Bill changed shirts the first time after about two hours straight work on the Garland. He was sweated through almost immediately and he wouldn’t have changed at all except that he had to pee. So he ran down quickly, did what he had to do, changed his shirt and put on a fresh apron. His drawers were sweated through too. He could have peed in his pants and it wouldn’t have mattered much in terms of how wet he felt.
Lillian was calling orders now. Jimmy and Bill had read the board for as long as they could but it was clear almost immediately they were getting swamped so Bill had called for Tommy to come in to expedite.
People had been waiting at the doors even before they were open. Tommy, not wanting to turn away business, opened up before noon, before he was supposed to. This meant they all had to scurry a bit to be in place to start the first orders.
Henry Lee had waltzed in a bit after ten. By that time Bill had already cut several trays of sirloin steaks. This was a good thing because once you got behind you stayed behind the whole way through. The moral of that little tidbit was never get behind.
“Keep cutting what you’re cutting,” Henry Lee said. “I’ll start on strip loins and then do the tenderloins. When we get enough ahead, I’ll grind meat for the hamburgers and chopped steaks.”
Bill did not say anything but he acknowledged with a nod. Every so often, he wiped his blade on his side towel and then honed its edge on the sharpening steel. He had a little buzz on by the time he finished the bourbon-laced coffee, nothing much to talk about, just enough to smooth him out.
Even before he’d tied his apron, Henry Lee went to the bourbon drawer and took himself a good, long drink. He passed the bottle to Bill who took a small sip and returned it to Henry Lee to tuck away.
“Tommy already said he hoped I wouldn’t get drunk,” Bill said.
“The hell with him,” said Henry Lee. “The hell with them all.”
“Well you’re in a good mood.”
“I just need to get some more bourbon in me.”
“Freda get in late too?”
“We slept in a bit. We had to wait for the babysitter anyway. Almost ain’t worth working if you have to pay a babysitter. She gonna talk to Mr. Bowman about paying for that on days like this. It’s the least he could do.”
“I hope you get what you need,” said Bill. “I agree. He should pay you for it.”
“Usually Alfreda’s mom watches the kids. But they busy today and they going someplace where they can’t take the kids with them. I tried to get Eddie to babysit, but he’s working over on the west side. He got a chance to make a lot of money on a day like today. More power to him. Robert was having a hissy fit knowing we were both late. But he understands what it is.”
“I have some weed if you want. I’m about to drop some speed.”
“Don’t get messed up.”
“Just fixing my head. Maybe Mr. Bowman pay for my black beauties. What you think?”
“He probably would if you give him some.”
“He do that, I’d give him all he wants.”
“We ain’t getting no pussy today,” said Henry Lee. “My guess is you gonna be running both Garlands all day long and all night long too. My guess is I’m working late and only ones getting out anywhere near on time is Mary and Bea over here and Alfreda over there. That’s if she don’t go on the line to help the pantry girl.”
Henry Lee took a moment and looked at Bill. He said, “Least I can stay down here most of the day and I don’t have to listen to Lillian.”
