Fry Another Day by J. J. Cook Read Free Book Online

first challenge,” Alex said. “Give yourselves a big hand.”
    Of course everyone applauded.
    â€œBut we can’t all be winners. It was decided that, despite the sad death of Reggie Johnson, and the subsequent loss of his food truck, the Dog House, that one other food truck will still be taken out of the running after this challenge.”
    Everyone groaned. Really, I guess we’d all hoped the producers might let Reggie’s truck be the one that didn’t go on. He obviously couldn’t participate. Wasn’t that enough?
    I could see from the faces of the other food truck owners standing close by that they had felt the same way. A certain amount of grumbling was to be expected with that disappointment.
    â€œOkay. I know a lot of you figured it would only be the Dog House eliminated from the race.” Alex smiled at everyone. “How fair would that be since Reggie didn’t participate?”
    His attempt to placate the crowd wasn’t very popular. He conferred with a group of people on the sidelines that I’d decided were “the producers.” He was back a minute later with his arms stretched out like Moses parting the Red Sea.
    â€œI’m sorry, but that decision is final,” Alex said. “I have the names of the contestants who will be going on to Columbia with us. I also have the name of the winner of the challenge. Does anyone want to hear it?”
    The crowd yelled in a halfhearted fashion.
    â€œI can’t hear you.” Alex cupped his ear with one hand. “Does anyone want the
good
news?”
    The group managed a louder response, with Ollie leading the way as he screamed his answer. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to hear out of my left ear again.
    â€œThat’s better.” Alex opened a large envelope. “The winner of the sweet potato challenge is Our Daily Bread, according to all challenges.”
    Everyone applauded as Reverend Jay Jablonski ran to the stage. Our Daily Bread was manned by a group of ministers from Jacksonville, Florida. They’d started the truck selling breads, rolls, and coffee cakes as an outreach project for their church.
    Alex congratulated Reverend Jablonski. The stocky, balding minister took the microphone to thank his team and race officials.
    â€œWe owe it all to God,” he said with a big smile on his face.
    There were also prizes awarded daily to challenge winners. Reverend Jablonski won a new air conditioner for his food truck.
    â€œOf course he won.” Bobbie Shields from Shut Up and Eat complained loudly as she stood next to me. “Sweet potatoes aren’t all that noticeable in bread.”
    Reverend Jablonski left the stage after another round of applause. Alex took over the microphone again.
    â€œAnd now for the contestants who will continue on to Columbia.” He took out another sealed envelope.
    I wondered when someone had time to make up those envelopes. The challenge had only been over for such a short time.
    â€œAre you ready?” Alex tried to rev up the group again. His excitement was falling on disappointed ears. “Traveling on to Columbia and the second leg of the race will be: Our Daily Bread. Shut Up and Eat. Fred’s Fish Tacos. Chooey’s Sooey. Stick It Here. Grinch’s Ganache. Pizza Papa. And the Biscuit Bowl.”
    â€œThat means the mushroom woman didn’t make it,” Uncle Saul said loudly over the cheers and moans from the winners and losers. “Darn! I was looking forward to trying her mushroom soup.”
    â€œAt least we made the cut,” I said. “I wonder how they came to that decision.”
    Alex tapped on his microphone to get everyone’s attention again. “And of course, our friend and fellow food truck owner Reggie Johnson travels with us to Columbia in spirit. That’s it, people. See you tomorrow.”
    Everyone filed into the cool-down tent for a briefing on what we could expect tomorrow.