(Start of Week 22. Theo's Balance: $30,746.00)
Week 22 - Monday
The relentless momentum from the previous week carried directly into Week 22. Monday morning, Theo and Henry arrived before dawn, the air still cool and tinged with the promise of another busy day. Tammy arrived shortly after, slightly late, but no biggie. The weekend's success, particularly Sunday's sell-out, had set a new benchmark.
"Okay," Theo said, unlocking the shop, the +1 enhanced mechanism clicking smoothly. "Two hundred was pushing it yesterday, ran out way too early. But Monday… it usually dips. Let's aim for one-fifty prep today. Should be enough to meet demand without too much waste if it's slower."
Henry nodded, already tying his apron. "Sounds good, boss. Hey, I was thinking…" He hesitated for a moment, then plunged ahead, his usual enthusiasm tempered with a hint of creative energy. "That deep fryer is amazing, holds temp perfectly even during the rush. What if we used it for more than just chips?"
Theo raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Like… desserts!" Henry's eyes lit up. "Seriously! Deep-fried candy bars? Deep-fried Oreos? Even deep-fried ice cream? It sounds weird, but people love that stuff at fairs and stuff. Could be a killer add-on, especially with how good these fryers work."
Theo considered it. Henry's work ethic over the past week and a half had been exemplary. He was proactive, reliable, and genuinely seemed invested in the shop's success. Encouraging that initiative felt like a smart move. And the idea… wasn't terrible. High-margin novelty items using existing equipment? Worth exploring.
"Alright, Henry," Theo said, pulling his wallet out. "I like the initiative. Here's a hundred bucks." He handed over the cash. "Go to Walmart or wherever after your shift, buy whatever candy bars, cookies, or ice cream you think might work. Experiment tomorrow. Let's see what happens. If it works, we figure out how to add it."
Henry's grin was wide. "Seriously? Awesome! Thanks, Theo! I got some killer ideas."
Their next point of business was staffing. "One-fifty prep today feels right," Theo continued, "but we both know we were drowning this weekend even with two people. If this keeps up, we need another body, especially for evenings." He pulled out his phone, finding Olivia's contact details from the interview notes. "I'm calling Olivia. Her attitude was right, even if she lacks food experience. We can train skills." Tammy protested a little, something about having to train another newbie from scratch, however the complaints were pretty half hearted, as she knew the help was worth it.
He made the call. Olivia answered, her voice bubbling with cheerful energy. Theo offered her the job, explaining the hours would initially focus on evenings and weekends to help with the rush. She accepted immediately, sounding genuinely thrilled, and agreed to start on Wednesday. Theo hung up, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. Three employees. A real team. The operational complexity, and the potential for things to go wrong, increased with each new hire.
Monday night proved their staffing decision right. They prepped for 150, and the dinner rush was intense, almost matching Sunday's pace. Customers mentioned seeing positive reviews, friends' recommendations. The enhanced equipment hummed along flawlessly, churning out perfect chicken and chips, but Theo, Henry and Tammy were working flat out to keep up with bagging, payments, and orders. They ended the night with 143 sales, turning away the last few customers just after closing time.
As they were cleaning up, Theo's phone buzzed. Sarah. He quickly updated her on the continued success, thanking her again for the marketing boost. He admitted, slightly sheepishly, that he hadn't done any follow-up posting himself.
"Theo! Consistency!" Sarah admonished playfully over the phone. "Social media forgets fast! You gotta stay top-of-mind." She quickly checked the shop's online reviews from her end. "Okay, looks like those five-stars are still prominent, keeping the buzz alive for now. But don't slack off! How about I try and swing by Thursday afternoon? I can give you guys a crash course, my way of saying sorry that I couldn't make it last week. Maybe set up a simple posting schedule that maybe Henry or Tammy could potentially manage?"
"Thursday? Yeah, that would be fantastic, Sarah," Theo agreed readily. Her expertise was too valuable to pass up. They confirmed a time, and he hung up, feeling grateful but also that familiar flicker of considering her potential beyond just pro-bono marketing advice.
Henry, meanwhile, practically skipped out the door, clutching the hundred dollars, eager to embark on his dessert ingredient quest. Tammy was being Tammy, she was helpful, but was still a bit quirky and didn't gel with Henry too well. Hopefully things will work itself out over time.
Week 22 - Tuesday
Tuesday morning, Henry arrived with two large shopping bags brimming with potential deep-fried delights: Mars bars, Snickers, Oreos, even a carton of small, pre-scooped vanilla ice cream balls designed for quick frying. Tammy arrived shortly after, looking slightly a little stressed but still carrying an air of meticulous intensity, ie/ quirky!
"Alright team," Henry announced proudly during the mid-morning lull. "Dessert Experimentation Phase One!"
He carefully prepped the fryer, explaining his batter ideas (a simple tempura-style mix), and proceeded to demonstrate. He dipped a Mars bar, lowered it carefully into the perfectly hot oil (+1 enhanced fryer maintaining temperature flawlessly), and turned it with focused precision, like a scientist handling volatile chemicals. He repeated the process with an Oreo, then, most daringly, a frozen ice cream ball, working quickly to ensure the outside cooked before the inside melted completely.