“Do that.Anyone who would do okay in the kitchen?”
Ian shook his head, no.
Walter slapped his hand on Ian’s shoulder.“Come, you, let’s get back in there so the others can have a break.”
Ian nodded as he stood up.
“It won’t be like this for long, Ian.I promise,” Jamie said.
“I don’t mind.I’ll work as much as you want,” he replied before following Walter inside.
“I wonder if I could clone him,” Jamie muttered.
“People will think you’re crazy sitting here talking to yourself,” Salzy said as he sat across from Jamie.
“Yeah, well...”Jamie said.“How you doing in there?”
“I have to admit, I’m getting tired.”
“You and me both.”He looked at Salzy for a few moments.“I think I have a plan, if you’re up for it.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”Salzy asked as he downed a glass of Coke.
“What would you say about working here full-time and not as a dishwasher?”
Salzy laughed.“I’m not a cook.I can barely feed myself, you know that.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t learn, but that’s not what I had in mind.”Jamie leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.“I was thinking more along the lines of a manager.I can’t do the front and the back at the same time, and we need someone to fill in the gaps, and you do a lot of that already.”
Salzy sat there, his mouth ajar and eyes wide.“I don’t know how to manage a restaurant!”
“No, but you can learn.You pick things up fast, and you know how this place functions.I can teach you the rest.”
Salzy squinted at Jamie.“You for real?”
“I am.What do you say?”
“You’re not doing it just because I got fired, are you?”
“No.”Jamie sighed.“I’m dead on my feet already, and we’ve only been open for a day and a half, and I need someone I can trust and depend on, and that’s you.”
“I don’t believe you sometimes.You’re just like your grandparents.”He shook his head, eyes watering.“Sure.I can try.”
“I’ll work out a salary and benefits and all that once we get over this hurdle.It’ll be fair, I promise.”Jamie smiled.
“I trust you.”Salzy held out his hand.
Jamie took it and shook.“I think this is going to work out pretty good.”
“What do we do now?”Salzy asked.
“For now, just keep doing what we’re all doing.Going at it as hard as we can.I’m going to hire a full-time dishwasher and another cook.Probably a waitress too.At least part-time.Just try and hang in there for me.”
Salzy nodded.“I can do that.”
“I know, you’ve been doing that already.”Jamie chuckled.“Come on, we’re not done yet.We still have dinner to get through.”
* * * * *
