“I can’t wait for the diner to reopen.”Salzy sat down with a beer.
“Why?”Jamie frowned at him.
“Then we can have apple pie.”Salzy grinned.“I do like your desserts.”
“I have to admit, cooking in such a confined space or only on the grill is making me antsy.”
“Soon,” Joesph said as he sat down, pulling his glass of tea closer.“Just try and be a little more patient.”
“I feel like I’m not doing anything.It’s driving me nuts.”
“The tilers will be back tomorrow to grout.Then the day after tomorrow you can start bringing in your brand-newkitchen equipment.”
“Can’t be soon enough,” Jamie grumbled.
“Someone is getting grumpy,” Joesph stated.“Why don’t you and Salzy go shopping for a stereo tomorrow?”
“What about a sound system for the diner?”Mike asked.“There wasn’t any music in there.It might be kind of nice to, you know, have some background music.”
“Yes!”Joesph said, slapping the table.“The two of you now have the job of going out and finding a stereo for the apartment and a sound system for the diner.”
“At least a boom box like I have,” Salzy added.“You don’t need anything too big for such a small space.”
“No.”Joesph sat back, crossing his arms over his chest.“You need a proper stereo and a television.”He pointed to the old console TV in the living room.“Something that’s...what?1990s?That thing is soold.”
“I’d go with you, but I have to be at work tomorrow.And I have something on tomorrow night, so I won’t be here for dinner.”Mike said, sounding not happy about it.
“That’s not a problem,” Joesph said.“There won’t be much going on here tomorrow.Just the tilers.”
“Can we take Belinda?”Salzy asked, his face excited.
Joesph glowered at the man sitting next to him.“No one, and I domeanno one, drives Belinda butme!”
Jamie laughed.“You should have seen Joesph when they asked him if they could borrow his car for the gay pride parade one year.His whole face and body sucked in as if he’d just been fed a pitcher of lemon juice laced with cayenne pepper!It was hysterical.”
“And did they use Belinda in such anunbecomingway?With some...politician infecting her with bad karma?”Joesph’s eyebrows had nearly disappeared into the short afro on his head.
“I swear, you and that car have sex,” Jamie laughed.
“You are crudeandrude.”Joesph shook his head before taking a drink of his tea.“I donotknow how I’ve put up with you forallthese years.”
Mike started laughing and laughing hard.
“Ibegyour pardon.What do you find sofunny?”
Mike motioned between Jamie and Joesph.“You two.It’s like watching a comedy of two old married people.”
“You know, in a way,” Salzy said, his head tilted slightly, “You guys remind me of Ms.Mattie and Mr.Solan.”
Jamie’s mouth dropped open.Then he asked, “How so?”
Salzy shook his head slightly.“It’s hard to explain.Sometimes you are just like your grandmother, and at other times you’re Mr.Solan.”
Jamie shrugged.“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It was meant as one.”Salzy smiled warmly at Jamie.
“What am I?The dog’s dinner?”Joesph stood, empty glass in hand.
