#5 Icing on the Cake by Stephanie Perry Moore Page B

that’s the least of your worries,” said an older, distinguished, white gentleman with feathered gray hair and glasses.
    â€œWhat are you talking about? No riddles, I’m busy,” she angrily voiced with both hands on her hips.
    When I looked at my dad, wondering what was going on, he winked my way. The same gentleman said, “I am Mr. Cobb, the health inspector for the state …”
    And before he could finish, Ms. Pinky cut him off, looked at me and said, “What she say? What she lie on me and say?”
    â€œMaybe you can tell us,” Mr. Cobb told her.
    â€œWhat could you have said, you little nit whit? When they come around here to check me out I switch out some dated products? No big deal. Okay, and I might not always sell brand new baked goods, but no one has ever gotten sick. Is that what she told you I did? Is that whatshe said?” Ms. Pinky questioned, truly unaware of what she admitted to doing.
    I was about to say that I talked to my father, but she had told on herself. When some other people by the doorway moved out of the way, two policemen asked if she could come with them. They went on to explain that there had been several complaints. She yelled out for Rhonda to help, but Rhonda corroborated all the accusations. Everything she told them about was illegal.
    Hearing no backup, Ms. Pinky screamed and yelled and hollered and stomped, but she still was carried out of her beautiful place with her mean spirit. It had already started feeling more like Christmas. I hugged my father, and the health inspector thanked me. He actually commended Rhonda too for stepping up and telling the truth.
    â€œYeah, but I’m out a job,” Rhonda said, looking somber.
    My father looked at her and said, “Don’t worry about that. My daughter has told me what a great lady you are. We’ll find something foryou at the city. Good people like you need to be working.”
    â€œBut I don’t have a college degree or a bunch of credentials.”
    â€œWe can still find something and get you trained so you have more skills to achieve your dreams,” my father told her.
    â€œWow, I did vote for the right person,” Rhonda said while my dad humbly smiled.
    The health inspector peered my way and said, “I’m glad that you want to get in this business. It’s a tough place to catch criminals because lots of people want to cut corners, keep their costs down so that their profits can be wider. The culinary industry has a big job to do. Their foremost job is making sure they take care of the health of their customers. I don’t want what you witnessed here to deteriorate your dreams because this place is just so beautiful, I’d hate to see it go away.”
    â€œYeah,” my dad said, quickly giving Mr. Cobb an eye to say no more. “But don’t you worry about any of that. I’m proud of you.”
    I uttered, “I’m just glad she can’t hurtanybody anymore. Her stuff looked good, but if people knew how she made it … it was bad.”
    â€œWell, now we got the bad apple out the bunch. And we’re working with your mother to get more out the way. Somebody’s intentionally selling these bad goods. We’re close. We’re going to work with your father to clean up Charlotte. But with young people like you on the horizon, our future looks bright. Thanks again,” Mr. Cobb said before exiting.
    My dad looked at the yummy cupcakes. “Oh, but I want one so bad.”
    Rhonda and I looked at each other and shook our heads, no. He chuckled, but he nodded understanding. We threw all the inventory away.

    A few days later, I was smiling from ear to ear, preparing for my sweet sixteen birthday party. It was supposed to be a surprise for Sloan and me, but both of us knew. Her birthday was two days before. While the craziness over the last two weeks had finally calmed down, I was a little melancholy as I put on my sassy,