“I’ll let ya know.”
When Jamie went back into the kitchen, Walter was talking about something with Mike.Joesph was busy with Salzy, putting away all the dishes, while Timmy and Dexter were dealing with pots, pans, and sheet pans.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I need Walter for a few moments.”
“Sure thing.”Mike smiled.“I’ll just head off unless you have something else for me to do?”
“No, nothing for you to do.I really owe you for today.I don’t know what we’d have done had you not shown up when you did.”
“I was glad to help.”He pointed to Walter.“Walter made me up a burger and some fries, so it’s all good.”
“Speaking of food, why don’t you hang around.I’m going to cook us all some dinner.Don’t know what it will be yet.It’ll depend on what’s in the walk-in.”Jamie pointed to the big refrigerator.“I need to empty it all out since we’re going to be closed for a few weeks.Well, about a month or so.”
Mike scowled.“Yeah, I saw the sign on the door.Can’t say that I’m happy about it, but I understand.”
“Yeah, well...since you brought that up, I was hoping to have a word with you about that.Can you wait around?”
Mike smiled.“If you’re cooking, I can wait around.”
Walter and Jamie went into the walk-in and did a quick inventory.“What’s left in the freezer?”Jamie asked.
“Not a whole lot.We really depleted most of our supplies.Jamie, I gotta be honest with you, I can’t ever remember us being that busy.In all the years I’ve worked here, I...just never.”
“Yeah, me either.”Jamie looked around, and there wasn’t much at all.Of all the eggs that Mike had picked up, there were only one dozen left.There wasn’t even any chicken.“Damn nation, there isn’t enough here to make us dinner.”
“Dry pantry is pretty much done.A few onions, maybe a few potatoes, but that’s about it.I don’t reckon there’s enough flour to make a batch of biscuits.”
“Not much to worry on that account.There’s no butter or lard left.I used all of it today.”
“Okay, then what do you have in mind?”
Jamie smiled.“How about Mexican?”
“You’re gonna make Mexican?Out of what?”
“I think we all deserve a night off, including me.”Jamie smiled.“Come on.”
Walter followed Jamie out of the walk-in, shaking his head.
“Oh...Saaalzy...wherefore art thou?”Jamie sang out.
“What do you want now?”Salzy was standing in front of the dish pit, holding what looked like a glass of iced tea.“You want blood now?Haven’t I worked enough?”
“I don’t want you to do anything except maybe make a phone call.”
Salzy squinted his eyes.“What’s the catch?”
“No catch.”Jamie leaned against the counter of the dish pit.“I was wondering if you’d call that Mexican place you took me to and make a reservation for tonight.For all of us.There’s not enough here for me to make us dinner, and quite frankly, I’m as tired as the rest of you.So how about I treat us to a good Mexican dinner?”
“Okay.”Salzy pulled out his phone.“That I can do.”He looked at Jamie, his face deadpan.“I’m not drinking tequila.Not withyou.”He looked at Joesph, who was standing close by.“And especially not withyou!”
“And you’re coming too,” He said to Mike, who was looking lost.“How are you with margaritas?”
* * * * *
Jamie got Dexter tocall his friend, who was, in actuality, his cousin, to get them all a ride to the Mexican restaurant that Salzy had taken him to before.As luck would have it, they were all able to ride together in the shuttle bus that was used to take people to and from the airport or other special occasions.It was probably the same bus that the staff would take to Atlanta in a few days.
Once they were all seated in a large back alcove.Jamie studied the setup.It was big enough to accommodate a large party and was semi-private from the rest of the restaurant.
