Over Easy

Anna Wright shifted her weight from her left foot to her right as she hovered with a plate of toast and bacon by the stove, waiting on her trainee to make a third set of over easy eggs in the hour. After a few disasters Caitlin had finally perfected the many types of eggs demanded of them by the tourists who overflowed the Lavender Dreams Bed and Breakfast in the summer months.

Caitlin grinned as she flawlessly slid the eggs on the plate “Perfection.”

Anna laughed “Simmer down now. But you’re doing great.”

She leaned into the door to the dining area to open it and deliver the meal to the patron. He was an American in around his late fifties or early sixties planning to hike as much Canadian West Coast as he could set his boots on. He looked to be in the right shape to take in on with a tall and wiry muscular frame. He was lightly tanned with a short grey goatee and a matching full head of silver hair. She suspected his accent originated somewhere in the range of Ohio as yesterday he had asked her about the location of the Laundromat because he wished to “worsh” his clothes. He thanked her for the eggs and darted a look at his dwindling supply of coffee.

“Could I get a refill on that please?”

Anna smiled “Sure. I’ll be back in a sec.”

She circled the dining area, gathering dishes in a mildly precarious stack and made her way back into the kitchen.

Her mother, Tallulah Beal, was in the kitchen talking to Caitlin as she loaded the dishwasher and the two looked up as Anna came in.

“Oh, got some more for you.” She teased before taking them to the sink to rinse off anything too chunky for the machine.  Tallulah took them from the sink and began to pass them to Caitlin. Tallulah had her long white hair swept up in a bun for the morning’s work. She looked like an older, slightly more robust version of Anna except for the long hair and her tortoise rimmed glasses. Tallulah was an eternal hippie. She had on a worn tie dyed t-shirt and loose billowy capri length pants. If it wasn’t health code regulation to wear close toed shoes in the kitchen, she’d happily be in bare feet than her small flat shoes. Beside her, Caitlin was practically a pixie with her slight build and bobbed blonde hair.  Cailtlin also had a very bohemian vibe which is likely what drew Tallulah to hire her as a summer cook. There was, of course, another reason for the hiring which Tallulah addressed.

“Anna, we’ve got this you know. You should take that road trip with Steph and Tams.”

Caitlin nodded in support of the statement and Anna looked between the two women “Are you sure? It’s the high season. Having three of us has actually been a really good balance. And that Swedish exchange group won’t have even arrived yet when I’m supposed to be leaving.”

Tallulah shook her hands in the air and then placed one still damp hand on Anna’s shoulder “We’ll be FINE. Take the camper and have some fun.”

Anna exhaled and then hugged her mother “OK, but I’ll keep it short.” She let go, reaching for the coffee pot. “That hiker guy needs a refill.”

Tallulah flushed slightly and scooped the pot away from her daughter “Oh you mean Paul? Please allow me.”


Anna released her grip and smirked. Caitlin giggled. After the door swung shut from her mother's exit Anna said "Keep an eye on her while I'm away Caitlin. She shouldn't be left unsupervised."