He fed Arlene a steak. She didn’t ask for it and she would have been happy with a piece of fried fish or a hamburger, but he wanted her to eat well. It made him happy to see her having something special, and she, like some of the other waitresses, was not one to ask for anything special.
Bill knew some waitresses who would ask for anything as long as it was special. They would sidle up to him, or any other cook for that matter, in a sexy, sexual way and wiggle their butts while they asked for whatever it was they wanted. Some of them would even pinch their nipples to make them show out to get what they wanted. These were the same waitresses who did these kinds of things at the tables to get better tips.
Arlene, Victoria, Lorraine and even Lexi were not ones ask for things special. Bill liked it that way because then he could select when to offer things to them without having to feel obligated.
He had never been with Victoria. He was never going to be with Victoria. He had only been with Norma because Drenovis had put her up to it to start some trouble for Bill. That had not worked out the way Drenovis had thought it would. He and Lexi had had some fun and if things kept on the way they were going, they were sure to have some more fun. Lexi was a fun girl. She was unshy about sex but she was not overly promiscuous. In fact, she had clear morals and she was not one to be going with Drenovis.
Lorraine was Lorraine. She was older, like Mary, even built somewhat like Mary, curvy, almost chubby, big-breasted and wide-hipped. Being with Lorraine and Mary, even being with Bea, was a wholly different experience than being with younger girls who were less curvaceous.
It didn’t work out with Norma. Bill finished all that he had to do upstairs but did not take a moment to go downstairs. He only went down once to pee, but he did not see Norma anywhere around. That was quite okay with him.
The last time he saw Norma, she had her coat on and was just about out the door. She was still in her waitress uniform and she came around the line to say goodbye to him. He was busy scrubbing down the line, making sure the stainless steel shined brightly.
“I’m heading out,” she said. “See you tomorrow?”
“Where else would I be?” Bill said.
“I’m closing tomorrow,” Norma said. “Victoria was supposed to, but Tommy asked if I would.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” said Bill.
“I hope you will,” said Norma. She blew Bill a kiss and disappeared out into the hall. Bill heard the screen door open and then slam shut.
Completely finished with all he had to do, he sat down in the hall and smoked a cigarette. That’s where Arlene found him. She had a dupe in her hand and when she saw Bill sitting and resting, he thought she looked at him kind of apologetically.
“It’s a deuce,” she said. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay,” said Bill. “I’m pretty well set for most of the rest of the day. I was about to go down to help Henry Lee cut some meat, but I don’t think he needs much help.”
“Tommy asked me to work tonight.” She smiled at Bill. “He also said he was working it out so that I could get more shifts. He said he was trying to get them all for me here.”
Bill did not stand up immediately. He took another drag on his cigarette before stamping it out on the floor. “I’m really glad,” he said.
“Me too,” Arlene said.
