* * * * *
Jamie was sweatingas he placed all the sheet pans on the rack.“Damn, it’s hot.”He looked at Salzy, who was also sweating as he dropped another box on the floor next to Jamie.“How many more?”
“About ten.”Salzy lifted the bottom of his shirt to wipe his eyes.He looked around the room.“You’ve about got it all done.”
“Yeah.As soon as you bring in those last boxes, I’ll turn on the AC.”
“What about the front door?”
Jamie looked out at the dining room.“All the cabinets are in.They’ll not need to keep the door propped open now.They’re just finishing up in there.Joesph has been cracking the whip.”
“That’s good.The sign guys have just pulled in.”Salzy pointed to the parking lot out front.
Jamie craned his neck to see the big semitruck that had pulled up out front.“Holy, hell?”
Joesph came running in through the back door.“Jamie, come look.Salzy, you too.The big sign is here, and it isamaaa-zing!”
Jamie and Salzy followed Joesph to the front of the diner, just as a big crane pulled up in front of the semi.
“It...it looks so good,” Jamie said, his eyes wide.
“Just wait till it is installed.”Joesph grabbed Jamie’s forearm, jumping up and down.“It came out better than I expected.”
“It looks a lot like the old diner signs out on Route 66,” Salzy said.
“That’s exactly what I was going for,” Joesph commented.
Jamie turned to look at the front of the diner.“Wow.”
The three men turned around to face the diner.“Yep,” Joesph said.“It looks great.It will look even better at night.The neon will really show up then.”
Salzy patted Joesph on the back.“Man, you are awesome.You really pulled this off.I had my doubts in the beginning that you could get all this done in just a little over three weeks, but man...You did it!”
Joesph bowed.“Thank you, Salzy.But it is what I do for a living.It’s all in the planning.”
Jamie pulled Joesph into a hug.“I can’t thank you enough.It’s like you took my dream and made it a reality.Thank you.”
Joesph hugged Jamie back.“And...nowyou’re going to spill all the tea about last night.”
