Jimmy G, Victor and the banquet chef were still there. They weren’t doing anything, just sitting around and conversing in Greek.
Bill went straight to his locker and changed into a clean uniform. His uniforms were always sharp, always starched and bright-white. The only other kitchen help that had uniforms of this quality were the chefs.
“His girlfriend keeps him sharp,” the banquet chef said.
“She keeps him hot,” Jimmy G. said.
They all laughed. While they laughed and had a good time at Bill’s expense, Victor took a bottle of whiskey and some Dixie cups from his locker. He spread the cups out on the bench before the lockers and poured a good double shot into each of them. Done pouring, he capped the bottle and left it out on the bench. Jimmy Banquet Chef, because he was the boss, handed a cup to each of them.
“Cheers boys,” he said.
“Merry Christmas,” Victor said.
Jimmy G did not say anything. He drank quickly and reached for the bottle.
Bill said, “Cheers,” and drank his down.
“Good stuff,” Victor said.
“Good stuff,” the banquet chef said.
“All we need is a beer chaser,” Bill said.
“I have beer,” the banquet chef said. “Upstairs.”
“I could go for a nice cold one,” Bill said.
“Me too,” said Victor. “Let’s have another shot.”
Jimmy G already held the bottle. He waited for everyone to set their cup down and then poured. He filled the cups higher than Victor had.
“Happy days,” the banquet chef said.
“This one’s gonna be happy,” Bill said. He was already feeling the buzz and it surely wasn’t unpleasant.
“I think it is,” the banquet chef said. “No chef, just me. So boys, we’ll go up and have a beer or two and then get everything ready for The Falstaff Room. We’ll get something to eat too.
Bill made sure his street clothes were hung up properly and that everything was in place inside his locker. He took his knives that were set in a towel roll, slammed the metal door closed and clicked the lock shut. Jimmy G and Victor did the same.
They walked in pairs to the main kitchen, Jimmy Banquet Chef with Bill and Victor and Jimmy G together. For the most part, the entire place was deserted. Altogether, the hotel was set to run on a skeleton crew. Security was there but limited. Housekeeping was there, maids on every floor but half the crew that normally worked on any given day shift. Maintenance was present, especially those that tended to the heat, electricity and plumbing. Room service and one breakfast dining room were open, but the dining room this morning was buffet style. The room service cooks were working hard for a change, keeping the guest buffet stocked and the kitchen buffet set.
The four of them went into the chef’s office after Jimmy Banquet Chef opened it with his key. Through the glass window they could see all the help that was in the kitchen, a good deal of people, most of them congregating and chatting, all of them with plates that they were eating from.
“Get something to eat, boys,” the banquet chef said.
“Where’s the beer?” Bill asked.
Jimmy Banquet Chef pointed to a large half refrigerator in the corner of the office. Bill went over and opened it, found it full of expensive, imported beer. He pulled out four bottles and set them on the chef’s desk.
The banquet chef laughed. “While the cat’s away,” he said.
Jimmy G handed Bill the chef’s chef’s knife and smiled. It was funny because no one ever touched the chef’s knives.
Carefully, much more carefully than if it were one of the kitchen’s knives, he used the back of the blade end and his fingers to open the beers. When they were all opened he set the knife back in its place.
“Cheers boys,” the banquet chef said.
They drank their beer happily and when they were ready they headed out together to get some breakfast from the buffet table.
