I deftly moved the butter saturated patty onto the heel. Then seated the crown on top. The finished burger almost glowed. This was the sum of years of trial and error. All of which produced this wonderful death trap.

Gwen moved up beside me and handed me a plate with golden fries already spread out on it. I transferred the burger onto it and handed it back to the Sorceress. She grabbed a small saucer of ketchup and smiled as she stared at our child. The young girl was drooling as she stared at her prize.

Gwen smiled as she took the three steps to the counter where Bella sat. She had formed two lines of drool at the corners of her mouth. The plate and saucer echoed in Bella’s mind as Gwen slid them over.

Bella raised her little yummy fork. Her childish, and favored, over-sized and easy to hold utensil dug in. The crispy fries exterior broke open to reveal hints of its fluffy innards. She dipped each fry into the ketchup with care and ate them in big bites.

“Yummy!” Bella exclaimed as she kicked her little feet.

Gwen giggled and cut the burger into quarters so it would be easier to eat. She straightened her girl’s hour out and adjusted the hair clasp.

“Yummy!” Bella cheered as she grabbed a quarter and took a big bite. I ignored the crumbs and bits of oil as she chewed with delight. It felt as if her face was melting as the flavors let her fly up and into the clouds!

“Order,” Nemmy said as she slid behind the counter and stuck the paper onto the order clip. The three orders were almost identical to what Bella ordered. Except it was with mustard and pickles.

With a grin, I turned up the heat and grabbed a ladle of vegetable oil. I saw Nemmy move back out with a jug of wine and Bella bouncing in her seat as she had devoured her quarter piece.

[Shhaaa!]

The sound was lively as I poured fresh oil onto the hot griddle.

—

[Scrape] [Scrape] [Scrape]

I leaned back to brush the char off and into the waste bucket. After this, I would dump it out back and close up the front of the shop.

“Papa! Water!” Bella cried out as she held up a cup of water.

I smiled and ruffled her hair as I lifted her up so she could spread it across the griddle. Bella smiled as she tipped the cup over the hot griddle. She loved this part!

[Shhaaa!]

“It's cleaning time!” Bella said as she shook the last drops out of the cup. I lowered her down and grabbed the rag and wiped down the last bits of the griddle. The hot temperatures didn’t bother me as I used the water to do one last pass.

Satisfied, I dropped the rag into the dirty water bucket and turned off the griddle. The magic stones dimmed until the griddle’s burners lost their magic charge. I sighed as I now finished the last task.

Tomorrow would be a new day, but tonight was another full house.

“It's story time, Papa!” Bella insisted as she recognized my finished-work sigh.

“Oh? Is it story time!?” I asked with a laugh as I lifted her up.

“Papa!” Bella screamed out in betrayal. Even if she knew I was joking, she wouldn’t have it. She was turning ten this year, and she was a big girl now. Big girls got bigger stories!

Bella wrapped her arms around my neck as she chattered. She talked about our last story yesterday. It involved wish-granting dragons, the world's mightiest heroes fighting vegetable super warriors.

I spied Nemmy locking up the wagon’s front door. The redesigned exterior was the best investment since adopting these two adorable demons.

Nemmy is a wonderful, if deadly, server. She was once Balthasar’s right hand in Intel and Assassinations. Now a peace-loving, and prim waitress.

Bella was an adorable little demon princess. Who we all spoiled. The rightful heir to the Demon Lord’s throne. A spoiled little girl that knew how to use her merciless puppy eyes.

“Before we do a story, we should take a bath,” I suggested as we walked deeper into the expanded space.

“PAPA!” Bella protested. Her look of betrayal had me laughing, and I kissed her nose. Which got her laughing.

Bella surrendered as she snuggled into her daddy’s chest. She didn’t mind taking a bath. The delay in storytime only irritated her. Though getting hugged by her family always made her feel warm and fluffy.

It was adorable enough that I gave Bella another kiss on her forehead. Mollified, she began babbling about bubbles and secret water spirits.

Today was another day in paradise. I smiled as I went to find my wife and try to foist off this daughter of ours.

————

Chapter 04: Simple Days