Orders started coming in early. People were out and about all around town. The bar filled up quickly as Bill saw when he peeked out the door to the dining room. Not only were all the bar seats taken, but people were standing around too.
Businesses were having their Christmas parties. Those businesses that could afford it and wanted to have a good time out found their way over to Steakhouse East or West. Over on the west side, Robert and Alvin were doing the same things as Bill and Jimmy were doing in the east.
“Could sure use a beer,” Jim said to Bill while he was peeking out the door.
Bill did not respond at all. He waited until one of the waitresses came in and told her to bring a pitcher of soda for the dishwashers and a beer for him. He felt like smoking another joint, but he wouldn’t have time for that until the dinner rush was over.
By seven the board was full and he and Jimmy were dancing together. Jimmy slid over to read the board when he needed to, and they were doing just fine, keeping up with the flow.
Tommy came in a little after seven and set up the towels for expediting. When he was ready, after he’d drawn himself a coffee and was standing in place, Bill took all the orders from his board and handed them to him in the order in which they’d come.
“I got a Super and a Top with two pickerel that gotta go, and there’s a King and Queen up next.”
“Give me the Top and the Super,” Tommy said. “The Top gets a baked and veggie and the Super gets a rice. The two pickerel get rice and veggies.”
As they were putting up this order Lorraine and Victoria came in with orders. They were followed by one of the new waitresses. They each turned in their orders then went about getting salads and whatever else they needed from the pantry. Bill glanced over and saw that Marie was busy putting up salads and working ahead to keep chef’s salads and shrimp salads in place. The side salads were easy. She scooped the lettuce. The waitresses ladled on the dressing.
Tommy burst out in song. He called orders, picked up orders, asked what could be picked up. Lexi carried out one order, came in for the next. Bill was all business, Jimmy too. Tommy sang. They danced.
The board stayed full through the evening. The only thing that changed was at eight Tommy was replaced by Lillian. She came into the kitchen, took herself a coffee, said good evening to everyone and then took over where Tommy was. Tommy told her what he was picking up. Lillian asked what was next.
The dish machine ran endlessly. In the midst of their dance, Mickey came on the line with plates for the plate warmers. Bill and Jimmy both made steps around him, allowing him to load the plates without interfering in their work. The noise from the rattling dishes and silverware played in the background along with the droning exhaust fans. The fryers bubbled with each basket drop. Bill sweated. Lillian sang out, “ordering, ordering.” Grandma fried chicken.
Then it was over. About ten, for the first time since seven, the board was no longer full. There was a lull in the ordering and orders began trickling in again. Lexi brought soda for Jimmy and the dishwashers, a beer for Bill. Marie had a moment to run downstairs and pee. When she came back, Jimmy ran down and then Bill went when Jimmy was back.
“I want a steak for dinner,” Marie said to Bill when she had a moment to come over to where he was. Lillian was cleaning up now and Jimmy was straightening up, getting ready to go home. “And I’m having you for dessert,” she said.
“Yeah, yeah,” Bill said. “After Lillian goes, I’ll fix you what you want.”
“Sugar and spice and everything nice,” Marie said.
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