Strawberries

Authors Note: My favorite thing in the whole world is pie. I recently had myself a piece of banana cream pie, which isn't the main pie in this story, but it's part of the inspiration. The main inspiration for this story is strawberries. Just simple strawberries, nothing else. While eating them I thought about making a pie, which led to this story! So I hope you enjoy. I know this isn't exactly what the challenge is about, but this is what I thought about while eating strawberries. Enjoy! (p.s. I also recently watched a romantic film..so that also kind of led to this haha) 

It was a rainy Wednesday in May, and Calvin made his usual trip to the Dreamy Cow Diner. Everyone greeted him on his way in. “Hey Cal how ya doing this afternoon?” Asked Jim, one of the regulars at the diner. “Oh I’m good, Just coming in for my regular.” Calvin had been coming to the Dreamy Cow Diner for over three months, ordering a piece of pie. But pie wasn’t the main reason he came to the Diner. He came in to see the girl making the pies. Her name was Johanna Shaw and Calvin was convinced that she was his soulmate. The first day he came to the diner he tried to order the mile high strawberry pie.
Louise almost died laughing when he asked this. Louise was one of the older waitresses that worked at the Dreamy Cow and now was one of his favorite people.
“Why are you laughing?” He had asked her.
“Listen son, that pie is the most delicious thing you will ever taste in your life.” She said.
“But Jo back there only makes it for people she likes, people who she can trust. It took me a month or more to gain her trust for her to make me that pie.” Said Louise.
“Then why do you even put it on the menu?” Asked Cal. At this point he was somewhat frustrated. He was new to this town and had yet to find out about all weird and wonderful quirks it had to offer.
“We think of it as a nice little joke, we don’t get too many out of towners in these parts.” Calivn sighed.
“Well I just moved here and I-“  He stopped mid-sentence, that’s when he saw her. Johanna had short brown hair and cute little freckles that dotted her face. Her eyes were the same brown as her hair, but she was the most beautiful thing Cal had ever seen. That day he made the plan to win over her heart.

Now three months later he sat at the counter and he still had not gotten a piece of mile high strawberry pie, or Jo’s phone number.
“Hey Jo.” He said smiling at her. Jo kept working in the back, folding and kneading dough.
“Hi Cal.” She said simply and kept on working.
Louise came over to take his order. “Hey Cal, how ya doing?” She asked.
“I’m doing good Louise. I’ll take a cup of coffee, and what’s the pie for the day?” He asked. He knew it wasn’t going to be the pie he had been waiting for, but a guy could dream.
“Chocolate Cream, would you like a piece?” She asked. Of course Louise already knew the answer was yes, but this was a little joke of theirs.
“I don’t know Louise…Is the Chocolate Cream as good as the Strawberry Mile High?” Calvin asked smirking. He said it a little louder so Jo would hear him.
“Not even close.” Louise answered.
“Ahh well I’ll still take it.” He said. He took a glance in the back and he spotted a tiny smile on Jo’s face.
This was his favorite day of the week, because if he was lucky enough he would get to see that little smile at least once.

The next week he came and again it was another rainy day, worse than last Wednesday. He shook out his umbrella before coming inside the Dreamy Cow. Most of the regulars were missing that day, not wanting to deal with the weather. It looked like it was just him, and old Bobby who liked to sit in the corner and read the newspaper.
“Hey Louise, it’s pretty bad out there today.” He sat down at his regular spot at the counter. Louise set a cup of coffee down without saying anything. He knew immediately that something was wrong.
“Louise..what’s wrong?” He asked. She sighed before coming back over.
“It’s Jo.” She said. “Today is the anniversary of her Aunt’s death. Her Aunt was the one who raised her.” She said solemnly. “She didn’t come in today, so there won’t be any pie. Sorry sweetie.”
Calvin could care less about the pie, he was more concerned for Jo.
“Oh I’m sorry to hear that. I hope she’s okay. Is there anything I can do?” He asked. Louise shook her head. “The best thing to do is to just leave her be.” She said.
Cal stared down at his cup of coffee. He wished there was some way to help her feel better. He stared at his coffee watching it get cold when the idea popped into his head.
“LOUISE!” He called out. Louise came around the corner. “Yes, Cal? For christ’s sake keep your voice down.” She laughed.
“I’m gonna make her a pie.” He said. Louise busted up laughing, grabbing the counter for support.
“Are you kidding me? You, Calvin Parker, are gonna make the Queen of Pies..a pie?” She asked laughing some more.
“YES, yes I am.” He said taking off his jacket. He rolled up the sleeves on his white dress shirt before hopping over the counter. Louise didn’t stop him, just stared at him with amusement.
“Okay, good luck. Do you even know how to make pie?” She asked. Calvin thought about this for a moment. He had no clue how to make pie, but goddamn it he was gonna try his hardest.

Two burnt pies later, he thought he had his winner. He attempted to make banana cream pie, which Louise said was Jo’s favorite. “Okay how does it look?” He asked.  Louise looked him up and down before looking at the pie. He was covered in flour and his white shirt was stained with banana cream filling. She laughed before giving him a pat on the back.
“You are a good man Calvin Parker, let’s hope that pie tastes better than it looks.” She said before telling him Jo’s address. He left the Dreamy Cow keeping the pie safe beneath his umbrella.
Jo lived only a block away in a tiny little house that used to belong to her Aunt. He walked up the front steps and rang the doorbell. When Jo answered the door he could see that she had been crying.
“Cal? What the hell are you doing here?” She asked.
All the confidence Cal had was now gone as he tripped over his words.
“Uh..Hi Jo. Um..so I brought you something.” He handed her the pie.
“So..yeah um Louise said it was your favorite. It’s banana cream..I know it doesn’t look like it, but it is. Anyways, um so I figured you make pies every day for people..but um nobody ever makes pie for you so yeah.” He said nervously. She looked down at the pie before giving him a smile.
“Thank you Cal.” She said.
“Your..uh welcome. Anyways I gotta get going..so bye Jo!” He said walking as quickly away as he could. He felt like he was twelve years old again.

The next week the weather was Sunny outside and Calvin almost dreaded going into the Diner.
After last week’s embarrassing attempt, he almost couldn’t bear to look at Jo, knowing she probably thought he was a buffoon. He walked in to find the diner full of people, busy and bustling.
He sat down at his regular spot, trying to lay low. A cup of coffee was placed in front of him and he looked up expecting to see Louise, but instead Jo was there with a smile on her face. He almost knocked over his coffee in surprise.
“Hi Cal.” She said like it was just another day.
“Hi..uh-“ He cleared his throat. “Hi Jo.” He said.
“Where’s Louise?” He asked.
“Oh she’s around. Anyways what can I get you?” She asked.
“Uh..just the pie of the day, thank you.” He said.
“You got it.” She said before walking away. Calvin sipped his coffee nervously. Maybe she actually liked the pie, maybe he hadn’t made a complete fool of himself, only half a fool.
When Jo came back she set down a whole pie in front of him. He stared at it shocked, it was THE pie.
He looked up at Jo, his mouth hanging open. “Enjoy.” Was all she said before walking away.
He took a big bite and the flavors exploded in his mouth like fireworks. It was everything Louise said it would be, only better. It was the best pie he had ever had in his life. Sweet and satisfying and it tasted like pure happiness. It was so good that Cal couldn’t stop himself. He kept eating until he finished the whole pie. He stomach was full and he felt like he had died and gone to heaven. Jo whistled making him look up. She winked at him before making a gesture, telling him to turn the pie pan over. When he turned it over, there in black sharpie was a phone number.