Spices (FIRST DRAFT) ~ An Alejandro and Alfred Story

𝓔𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓷

I watched as raindrops raced each other down Casa Vallarta's large window at the entrance, not sure if I was waiting for someone or praying they wouldn't show up.

The interior of the restaurant was warmly lit, stove tops working and large cutlery clinking behind the open kitchen window. While the outside was cold and gloomy, the restaurant was a cosy lantern illuminating the empty street.

People came for a day to relax. A group of friends giggled in a corner booth, couples sipped coffee, and a family of five were figuring out the newest card game Uno. I sighed and rested my chin onto the palm of my hand. While the quiet brought comfort, it was also impossible to join the peace as I knew what was about to happen.

I had paid a visit to the inspection agency with the proposition to reevaluate the restaurant and provided all the evidence we had collected in the past few weeks. A restaurant that is overwhelmed with support, impact, and has a consistent and healthy form of income cannot possibly get shut down, especially if a re-do for the inspection is requested.

Keeping a strong forced smile through the entire meeting and with the use of my trusty silver tongue, there were so many valid points I made. By mentioning Alejandro's backstory, how much the neighbourhood depended on the establishment for connection and a safe space, and even exaggerating a hefty amount of the things I would say, I could still see that the men didn't give a shit about what I thought. They exchanged tired looks, sighing heavily and remaining uninterested.

The crowd was tough to please to say the least. My father and all the networking I had to do when I was younger practically made persuasion my second nature. But of course, sometimes all else fails and that is when I use the only advice I will ever take from a person like my father.

I reach into the inside pocket of my coat and pull out a stack of a few hundreds, delicately placing it next to the main boss at the end of the table. His face, engraved with permanent frown lines that make his whole face sink into itself doesn't even bat an eye, yet he reaches for the neat stack with his fat, hairy hand and slides it off the desk and into his own pocket. His nonexistent lips twitch and he roughly tells me, "Three inspectors will come to the restaurant within the next two weeks unannounced. If the place scores anything more than a level 1 hazard, you're done."

I nodded in understanding and left immediately.

That was four days ago, and now each day I sat by the window as a watchman, wondering when the first inspector would finally arrive.

A dark figure rushed past the restaurant window and as the bell above the door rang, a skinny old man with large rectangular glasses hurried inside the restaurant, shaking the rain off his arms as he muttered to himself. Out of his jacket he pulls a small clipboard and pen out, checking it from all sides for water stains.

I'm quick on my feet to greet him loudly, eyes scanning the restaurant for Alejandro. Noticing me, he rushes over as well, leaving Will mid-conversation.

"I.. Uhm, Good afternoon, sir," Alejandro says with a warm smile, extending his hand to which the old man shakes his head. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this over with. This isn't how I was planning to spend my afternoon." He avoids eye contact as he wipes his glasses, sprinkled with raindrops on his grey pants. Running a fraile hand over his heavily receding hairline he says with a sigh, "We'll start with the kitchen I suppose. Do you mind leading the way... Al-hand-ro?"

Ignoring the hideous mispronunciation Alejandro answers, "Of course, sir. Follow me," making a sharp turn toward the kitchen. As he walks by me, I replace his spot, standing in the way of the old man. Confused, his eyes dance around the restaurant.

"Sorry," I said kindly. "But you made a slight mispronunciation. His name is Alejandro." I feel fingertips on my back and a voice lowly assures me that "It's fine Alfred. Leave it." I push the hand off and continue to smile sweetly at the inspector.