Bobby's Diner Read Online Free Page A

never prepared the new menu. What else can we do?” We looked at
each other helplessly.
    “Shit. I haven’t run a cash
register in more than twenty years!”
    “Do you think you could figure it
out?”
    “Well… I do have this sweet
little laptop at home with all the bells and whistles. I even have wide-band
Internet. I can do almost anything on my computer. I don’t see why I can’t
figure out a silly old cash register.” Her defiant demeanor gained momentum as
she spoke and filled me   with hope. “I
just need the operating manual and I can learn how to run it. Sure. Why not? Can
you see people’s faces when they see me at the front door? Ha! What a hoot. Yes
sir. What will people think now? Ha! This is getting weirder every minute.” She
giggled and, at that, turned, and left.
    I laughed out loud and for the
first time since Bobby died. I shook my head and smiled. We had no idea how bad
the night would get.

 
    ***

 
    The first phone call came only an
hour before the doors   opened. Glenda,
the head waitress, was down with some grizzly infection that made her sound
like she’d gone down on a cactus. Vanessa and I figured that with the three
other waiters we could manage. We had José bussing and, if need be, Vanessa
could serve some of the tables. Bobby decided long ago that he only wanted a
restaurant with sixteen tables. He told and retold me why only sixteen tables.
I used to say to him “Yes, dear.” I figured it was better than saying “Shut
up.” You see, with sixteen tables, only three waiters were necessary. If one
couldn’t make it, two could definitely handle the room. They’d work a little
harder, make a little more money in tips, but could handle the room.
    Unfortunately, the second call
came a half hour later.
    Billy, a sweet sexy transient
thing with a propensity toward overimbibing called in drunker than a skunk. She
said she’d make it in if she had to but she might puke on a customer. She
laughed. I fired her. This left us desperately short with only one waiter for
the grand reopening.
    “Vanessa!” I screamed as if I’d
cut off my finger. She came running in.
    “What is it?”
    “Billy just called in drunk. I
fired her. We’re down to one waiter.”
    “Have you called anyone else?”
    I nodded ‘yes’ but shrugged my
shoulders that I couldn’t find anyone.
    “No one’s available. What are we
going to do? This was supposed to be our big reopening night since Bobby died.
What are we gonna do, now?” That’s when I lost it. I thought I’d been strong up
until then. I was proud how well I was holding up through everything— Bobby’s
sudden death, the funeral, loneliness, Vanessa getting half the restaurant, all
of it. The pressure had built and built to a level I couldn’t contain. I just
went off. I cried like a baby. I didn’t make much sound. My shoulders shook and
I caved in.
    “Georgette.” Vanessa said it in a
whisper. “For crying out loud, Georgette, I know this seems bad now.”
    I stopped momentarily to see if
she was joking but she wasn’t. I started to cry audibly.
    “Oh, now, now. Look, things will
be fine.”
    “No   they   won’t.   They’ll   never   be   fine   again. Everything is over. I can’t do it. I
thought I could but I just don’t think I can.”
    “Please, Georgette, don’t cry.
You’re going to make me cry. I have to greet people in less than a half hour
and I always look like a lobster when I cry.”
    Vanessa came over to my side. She
held me with one arm around my shoulder and tried to console me. I still
couldn’t stop crying but in those few minutes, I felt how kind Vanessa   could be. Her perfume smelled like jasmine
tea. She was petting my head and talking me down. I finally lowered my hands
from my face and took in a deep breath.
    “I’m sorry, Vanessa. I guess all
the stress just got to me.”
    “You gonna be okay?”
    I nodded I would.
    “Good. That’s good.” Then she
grabbed me face front and said,