Oh, no.I’m hybrid girl again, this time, part cheetah, as I rush out of the kitchen, past Patty, and down the hall toward Mr. Bruce’s office. I push open the door and get smacked in the face with an odor that nearly knocks me on my butt.
“I know,” Mr. Bruce says. “It’s bad. Hopefully, he’s getting it all out of his system.”
My eyes shoot to the scratching post where Jinxy blissfully stretches to his full, glorious length, nails tearing into the carpet for just the right pull.
I shift my gaze, spot a coffee cup on the desk, and gasp when I see Mr. Bruce. His face is a deep-dish pizza with extra puff and a pair of lopsided meatballs. I can’t help but notice that today’s vest has a Santa cat chef tossing pizza pies in the air like a juggler. His head is a 3D, artistic expansion—a jumbo combo on steroids.
“That has turmeric in it,” I blurt.
Mr. Bruce pats his puffy face frantically, then screams loud enough to make Jinxy jump into the rafters.
“It’s okay,” I say, “it’s okay. Where’s your EpiPen.” I rush in as he yanks open his drawer and retrieves it.
“Right here. Blue to the sky and orange to the thigh,” he recites while popping off the lid. He jabs the thing into his thigh and looks at me. “This will help, but I’m sorry to say that there’s no avoiding it.”
“Avoiding what?” I ask.
Jinxy drops from his perch and falls into my arms with a meow.
“The doctor,” he says. “Ihaveto go to the ER. Promise me you’ll still have Jinxy on with you? My mom made his bowtie and booties. Everyone she knows is tuning in to watch.”
The desperation in his voice is more than I can take. I nod, knowing Nellie would rather die than step in front of the camera, but she’ll do it for me.
“Okay,” I tell him. “I promise.”
CHAPTER 14
This isnothow I saw things going.
I was supposed to shoot this segment with one of my favorite people. Instead, I’m getting stuck with none other than my polka-dot foe.
Patty holds Jinxy in her arms while a Cheshire grin spreads over her face. The pair waits for my cue beside Dan, the cameraman, as he counts down.
I tried very hard to avoid this. I didn’t want to reward Patty for her little stunt, but when I told Marsha Langston about the change, she said it was too risky to have“just anyone” step in front of the live lens. The safest bet was to have Patty take his place.
As the countdown nears its end, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I feel panic clawing its way in. What will Patty do next to sabotage me? Heck, she almost killed Mr. Bruce; who knows what else she’s capable of?
Dan holds up three fingers.
Now two.
One. He points at me and ducks behind the lens.
“Good morning, Virginia Beach, and thanks for tuning in toSpice It Up with Ginger. Today, we’ve got a delectable cookiethat’s bright, festive, and best of all, easy to make on even your busiest day.”
I pause there, feeling scattered as I recall the line I came up with to introduce Mr. Bruce and Jinxy. It was perfect, but I can’t use it now. And how am I going to welcome pernicious Patty with a pleased face? She’snumero unoon myCan’t Stand ‘Em List.
An arm waves high over the camera. Nellie rushes to the forefront, doing some frantic motion with her hands, eyes wide and worried.
A sign darts up from the arm behind the lens:Should we cut to commercial?It reads.
Oh, no.This can only mean one thing. I’m doing it. I’m panicking.
“I…um…yeah, so it’s getting close to Christmas, isn’t it, friends? Which is why I came up with an easy cookie recipe…”
Nellie hisses the word pistachio at me.
“Which also features an ingredient that’s raised quite a craze for the holidays.” I chuckle, scratch my neck, and notice the temperature is rising. No, that’s just the panic setting in.
