Page 1 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
Prologue
Wonderwood, New Jersey – 2004
Daisy
The shoreline glimmered like an ocean of diamonds as the sun bore down on the water’s surface. It was a gorgeous sight, the kind some people dreamed of seeing their whole year, maybe their whole lives. It wasn’t the Florida Keys, California coastline, or some tropical island paradise. Even so, “shoobie” vacationers paid good money to take a break from their regular routine and experience the New Jersey coast like this.
For Daisy, this was as regular as things got.
At twelve years old, she had more responsibility than your average pre-teen. More than some adults, too, leaving her jaded before she knew what the word meant. However, her parents’ business on the bustling Wonderwood Boardwalkneeded all the help it could get.
Thankfully, the menu was simple enough that just about anyone could keep the place running—bagels, plain hot coffee, and cold fountain drinks. Only the basics, but they did the basics well. The stall was simple, too. A single countertop set with four plush pleather stools, a refrigerated display window, plus a prep area and register, all painted bright 90’s fluorescent greens and pinks.
Despite its small scale, Bagel Bombs! had been an institution of the community for years. Her parents worked hard to make the place popular with their unique take on the humble breakfast food and, once she was old enough, Daisy did, too.
Usually.
Today, things were dragging.
After waking up at the crack of dawn, she pulled herself out of bed and biked to the boardwalk from her parents’ bungalow on the far side of the island. That alone left her panting since it was “soupy,” as her mom called it. Hot and humid with breeze-less air, it was the kind of day that started with everything covered in a thick layer of dew.
Still, by the time the first glimmers of dawnlight peeked over the horizon, the boardwalk was teeming with people. Bikers and runners getting their morning exercise, beachgoers looking to claim their prime spot, and your average amblers taking in the sights streamed past the mostly-shuttered boardwalk storefronts.
It might be soupy, but Daisy could tell right away it would be packed.
As soon as she hauled up the security chain and flipped on the styled“DA BOMB!”neon open sign, she was met with a line of hungry customers. Like a true pro, she powered through the morning rush to the lunchtime pop. Nothing out of the ordinary happened apart from running out of sesame bombs. She served oneverycranky lady who perked right up once she got her coffee, but that was as exciting as things got.
Now, there was nothing to do but wait until shift change.Her mom, who was busy running errands and doing adult business during the day, would arrive soon to take over for the rowdier night crowd. Then, Daisy could go be a normal kid. Not that she was normal in any sense of the word, but it might be nice to pretend.
What would she do with her freedom, though?
The brand-new fishing wharf-turned-amusement pier, Perry’s Pier, was across the boardwalk. All day,all summer,it blasted her with a barrage of arcade sounds, rushing coasters, and other people enjoying themselves. Maybe she could join in the fun.
Then again, by the time she closed up, she would be even more tired. What was the point of paying to ride a ride she would fall asleep on? She would probably go home, nap, and get roped into helping her dad pre-make more batches of bagel bombs. Just like yesterday and the day before.
Daisy didn’t mind too much. She loved it when her parents praised her or when customers told her how good she was. She loved being responsible and independent. Getting paid helped, too. But, sometimes, she felt bitter about being one of the only kids in a vacation town not having fun.
A yawn escaped Daisy’s mouth.
The rolling churn of the waves was hypnotizing. Back and forth, a great rush followed by a crashing release. Everything else, even the intermittent, screeching gull calls, faded under the soothing rhythm.
Daisy’s head bobbed in her hand. Slowly, her eyelids drooped past the point of no return. As she imagined all the excitement going on at the pier, she joined in hazy half-dreams.
First, she playedDance Dance Revolution. They had real machines, unlike the other boardwalk arcades with their knock-off diagonal arrows. After that, ice cream was a must. She heard their Kohrs Bros stand hadsixdifferent soft serve flavors as opposed to the normal three, and, of course, she would have to sample each one.
She would ride all the rides, saving the best for last: theMouse Kart. Secretly, heights scared her, so the tiny two-person coaster was right up her alley. Or, she thought it would be if she ever got the chance to ride.
ClackClackClack…
The clanging of the coaster gears made its way into Daisy’s dream.
Up, up, and up, Daisy could feel herself inside the goofy-looking mouse ascending the track. At the top, it paused, and she saw the endless, glimmering ocean.
Was this what shoobies felt like? Full of hope and carefree bliss?
However, Daisy wasn’t on vacation. She was at work. Her budding customer service instincts snapped her back to focus as someone approached the counter.
And, by snapped, it happened literally. The arm Daisy had propped against the counter gave out, dropping her chin onto the hard, peach-pink laminate. It hurt. Yet, the girlish giggle from her would-be customer brought an extra sting.
