Strange Phenomenon!

( She’s asking about some investigations I have no idea of. I wonder what Lucas told them to justify my absence).

To justify Jennifer’s absence, Lucas told Mrs. Evangelina and Sarah that she went to investigate the nearby restaurants but the latter has no idea of the latest events.

“ What are you thinking so hard about? Haven’t you gone to investigate or had Lucas lied to me?” Mrs. Evangelina was getting impatient.

( I have to say something or else, she’ll doubt Lucas’s magnanimous story. It mustn’t have been easy for him to find a motive for my absence. I have to think carefully about what I’m going to tell her. First thing first, Lucas told them that I went to investigate something, but what could that something be? It can’t be about our secret investigation. If it were about that, Mrs. Evangelina wouldn’t have been so calm. What did Lucas tell them? What other investigations would I have been interested in leading?)

The princess thought for a moment regarding what investigation Mrs. Evangelina could be referring to. After thinking for two long minutes, she resolved the missing puzzle.

“ Yeah, Mrs. Evangelina! My investigations went on great”. I responded with a bright smile.

( Has she figured out what investigations Mrs. Evangelina was referring to?)

“ What have you found out about your investigation?” She inquired inquisitively.

Mrs. Evangelina asked Jennifer that tricky question to test her. She was doubting Lucas’s story and wanted to find out the truth by not mentioning the type of investigation she was referring to.

“ The restaurants I visited were all marvelous and the menus were top-notch. It’s no wonder they’re considered the best in town. Based on the time I spent there, I discovered something that might interest you”. I said flawlessly.

…

“ Although their menu is top-notch, they’re not the best. You can still get back on track by making some changes to your current menu. I think with that winning strategy, you’ll get your customers back in no time”. I said very detailedly, making sure to not commit a single mistake.

“ You think our restaurant can once more become the best restaurant there was!” Mrs. Evangelina seemed to have believed what Jennifer told her. Her suspicious attitude changed and Jennifer felt at ease.

“ Of course, Mrs. Evangelina! Nothing is impossible in this vast world. The only thing you need is to believe in yourself”. I said in a response.

“ We still have hope. That’s great!” Said Sarah, grinning.

After the talk with Mrs. Evangelina, we sat to have a healthy breakfast which lasted approximately thirty minutes.

“ Jennifer, will you be coming with us today or are you going to keep investigating the nearby restaurants?” Mrs. Evangelina inquisitively inquired.

“ Don’t worry, Mrs. Evangelina! I’m not planning to investigate today”.

“ Great! Let’s be on our way!” My response pleased Mrs. Evangelina and Sarah.

“ Yes!”

With all the interrogation, Lucas and I didn’t have the opportunity to communicate regarding the secret investigation I went to do. With the customers waiting, we couldn’t find an ounce of opportunity to talk either.

“ Coming right up!”

Returning customers came to the Esperanza Restaurant to dine although there were other restaurants around. We didn’t know why it happened but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that the number of customers had slightly increased today compared to the other days.

“ Here’s your order, sir!”

Lucas and Sarah were starting to get along quite well as they worked together. Their chemistry was harmonious to watch.

“ We have more customers today than usual, which never occurred before today. It’s not normal”.

“ Who cares why there are more customers than usual today? Thanks to this phenomenon, we’ll have better sales today. More than anything, you should be happy about this outcome rather than being unhappy”. I told Mrs. Evangelina reasonably and with enough clearance.

…

“ If that’ll put you at ease, I’ll go find out the cause for this sudden increase”. I said on a whim.

“ You’ll do that for me!” She was overjoyed by my declaration which convinced me to help put her mind at ease.

“ Of course, I’ll help! How will you be able to manage the customers here on your own?” I agreed to help but seeing the number of customers, I was unwilling to leave.

“ Leave everything to us! Lucas is here to help with the customers”. She said confidently.

“ In that case, I can’t refuse to help. I’ll be back soon”. I dashed out of the Esperanza Restaurant.

The others continued serving the customers as per usual when Sarah noticed my absence.

“ Where’s Jennifer?” Inquired Sarah to her mother.

“ Now that you mention it, she’s not here. Where is she?” Inquired Lucas inquisitively.

“ I sent her to run a little errand for me”. Responded Mrs. Evangelina.

( She sent her to run an errand for her! What kind of errand could that be?)

Meanwhile, from Jennifer’s side, she came upon the first restaurant. The name of the restaurant was very catchy even though she didn’t understand why the restaurant had been named as such.

( The Wish Restaurant! The logo looks nice. Let’s go check inside!)

Upon entering the restaurant, Jennifer noticed something was strange with the customers. The discontent on the customers’ faces signals something is not right.

“ Can we order something else?” One of the customers complained as their order wasn’t to their liking.

“ Sorry, Ma’am! You can only have what’s on the menu”. Said one of the servers.

…

“ Hello, Miss! I never saw you here before. You must be new in town”. One of the servers came to me to take my order.

“ I don’t know how you could tell but you’re right. I’m new in this town”.

“ Here’s the menu!” The server handed me the menu.

Something was bizarre with the menu as they were only one main dish.

“ I think you’ve given me the wrong menu. There’s only one main dish on the menu”. I told the server to see his reaction.

“ There’s no mistake on this menu, Miss!”

He confirmed my reaction. I could now understand why the customers were discontent. There was still something left to elucidate.

“ If it’s not too indiscreet, may I know why there’s only one dish on the menu?” I inquired inquisitively.

“ I’ll tell you but you have to promise me to keep it a secret”. He said in a whisper.

According to what the server told me, the chef is discontent with his customers as they never finish their plate which leads to the food going to waste. In other words, he’s punishing his customers by only offering them a dish that happens to be the same every single day.

“ May I have a cup of water, please?”

The server went to bring me the glass of water I had requested. He came with the water a minute later.

“ Thank you!”

After drinking the water, I stood up and headed towards the exit.

“ Won’t you have anything before leaving?” Inquired the waiter suddenly.

“ I’ll come back on another day”. I said as I headed out of the restaurant.

Jennifer headed towards the other restaurants and it was the same phenomenon. The customers were discontent with their order.

Two hours later, the Esperanza Restaurant closed. Jennifer came back to the restaurant only to find it closed.

“ Jennifer hasn’t yet come back. I’ll go look for her”.

“ I’m back, Lucas”.

Jennifer came back unexpectedly as Lucas was about to go look for her.

“ Have you discovered something?” Inquired Mrs. Evangelina, confusing Sarah and Lucas.

“ Yes! I sure did”.

“ What are you guys talking about?” Wondered both Sarah and Lucas.

…

…

( What’s going on between Mrs. Evangelina and Jennifer? Where has she gone on her command?)