Henry Lee came in at ten. By that time Mary and Bill had everything they needed to do just about done. Or, as it went in kitchens, everything they needed was either completed or still cooking. The only things left to do for the lunch meal were to set up the steam table, put the potatoes to baking and make sure all the ice boxes were filled with enough materials to get through the meal. So, as per his usual, Bill made another mental list, this time one regarding the pickerel, French fries, fried shrimp and onion rings. This list told him what he needed to bring up from downstairs.
He was not ready to go down yet but he did check the meat cooler, the reach-in box opposite the Garland. Looking at the steaks inside, he completed the materials list so that now he knew everything he needed, altogether, everything he and Henry Lee needed on the line for the lunch.
Mr. Bowman, the owner, was getting off easy. He should have replaced Mr. Jim. He’d been cheap and he was working Henry Lee and Bill way too hard. Sometimes now, if they got really slammed, Mary had to come onto the line to give them a hand.
This might’ve been all right if they’d gotten a better raise. As it was, they got increases, but Mr. Bowman was still making out like a bandit. Bill had talked to Robert about it but Robert had told him that there was no way they were adding staff. The east side was sometimes a drag on the economy of both restaurants although when the Buckeyes were playing at home they more than made up for not always keeping pace.
So just after Henry Lee got in, Bill took a moment to stop and have another cup of coffee, his third. He took it with him as he went out to the dining room and over to the front office. Coffee in hand, he knocked on Tommy’s door. Tommy said to come in. Bill did so and closed the door behind him.
“Got a minute?” he asked.
“What’s on your mind?” Tommy said.
“I wanted to ask a favor of you. About Arlene.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve gotten yourself into trouble.”
“No, not at all,” said Bill. “She needs more shifts is what it is. Her mother’s sick and she needs the money. Drenovis is being a shit.”
“We’re pretty tight,” Tommy said. “Off hand, I don’t think there’s much I can do.”
“What about over on the west side?”
“What’s this got to do with you?” Tommy asked.
“Nothing. I told her I’d see what I could do. I was hoping you could do something so that I didn’t have to ask Robert.”
“Don’t tell me you’re messing around with her too. Please don’t tell me that.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no, not yet. I spent last night with her. We talked a lot about life, about her mother being sick. I’m only telling you this because I’m asking a favor of you. I’m asking you not to tell anyone either, except maybe if it helps her get her shifts. Her mother has cancer and she needs some pretty serious medical stuff. Arlene’s in a tizzy. I can’t say I blame her. So I’d really appreciate your giving this some attention.”
“I always knew you were an easy touch,” said Tommy. He smiled at Bill. “I’ll make some calls. If I can’t get her shifts with us, I’ve got some friends who could probably use a part-timer. Then I’d make sure we coordinate so she can work the extra time.”
“I always knew you were a manager with a heart,” Bill said.
“Yeah,” said Tommy. “Having a heart as a manager is the kiss of death.”
