Jun
10
Tim trained Paul in the dish room while Francisco ran the kitchen. Tim was a fair teacher, his knowledge and exacting nature were hindered by his natural assumption that everyone was capable of learning as quickly as he did. Paul’s ability to learn was superior to Tim’s and soon the two of them joined Francisco in the kitchen and took advantage of an after diner lull to sit on the freezers and bullshit with each other and any passing wait staff.
“So is this what it’s like every night,” asked Paul.
“Sundays are usually pretty slow, but not like this. All the side work and prep are done and everything’s clean. That happens when my man here works before you.” Francisco slapped Jeff on the back.
“I didn’t feel like being social today so I just stayed back here and got things done.”
“I saw you were drinking hard last night at the party. My guess is today was a Blues recovery day.”
“It was.”
“What party? I hit two or three last night?”
“Tim, here, and his roommate Jimmy throw a little party at the end of every quarter to blow off steam and ready our minds for the next quarter.”
“Your roommate’s name is Jimmy.”
“Yeah.”
“Timmy and Jimmy.”
“Yeah Tim here was pretty lit up last night and seemed to be having a pretty good time with Kim.”
“Kim who? What were we doing.”
“Kim Matthews. I think you were playing hide and seek or freeze tag, I don’t know, but there was a lot of giggling and running and touching.”
“Shit.”
“You don’t remember anything?”
“That’s the least of the things I don’t remember, though it seems familiar now.”
The rest of the evening passed quickly. The addition of a new person and his initiation into the family at The Cup made for an interesting evening there were soakings with the dish hose and the soaping of a floor, and the subsequent clean up of a dozen broken glasses after the prank claimed Julie, the head waitress, as its unintended victim. At midnight the restaurant closed and Tim’s shift ended.
“Tim what kind of beer do you want? It’s George’s night to buy.” Julie was in better spirits after closing her till and counting her money.
“None for me tonight. I’m going to go home and study, try to get a jump on my reading for this quarter.”
“Why the hell are you taking classes over the summer? This is time to relax.”
“Double major. History and philosophy. This quarter I start my major philosophy classes.”
“Two Majors. You think you could have picked one that would get you a job.”
“I’ll get a Job. Don’t worry.”
“Tim I need to see a beer in your hand.” Francisco walked out of the kitchen wet, and stinking of cleaners and food.
“Not tonight – Paul you can have my beer.”
“Thanks I need it after cleaning the grease trap.”
“You made him clean the grease trap?”
“Yeah, and now you need to have a beer with us. He’s been through the initiation and now we get to the good part, the after party.” Francisco laughed.
“I woke up this afternoon naked in my front yard. I’m taking the night off.”
“You what?”
