IT'S A GIRL—TIMES TWO!

       Poor Doug is "coming down with something." He is dragging today, but to watch him work, you'd never know it. The timing was right for me to take frozen pie shells and make quiche. All Doug had to do was drop some bacon in the deep fryer—that's all. I made 11 quiches—3 with no bacon (for those who refuse to eat pork, and one with milk and no sour cream (for Doug who thinks he doesn't like sour cream but admits that once it's cooked in something he can't tell). Kids.

       Angry Mom came to the dining room early, to inquire about the meal. I told her we were having quiche. She gave me a bright smile. Minutes later, she approached Doug alone and asked about the food. Was there PORK in that??? Boy, is Doug sick of dealing with that woman day after day. She didn't give him the bright smile… but we assured her that we had some plain cheese quiche.

       We have a new gatekeeper, a big strapping young fellow, quite personable, probably won't last long as he's already asking for more pay, and we all know it's not a very fancy position. Anyway, he let me into the front pantry where I found some cans of sardines, two cans of Vienna sausages, a can of smoked oysters, and a sardine-like can that was missing a label and was quite long.

       Gatekeeper and a number of our guests had never eaten quiche, and I always get a kick out of introducing it, but today, the loot from the pantry added a great deal of interest to the offerings. Doug and I were especially curious as to the contents of the longer can. The Louisiana-hot sardines disappeared, as did the plain ones and the oysters. I wish I'd had time to observe the eating of the oysters. The mystery can was also taken, but Doug had kept watch on it, and when the diner had finished it, Doug asked him, "What was it?"

       The man wasn't sure. He thought it was smoked salmon and he enjoyed every bite.

       Our pre-release are the most interesting group, and one very tall and handsome young man stands out. He wants to be intimidating. He always eyes the food with a frown and wants details about its content (no pork). I very much do not like his attitude, but Doug likes him, so he must have some redeeming qualities. Today, the man took a plate of plain cheese quiche, but returned to the counter within seconds. I asked him, "What can I get for you?" He wanted more quiche.

       "But I just gave you a plate," I said.

       "Yes, and I want some more," he repeated.

       "Well, when you have cleaned your plate, you may have some more," I scolded in as motherly a tone as I could muster.

       Honey, the whole dining room went up in loud guffaws, and one of the guys even said to Doug, "You LIKED that, didn't you?" That was telling of the relationship they have with him. Doug has brought an enormous amount of good will to that group.

       As always on quiche days, we have tons of skeptics, but everyone who tried it liked it. Many came back for seconds. At the tail end of lunch, a tall thin man approached the counter, eyeing the food. "What is it?" he asked. I told him it was bacon and eggs and cheese in a pie. I assured him he would like it, and I encouraged him to just try it, and to please let me know what he thought of it. Later he came to tell me he liked it. In fact, many people came to say how much they liked it—even the snooty ones who've never grasped the reality that they're living in a shelter.

       One of the women residents indicated that she thought I was Doug's wife. I will work there until I drop, to hear those kinds of comments, and I do wonder why it doesn't bother Doug—but I don't care enough to curb my delight.

       Among the children, "my boy" was not there, but the two brothers were, as well as two sisters, one about 10 and one about 9 months. I was prepared for them. I gave the boys packs of gum, then approached the older girl with a Beanie teddy bear, a box of crayons, and a pack of gum. She just looked at me. You know the look. Until they understand that I'm the goody lady, they don't trust me. Even the baby was unresponsive when I gave her a plush baby doll with a rattle inside. Of course I hope they get to move to a place of their own asap, but otherwise, I hope to have more opportunities to win them over. It's been so long since we had little girls! Charles Boyer would approve.