CHAPTER THIRTY SIX –CERTAINTY COMLEX

The kitchen was a whirlwind of activity. Joan found herself stretching dough, spreading sauce, and sprinkling cheese faster than she ever had before. Stacey worked beside her, a look of grim determination on her face. "Joan," Stacey said between pizzas, "I don't think we can keep up. There are just too many orders!" "We can do this, Stacey," Joan reassured her, even as she felt her own doubts creeping in. "Remember what we talked about? Positivity is contagious. Let's focus on what we can do, not what we can't." Stacey nodded, taking a deep breath. "You're right. Okay, let's do this!" As the night wore on, the chaos only seemed to intensify. Joan found herself bouncing between the kitchen, the dining room, and the front counter, putting out metaphorical fires everywhere she went. "Derek, that's the third wrong order in the last hour," Joan said, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice. "Please, I need you to slow down and double-check everything." Derek's usual smile had