“Neither of you smokes.”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t have a break now, does it?”Florence tossed her head towards Salzy, pulling out her lipstick.“It was hot and smelly in here and we needed some fresh air.”
Jamie rolled his eyes.“It makes me suspicious when the two of you are together.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”Salzy asked, picking up the broom.
“It means that when the two of you are together I don’t trust either of you.”
“Hmph,” Florence looked at Salzy.“Can you believe him?”
“No, I can’t.”Salzy started to sweep up the back part of the kitchen, just like Ms.Mattie had liked.
Jamie continued cleaning, glancing at Salzy from time to time.I just know the two of them are up to something.But what?
When all the cleaning was done, the dining room was set for the next morning, the staff gathered in the kitchen before leaving for the night.
“I want to thank all of you, especially Salzy, for stepping it up tonight.It was a very long day, and I know we’re all tired, but thank you.Thank you so, so much.”
“All I can say is I’m glad we’re only doing breakfast and lunch tomorrow,” Walter said, rubbing his head.
Timmy nodded.
“Now, on Sunday,” Jamie started when Florence groaned.He looked at her, his face slack.“OnSunday, I’m going to cook us all brunch.We can start at nine a.m.packing up stuff.I’ll get us a bunch of boxes, or I’ll get Salzy to pick them up when he gets paint, and we can pack up as much stuff as we can.”
“I was in as soon as you said you’re gonna be cooking,” Dexter said with a wide grin.
“I can live with that,” Walter said.
“Okay, then.”Jamie wiped his face with a towel.“Let’s call it a night, and I hope everyone gets some good sleep.I know I will.I think we’re all exhausted.”
“You got that one right,” Hazel said as she made her way to the back door.“’Night all.”
Jamie watched as the employees left.People he had known most of his life.This really is a family.He smiled as he closed and locked the back door.
“How about a cold beer?”Salzy was sitting on the bottom step of Jamie’s apartment.
“Yeah.Sounds good.”Jamie followed Salzy up the steps, each of them moving slowly.“The stairs look good, by the way.”
“Thanks.”Salzy held open the screen door for Jamie.
“Why hello, fellas,” Joesph greeted them, sitting at the table.“Busy night.”
“You know it,” Salzy said.“I need a really,reallycold beer.”
“Go on and go sit on the back porch, and I’ll bring it to you,” Joesph volunteered.“You both look like whipped dogs.”
“Thanks,” Jamie said, pulling off his T-shirt.“I stink.”
“We both do.”Salzy also took off his AC/DC T-shirt.
Jamie groaned as he sat down in the rocking chair.“I can’t believe how busy this day was.”
“I’ve never seen the diner so busy,” Salzy commented as he sat.
“Here ya go.”Joesph handed both men a cold beer, a third one for himself.
They said their thanks and just sat there a moment in silence.
