CHAPTER 1

Trouble Brews!

              It seemed quite out of place.  Located in a suburban strip mall, surrounded by outlet stores and fast food joints, was a store that stood out, and clearly intentionally so.  While all the others kept their names simple and safe, brands that would be recognized and understood internationally, this store was named Dragon Fire.  On each side of the name was a red dragon’s head spewing red and orange fire from its mouth.  A large moving truck was parked out in front, and the door was propped open.  Two young local girls had stopped from their morning walk to look upon this unusual sight.

              “Dragon Fire?  Is it some kind of medieval store or something?  A new restaurant?  What do you think it is?”

              “I…don’t really know.  It looks a bit intimidating-oh!”

              Distracted by the decorative design, one of the ladies eventually noticed underneath the name, and pointed to the subtext “TEA SHOP.”

              “It’s a tea shop!  That’s…unexpected considering the sign.”

              “Probably just a marketing gimmick gone awry.  We’ve never had a tea shop in our town before!  Who do you think is the owner?”

              “Maybe it’s another girl looking to make a lovely little tea party getaway!”

              “I hope it’s a nice handsome British Gentleman here to show us the ways of tea!”

              “If we’re going that route, maybe it’ll be a retired Japanese Tea Master, looking to settle down and train a new apprentice in the old ways!”

              As the girls were lost in their thoughts and fantasies, a third male voice came up from behind them.

              “I’m afraid it’s none of those, ladies.”

              Startled, they both turned around startled to see a young man, dressed in a stylish blue suit and tie, sporting quite a fetching fedora.  His short beard, connecting each side of his face, really pulled together his dashing good looks.  The girls internally swooned before engaging in conversation with love struck voices.

              “Oh, do you know about this shop?”

              “Well, I’m about to spend most of my hours in that building, so I may know a thing or two about it.”

              A handsome man, so well dressed, voice soft as silk, eyes that seemed to penetrate the girls’ soul and undress their very essence.  To them, it’s clear who this man was!

              “Oh!  You must be the owner, then!”

              “Nope.”

              “RANDY!”

              The girls were startled once again by an angry, grunting shout.  They looked towards the store, and saw a giant, burly man walking down the ramp of the truck, holding multiple boxes stacked on top of one another.  Simply dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt, face covered in a straggly beard, his forearms following suit.  His hulking muscles were bulging through his clothes, strained by the heavy items he was carrying.  Why he was carrying four at a time was confusing to the girls.  His death stare could be felt penetrating their soul, ripping away their very essence.

              “GET YER ASS OVER HERE AND HELP ME CARRY THESE BOXES!”

              “I don’t want to sweat up my suit!”

              “YA LAZY BUM!”  The man screamed back as he made his way into the shop.  The sounds of boxes crashing to the ground echoed in the otherwise quiet day.

              “My goodness, that mover is rude!”  Randy giggled at the girl’s comment.

              “That, my ladies, is the owner of Dragon Fire, the lovely little tea shop opening up next week.”  The girls looked at Randy, then back to the store, then each other, and continued their walk without another word.  Randy shouted back at them, “Be sure to come visit, I’ll be there!”

              The girls stopped, looked back, smiled and nodded.  Randy knew they’d be back.  Now, to go help Dale…

              After a few hours of various unpacking and unloading, from chairs to teacups to the ever important cash register (and so much more), it seemed like there was no end in sight to the work that was going to be required to make this place functional.  Even so, Randy could see Dale’s vision starting to manifest.  Standing close to the center of the building, he looked towards the entrance, a small bell tied to the top of the door to let them know when a customer walks in.  The whole wall is just one giant window, aimed just right so that the sun can pass over from side to side, illuminating the store with it’s rays.  To the left wall, in the corner close to the front, shelving for where they were going to put all of the tea for sale.  Then to the right, where the cashier’s booth will be set up. Randy looked to his left, staring at the door leading to the back room.  It stuck out from the wall, only had enough room for two or three people, and would be mainly where the tea will be packaged. To the right, across from that door, will be all the various wares, from teacups and pots to kettles and bags.  And all the way to the back of the store is the glorious tea bar, where many folks will be able to sit down and enjoy themselves a fine cup of tea.  Another door leading to the back alley was to the left of it, and to the right were the ever important bathrooms.  Dale took a break to get some water, as Randy looked around the room once again to take it all in.

              “It’s hard to believe, but somehow you managed to find a way to get this far.”  Dale grunted in agreement.  “Now the trick will be to keep it afloat after it opens.  Remember, you agreed to give me some control as well.”  Dale grunted in disagreement.  “I’m doing it for your sake, you know.  You have this nasty habit of trying to do everything on your own.”  Dale gulped the last bit of water as he closely eyed Randy.

              “What do ya want to control, exactly…?”

              “Mostly the things you don’t like doing or aren’t good at.  Namely, anything to do with people.  Grant me the ability to hire and fire people, you know as well as I do my judgement of character is much better than yours.”  Dale grunted in annoyed agreement.  “And to ensure your temper doesn’t ruin things, like how you nearly scared away those girls I was speaking with earlier, I need to have FULL control, meaning you cannot fire anyone I hire for any reason.  Otherwise, this won’t work.”

              “How’d I scare them away?  I was yelling at you, not them!”

              “Dale…”

              “Fine.”

              “I have your word?”

              “You have my word.  You’ve already put up signs around town saying we’re hiring, anyway.  I’m going to go take the truck back, then grab me some food.  Look to hire no more than four other people.  Try to get them all by the time I come back.”

              “That’ll be an easy task!”

              It was not an easy task.  Randy was now on his eighth candidate, with none of the previous ones making the cut.  Even though he had full control over the hiring and firing process, he still had to select people that Dale could work with.  Or, more importantly, who would be able to put up with Dale.  Then there was the ever pressing matter of Randy didn’t want to be bored!  If he’s going to be stuck in this building for however many hours a day, they better keep him entertained at least!  As opposed to Dale’s philosophy of a good life is a work filled life, Randy wanted a bit more joy and chaos in his days.

              Every single person who has come through the door looking for a job has felt like all the rest, and the current person didn’t strike Randy as any different.  He seemed to be fresh out of high school, dark skinned, purple hoodie, black pants, something of a strange spikey afro, Randy wondered if this youngster was old enough to even work.  The only difference was, unlike everyone before who tried their best to put on a bright and sunny face, this kid’s eyes were almost as bored as Randy’s were at this point.

              “So, Kyle, was it?  Why exactly do you wish to work at Dragon Fire?”

              “Paycheck sounds nice.”

              “A paycheck?”  In a way, the blunt honesty was a bit refreshing compared to all the flowery language used previously.  “There’s lots of other places hiring around here, why take a chance with an unknown place like us?  Are you a fan of tea?”

              “Nope, I have no interest in it.  But the sign design looked interesting.  I’m hoping I can at least find a job in which I won’t be bored at.”

              “You’re just looking to not be bored?”  Randy raised an eyebrow, seemingly oblivious to his shared mutual feelings.  “You do know this is a job, right?”

              “I’ll still work of course, that’s a given.  But if YOU had to choose between a place with dragons coming out of the sign and flipping patties at King of Burgers, which would you choose?”

              Every candidate so far had the same canned responses.  They either all went to the same job counselor or visited the same website.  It put a bit of a smile on Randy’s face as he realized his initial impression was wrong, and that tthis candidate was indeed different.  Between a bunch of fakes saying how much they adore the world of tea but unable to answer a few basic questions of it, and someone who just comes out and says he wants a paycheck and entertainment but is willing to work for it, Randy knew which one Dale would rather have.  But after two hours, that’s only one person, and Dale should be back soon.

              Speak of the devil, Randy thought, as the door’s bell jingled, signaling the arrival of someone.  Randy assumed it was Dale, but as he looked over Kyle’s shoulder, it took him a minute for his brain to process what he was seeing.  Three girls had walked in.  Three familiar girls.

              The first one, her big bust nearly bursting out of her elegant red Chinese dress with a white flower pattern, perfectly complimented by her long, wavy red hair and luscious red lips.  “Excuse me, Dale, are you here?”  Green eyes darting around the store, Randy remembers her name well; Serenity.

              Next, her straight blonde hair held back by her pointed ears, giving off an elf like aura not only in looks but also in grace, complimented by her elegant, pretty face.  Her blue eyes make contact with Randy’s.  Her loose flowing top hovering above her blue jeans, fishnet sleeves covering her hands and forearms.  “Wait, is that…?”  It looks like Opal has recognized him too.

              “Randy, it’s you!  Hello!”  The sweet, childlike voice came from the third girl.  Her yellow dress going down to her knees, her shoulder length bouncy brown hair complimenting her hazel eyes and adorable features.  It could be none other than Allie.  Randy’s mind raced, thinking of what might be going on.  Then, a slow, sly smile made its way across his face.

              “You said you wanted a place with entertainment, Kyle?”

              “Uhh, yeah?”

              “Welcome to Dragon Fire…”

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Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7