French Cup: A Neighborhood Story

Chapter 45: -Kazuya- Chouquette Heart

Lines of chouquettes filled with a mini rainbow of custards with fresh cut fruits met our customers today in our showcase. They were delicate, having to cool completely when out of the oven so they wouldn't collapse before being filled. They were a bit like my emotions lately, a reflection of their baker. Yesterday, I hadn't been able to make much of anything, but today they were the equivalent of my heart on my sleeve. Small and sweet, but vulnerable and delicate. 

Nikki had come and sat and ate a flight of them for breakfast, three of each of the three kinds. They were my standard of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry custard filled. Comfortable and familiar flavors. He ate them silently, reflecting himself. I didn't disturb him. It was a new day, and no doubt he had a hangover that he could no longer handle in his mid-thirties. He often told me about these, but he suffered them no matter how bad they were. He'd read a newspaper while slowly eating, an old one left by a customer. I'd spied him reading about what had happened at Zombie Walk. It was such a small article compared to how we felt.

There'd been no report of Charlotte's movie theater closing at all. There most likely would be one in the Rainbow Edition, and it seemed it was the only paper that cared. It seemed so insignificant, like every newspaper should be reporting on it. But, it was only important to us. It devastated me. 

People came and went. Some lingered, getting refills of coffee for a couple of hours. It hit me that many of our regulars are older. I hadn't thought of that really before. They were just people to me, regardless of age. But, if I thought about it, maybe they could afford to sit here due to not having to work, or less responsibilities. Many had told me before that they liked the music we played, all of my favorite French chanson, because it reminded them of an era gone by. It had been popular in Japan before my time, they said. 

I'd eventually sat down at Gyeong-Wan's usual table and ate a chouquette with chocolate custard and strawberries. The strawberries made me think of cakes with many cut fruit pieces on them. A basket full of fruit flavors. Comforting flavors. It was all about comfort now. Everyone was quieter today. They knew what was happening to our community, from these past few days. We all needed the familiar, something to hang on to. It made me want to make a cake with light frosting, an effect like bark. Not too sweet, but that needed hint of sweetness. So many fruits could be on top and inside. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries. Strawberries, peaches, kiwi. A true rainbow of colors. A rainbow cake, for our rainbow community. 

The image of the rainbow flag being ripped from that person's shoulders during Zombie Walk. How much the colors of these fruits reminded me of that flag. But really, no one can really take your colors from you, because they are inside. They can try. They can take the symbol of who you are, but they can't take who you are. The world might not care, but those colors are always inside no matter what. You might hate them sometimes, you might love them sometimes. But they just...are. 

In no time, I was sketching the cake on a napkin. Thinking about the ingredients, the cream. Making a recipe for our community. My own protest. My own anger about everything coming out. Charlotte not getting enough support since we'd all had to disperse, so she had to leave. All those people at Zombie Walk screaming, all that chaos. I'd had enough. 

In the end, I came up with a cake of many different kinds. There were many cakes that could wear this rainbow coat. There could be a chocolate cake inside, with the same white cream on the outside and many colors of fruits on top and between the layers inside. There could be a vanilla cake, or a strawberry cake, coffee or carrot. It made me think, it didn't matter who you are on the inside, you can still wear your colors with pride. 

I picked up my napkin, smiling to myself. Studying the picture I'd drawn of the design. It made me think of Gyeong-Wan, who'd told me about his colors. It would be a cake that could encourage him, but it might encourage so many others. I'd type up a card about the cake, explaining the meaning. These mini cakes. They might be my best idea yet.