Page 54 of The Beach Shack Artists 3
“No need. Crisis averted, napkins restored to their natural habitat.” Joey gestured at his pile. “Though I have to admit, Bea’s origami lesson came in handy during the Great Napkin Shortage of last week.”
Anna sat down across from him. “Bea taught you origami?”
“When we couldn’t find any napkins to fold the normal way, she showed me how to make cranes out of paper towels. Very zen. Also very ridiculous, but surprisingly calming.” Joey held up a napkin folded into what might have been a swan. “Turns out I’m not terrible at it.”
“That’s actually pretty impressive.”
“Right? Who knew stress could be educational?” Joey smiled. “Though I have to say, Florence made you very... systematic.”
“Systematic?”
“Before you left, you’d float ideas. ‘What if we tried this?’ ‘How would this work?’ You came back with fully formed reorganization plans and implementation schedules.” Joey attempted another fold. “Very professional. Also slightly overwhelming.”
Anna winced. “I was excited about applying what I’d learned.”
Joey successfully completed another swan. “But maybe next time, give us a heads up? Like a memo. ‘Attention staff: Napkin dispensers migrating to strategic locations. Do not panic.’”
“A memo,” Anna repeated, laughing.
“Very official. Maybe with a little diagram. I love diagrams.”
Anna found herself relaxing for the first time all week. “I missed working with you,” she said.
“Same. Though I have to say, you definitely came back more... decisive.”
“Is that bad?”
“Not bad! Just different. Before, you’d ask what we thought about ideas. This time you explained why the new way was better after you’d already changed everything.” Joey gestured with his napkin swan. “It felt like finding out I was doing everything wrong”
Anna felt something click into place. “You wanted to be part of figuring it out.”
“Exactly. We missed you while you were gone, so when you came back we were excited to work together again. But then it felt like you thought everything we’d been doing was wrong.”
“That’s not what I meant?—”
“I know. But that’s how it felt.” Joey finished his swan and started on what looked like a more ambitious project.“Especially for Stella. She’s been working really hard to learn how everything works, and then suddenly all the systems changed.”
Anna thought about Stella—steady, observant Stella, who’d been quietly keeping things running while Anna implemented her improvements.
“I made everyone’s job harder.”
“For a little while. But it worked out okay.” Joey held up his latest creation—a peacock with an elaborate fanned tail. “Plus, I learned origami, so really, personal growth all around.”
Anna watched him work, his fingers moving with surprising dexterity. “Could you teach me? The folding, I mean.”
Joey looked surprised. “Really?”
“I’d like to help you finish this prep. And maybe learn something that doesn’t involve paint for once.”
“Sure! Fair warning though—I’m still learning myself. Bea’s the real expert.” Joey grabbed a fresh napkin and slid it across to Anna. “Let’s start with something simple. Basic crane.”
He demonstrated the first few folds slowly, his movements deliberate and clear. Anna tried to follow along, but her napkin quickly began to look more like abstract sculpture than organized folding.
“No, see, you fold it this way first,” Joey said, reaching over to adjust her technique. “The foundation fold is everything. If you get that wrong, the whole thing falls apart.”
Anna tried again, this time managing something that vaguely resembled Joey’s example. “Like this?”
“Better! Though your crane looks a little... interpretive.”
