Did anyone get the license number of that bus???

Jay-Dee was in the back working on the latest batch of muffins and icing the carrot cake, while out front Kriss was busy tidying up the counter space, tucking away things and loading the dishwasher. It had been a slow morning. But with the warm temperatures and the sunny weather, there was little doubt that the beach crowds would soon arrive and things would get busy ... little could they anticipate ...

She came in the door quietly, almost like an advance scout for the Mongol hordes that were waiting over the next hill to sack the village.

As she stepped up to the counter Kriss greeted her with a smile and a pleasant, "Good morning, how may I help you?"

"Well," the woman offered hesitantly, "I have a fairly big order ... I would like nine twisters, four small, and five large, six coolers, three iced lattes and a jumbo Chipperfield's all to go ..."

"Pardon?" Kriss' mouth was hanging open, her eyes wide in wonder ...

The woman repeated the order, this time including the details of flavours, mixes and so forth ...

"Ummm," Kriss paused, "okay, coming right up ...."

She then turned to the back room; "Jay-Dee, get out here ... please."

The two of them set to work busily preparing the variety of items the woman wanted, as they worked more and more customers came in ... Bonnie ventured out from the office to help, taking the next order in line:

"I'd like four iced mochas please and a couple of cookies ..."

Bonnie smiled, and said, "Yes, sir coming right up ..." her teeth may have been slightly clenched, but no one would know just looking at her.

Bonnie called her two granddaughters who were busily playing computer games in the office, and asked them to help ...

On one level, what ensued looked like five whirling dervishes feverishly working behind the counter, spinning in time to some unheard music ... but in reality what ensued was a well orchestrated ballet ... the items were prepared, the order filled, and the customers went away happy and content ...

Person after person entered the store and placed orders:

"Three large coffees to go and an apple cooler,"

"One large coffee, three double scoop ice cream cones and a passion fruit Italian soda ... and oh, don't those muffins look good?? I'll have two of those please - heated."

"Three twisters, two coolers, and a Tibetan Tea, please"

and on and on the orders went ...

In the midst of it, Jeannie, enjoying a day off strolled in and ordered a large coffee and an iced Latte to go, and delighted in watching her co-workers scurry about preparing the various orders that customers were making ... "Have fun ..." she offered as she departed, "I'll see you tomorrow."

When the dust settled and the last customer in the rush was served ... the five of them looked at one another and breathed a well earned sigh of relief ...

"It feels like a tour bus just blew through," observed Kriss.

"Did any one catch the license number?" laughed Jay-Dee

"Good Job crew," said Bonnie as she turned and headed into the back room, "maybe we should let people know that we DO take phone in orders as well ..."

The four nodded in agreement ...

"But where's the fun in THAT?" chirped Kriss with a broad smile on her face ... Jay-dee, her cap askew on her head, and a tuft of hair hanging out from under its peak scowled ...

Kriss smiled and turned to the next customer; "How may I help you?"

"Six twisters please and a iced latte to go ..."

"Sure, no problem." answered Kriss as she noted three more customers coming in the door, and a small group of teenagers riding up on their bikes outside ...

Jay-Dee groaned, "Here we go again ..."

As the words left her mouth the phone rang ...