“It’s okay, Dad,” said Aunt Melissa. “We just had a five-minute family huddle about scheduling.” She winked at us.

“Yep,” said Dad, taking her cue. “And here’s Lindsay reporting for her first day at Donut Dreams.”

Grandpa beamed. “There’s always room for family in the Park!” he bellowed. “Now get back to work, everyone!”

After we cleaned up from the East twins, which required sweeping and mopping the floor and cleaning the table and chairs they’d sat in, it was a little slow.

The lunchtime crew was getting busy on the other side of the restaurant, and I saw my cousins: Jenna, Kelsey’s older sister, and Lily in their waitress uniforms, serving table after table.

Jenna, Lily, and Lily’s older brother, Rich, were the only ones allowed to wait on tables, because they were old enough. Molly, Kelsey’s other sister, was a runner, which meant she filled the glasses at the tables, brought extra ketchup or hot sauce if someone asked for it, and replaced a napkin if someone dropped it on the floor—stuff like that. Then Kelsey and I were on the Dream Team. One day Skylar would probably work here too.

We got a little busier after lunch, when people would buy a donut to go. Kelsey and I had a good rhythm together, with one of us putting the donuts in a bag and the other one ringing up the customers and keeping the line moving. (We knew some of the regulars’ orders already.)

Principal Clarke, who was the principal of the middle school where I’d be going, smiled at me as she came up in line.

“Well, I think you’ll be joining us soon, Lindsay,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said. “Looking forward to it!”

“Oh, I can’t wait to have you. It’s going to be a great year!” She watched as Kelsey packed her dozen donuts. “I’m headed over for a meeting now and thought I’d sweeten up some of the teachers!”

“Well, donuts usually do the trick!” I said.

I wondered about the teachers. Some of them were friends of Mom’s. But even if you know someone, they can act totally different when they’re in front of a classroom.

After Principal Clarke left, Kelsey whispered, “The sweetest donut in the world won’t sweeten Mrs. Gable up.”

I giggled because she was right.

Mrs. Gable taught at the middle school and also happened to be my next-door neighbor. She was what Nans called “a prune.” She was always complaining about things and was never really friendly.

Dad always shoveled her walk and helped rake her leaves anyway, which I thought was nice, since she was always yelling over the fence that Sky and I were making too much noise in the backyard.