11. Panda Juice

Penny was very excited as she watched the first customer approach the counter.

“Just follow my lead.” Gus said.

“Welcome to Panda Juice!” Gus lit up with a bright smile.

The man studied the big photos of food products.

“I’ll have a medium size Panda Juice.”

Gus pointed at the big glass cage under the counter. There were eight three months old Panda cubs strewn around. Some were sleeping, others were eating and one of them was scratching one of the glass walls.

“First cub of the day. Would you like to pick one?” Gus gestured widely at the selection, then added with a chuckle: “They’re all equally delicious though.”

Sally and the customer laughed.

Then the customer crouched, hands on his knees and examined the Pandas for a couple of seconds.

“That one!” He pointed at the one scratching the glass. “He looks like an active little fellow.”

Gus slid one of the doors open, and grabbed the cub. None of the other cubs paid any attention as he closed the door again.

Turning their back to the customer, Gus and Penny turned to the work station. The cub looked around curiously.

“First you give it a quick wash at the sink, get all the gunk out. You turn on the water by stepping on the pedal.”

Gus moved the cub under the hot spray of water, turning it around and scrubbing it.  Brown-yellow water drained down the sinkhole. 

They moved to the next station as the cub sneezed.

“Here you shave the fur off. Just get most of it, don’t obsessed with getting everything as we don’t have the time for that and it doesn’t matter.”

Penny looked in interest as Gus used the electric shaver to remove the white and black fur off the confused cub. It looked weird naked with only clumps of wet fur sticking out in places. Penny laughed and tickled its chin.

Holding the cub firmly, Gus picked up a little spoon.

“This part, though, is essential. The eyes are very bitter and you must scoop them out.”

The cub howled as his eyes were removed in two quick motions. He kept on screaming and squealing when Gus placed him inside the big blender and covered it with a plastic lead, muffling the cries.

“You put it in the blender and blend it for a minute. That’s all”. Gus smiled at her. “Would you like the honors?”

Penny nodded and approached the machine. She savored the moment and then pressed the button. The cub’s screams were replaced with the whirring of blades.

When the noise stopped Gus poured the red liquid into a medium plastic cup and sealed it.

“One cub makes about eight regular cups.” He said.

The customer paid and walked off with his drink.

“Have a nice day!” Penny said cheerfully and then suddenly the smile disappeared from her face.

“Did you see that?” Gus said coldly.

“The leather shoes he was wearing…” Penny looked ill. “Yuck.”

“What an asshole.”