“Um...”he started, “Do any of you know of a potential waitress?”
Minnie meekly raised her hand.“My sister is looking for a job.”
“Tell her to come see me today if possible.”Jamie looked at Florence and then Hazel.“You two know of anyone?”
Hazel shook her head.
“I may...”Florence looked off as in thought.“I’ll make a few phone calls.”
“I’m also looking for a few kitchen staff as well.”
Walter, Timmy, and Dexter joined the rest in the dining room.“That was insane,” Dexter said, a glass of water in one hand and a gob of paper towels in the other.“I have never seen this place so busy.”
“M-m-me e-e-ither.”Timmy dropped onto a chair and guzzled what looked like lemonade.
A few moments later, Salzy meandered into the dining room, a large glass of soda in one hand.He had a bandana tied around his head, his tank top glued to his body, showing off his tight, muscled physique.He looked around the room.“What happened in here?”he asked.
“Ask him!”Florence said, again, pointed to Jamie.“He’s trying to kill us all.”She walked slowly towards the kitchen.Over her shoulder, she asked Hazel and Minnie if they wanted a Coke.
“I’ll take one,” Jamie said.
Florence looked at him with a raised eyebrow.“Your legs broke?”
Jamie sat down across from Dexter and pulled out a small notebook from his back pocket.“Well, this is useless,” Jamie said, holding up the soaking wet pages.He laid it on the table.“I know I need to make more biscuits, corn bread, and at least two apple pies before dinner.”I also need to prep a steak for Mike.
“I need to make two or three meat loaves,” Dexter added.He thought for a moment.“And then basically prep everything else...again.”
Timmy nodded and said, “Same.”
“It’s going to be like starting the day all over again,” Walter slumped.
“Who’s got the best handwriting?”Jamie asked.
“Florence,” Hazel and Walter said at the same time.
“What?”Florence walked back in through the swinging doors, a tray loaded down with sodas and a pitcher of ice water.“What’d I do now?”
“You just got volunteered to make a sign for the front door,” Jamie said, a grin on his face.“We need to inform everyone that we’ll be closing for a period of time.Need to get it up tonight since tomorrow night will be our last service for a while.”
That got a smile out of Florence.She looked up.“There is a God.I sure do need a vacation after today.”She handed out drinks.
“May I say something?”
Everyone looked at Joesph, who was now standing just in front of the booth where he’d been sitting.
“Sure,” Jamie said.“What’s up?”
“I’ve been very lucky to be able to observe this place in full swing, and I may have a few suggestions to make it more efficient.”
“I’m all ears,” Florence said as she sat next to Jamie.“If it will save our feet, then I’m all in.”
Joesph spoke, his voice completely professional, losing most of his flamboyancy.He went through, step by step, how they worked and what he thought would make things flow better.
Florence looked at Jamie, and Jamie looked at Walter.“He makes a lot of good points,” Walter finally said.
“Why didn’t I think of all this sooner?”Florence said.
“Because Papaw would have skinned you alive,” Jamie snickered.“All those things cost money, and you know how he was when it came to spending money.”
