Instagram comments left:
March 29, 2023:
“this was the most delectable soup i have ever had the joy of consuming. the base of the soup was the perfect consistency and had larger pieces of flawlessly cooked potatoes within it. the cheese and bacon on the top made the experience even better, adding otherworldly flavor and texture the the already incredible soup. i heavily contemplated going back to buy more soup but decided against it so other students would be able to enjoy this delicacy. cannot wait for this to be brought back again, definitely my all time favorite olu cafe dish. exceptional job, i could not be happier with this soup.”
February 1, 2024. Before Lunch:
“This announcement [of the soup’s return] has filled my heart with such insurmountable, inexplicable joy. I could not possibly hope to accurately portray the extent of my fiery zeal in words for it is too great to express. If the slight tremor of my hands and the inability of my brain to focus on anything but this soup says anything, let it be this: this soup will ruin the soup eating experience for any other liquid that even attempts to call itself soup for this soup has bested all others by light years and eons. I have not been able to enjoy eating for 44 weeks which is the time since I last had this delectable soup, for those who are unaware. While I wish to urge you all to refrain from eating this soup so I may eagerly usurp it in its entirety, I fear that would be an insult to my fellow OLu students and a manifestation of concentrated moral deficiency on my part. I urge you, OLu student body, to remember this soup after this day passes and to join me in the fight to have this soup available in higher frequency. I sincerely thank you, OLu cafe, for allowing us this indulgence. Praise God for its return.”
What Happened:
After daily gathering, I rushed out to the beloved OLu Cafe, simply unable to contain my eagerness to reunite with the soup I so loved and adored. Upon stepping into the cafe, my desperate eyes immediately took in the sight of the day’s food options.
No soup.
I couldn’t help the shock that arose within my chest, filling my heart with deep fear that I would have to wait beyond the 309 days I managed to get through.
“Is the soup available today?” I asked the nearest OLu Cafe worker, still in a daze.
He looked at me curiously, put off by the aura of distraughtness emanating from my very being. “Let me ask Chef Anthony,” he responded cautiously. After convening with the Head Chef, he gave me a nonchalant “Sorry, it’s only for teachers today.”
I wanted to scream. I had never faced such an intense surge of emotion at a single statement before. It was as if my still beating heart had been taken out of my body and stepped on like a pita chip. Biting back tears, I let my dear friend Emily lead me out of the Cafe and to the club meeting we were already late to.
Upon reaching the choir room, the location for OLu Music Club’s meetings (JOIN!!), I fell to my knees. I couldn’t help but cry in agony for my beloved soup.
After the club meeting ended, I begged Mr. Klammer to buy me a soup. I knew I could trust him with such an important matter since teaching AP Physics and acquiring OLu potato soup have similar prerequisites, apparently. He agreed to get me the soup at 12:00 since he had to supervise the students in his classroom.
While I deeply appreciated his agreement, I could not endure 10 more minutes without this soup. I was determined to buy it myself.
I marched back into the Cafe, still with my dear friend Emily for much needed emotional support (shoutout to Emily Liao), and found Chef Anthony putting more food out. I was astounded by the sheer luck of seeing him so immediately upon my entry. This was surely a good sign.
“Chef Anthony!” I cried happily.
“…Yes?” He responded, confused smile on his face.
“I’m the girl who loves your soup.” I explained clumsily, too mentally overtaken by my lack of soup to form eloquent strings of words.
“Oh! You’re my stalker!” Chef Anthony said, clearly recognizing me.
“Yes!” I agreed eagerly, though in retrospect, I’m not sure this was the right response. “Please, Chef Anthony, is there any soup left?” I asked, voice strained with emotion.
“Let me check in the back,” he responded coolly.
After about 15 seconds, Chef Anthony walked out with the most glorious bowl of soup I had ever laid eyes upon. I was taken aback by the sight, overcome with pure joy. I could not help but spin around in giddy circles holding my soup, trying once again not to cry.
After acquiring three more bowls of the soup (one for Emily and one for Mr. Klammer as a thanks for his agreement to ask on our behalf), we left the Cafe. We hurried to Mr. Klammer’ s room to inform him that there was no longer a need for his assistance in the matter, but he was not there.
Upon his return, he told me with a tone of sensitivity “No soup, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry, we have four,” Emily and I told him, handing him his own soup.
The shock on his face was obvious as he thanked us.
And for a brief moment, it felt as if all was right in the world.
Chef Anthony, if you’re reading this, please bring back the soup.
