The Restaurant

Chapter 8

"So. You were off work pretty late last night," Kat said. "Were you 'having a hard time cleaning' again?"

"Hahaha! No. We had a great night and all of us decided to go out after work," I told her as I drank my coffee.

"Oh? How was it great?" she asked.

"Well, it started off with Tina sideswiping me with a special. That kind of freaked me out but then she told me it was going to be the stuff I made for her the night I was interviewed."

"Tell me you didn't make her that stuff that you keep forcing on me and Christy."

"I did actually."

"And she liked it?? This girl has no taste whatsoever."

"Hey! It was good. I just needed to add more seasoning to it. Like I told you before. But Nooooo. You told me not to make it for you guys anymore. So I haven't."

"Alright. Well anyway! Back to the story. So you were forced to make the special and no one threw up? That's good to hear." She laughed at her joke.

"Really? Are you going to pick on me the whole time I tell the story?" I looked at her skeptically.

"I just might!"

"Just might what?" Christy asked, as she walked in and grabbed a cup of coffee. She was still in her pajamas but she was over so much now it, basically, seemed like she lived with us. I don't mind. I'm just curious about when she'll officially move in with us.

"Hey! How are you?" I asked.

"Shhhh!! Don't talk to her until she's had a sip of coffee or she will bite your head off," Kat told me.

"Oh stop it! That was one time and I was PMSing and you were picking on me right when I came in," Christy snapped back.

"See what I mean?" Kat said to me. She got up from her chair walked to Christy and kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry about that Chris. I won't pick on you anymore until you've had your coffee in you. Deal?"

"Deal. What are we talking about?" she asked, as she sipped her coffee and sat with us.

"Jimmy was telling me why he came in at 5:00am this morning," Kat told Christy.

"Damn boy! Have you slept at all?" Christy asked.

"Nope. I got home and made this coffee," I told her matter-of-factly.

"Wow. Soooo...are you going to finish your story?" Kat asked.

I looked at her frustratedly. "I'm trying but you two won't let me."

"Well, maybe you should talk faster." Kat smiled at me.

"I know right? No one is talking right now and you aren't telling the story. Waiting on you buddy." Christy added smiling as well. 'Ah these are the people I surround myself with,' I thought to myself.

"Alright. Back to the story. No one was ordering the special at first, but then one person did and after that, it seemed like a dam broke because after that everyone kept asking about what I was making that smelled so good and then they would order it. I literally had to teach two other cooks how to make it on the fly."

"Oh, well that's good," Christy said.

"Yeah. No one got sick from that soup, either. So that's even better!" Kat chimed in.

"Wait. You made that soup, that you kept trying to get right, for all of those people, and they liked it?!" Christy looked mortified. "I know I don't have the most refined taste buds but I know that stuff wasn't THAT good."

"Really? Et tu Christy?" I asked her.

She gave me a funny look. "Well... It wasn't your best meal."

"Thanks. I appreciate your honesty."

"He says it's what he made for Tina the night he was interviewed," Kat told Christy.

"Oh! Now we know why she hasn't tried anything on you!" Christy said.

"I'll have you know something did happen last night! Thank you very much!" I snapped back.

"Whoa What?!" Christy asked.

"Spill it, boy!" Kat yelled.

"Nope! Now you guys don't get to hear. You were being mean to me so I'm not saying a word. Unless I get two things." I told them.

"Are you serious?" Kat asked. I gave her a look that said I was. "Alright let's hear 'em."

"One, you have to apologize for being mean about my food."

"I'm sorry for being mean about your food," Kat said, in a monotone voice.

"I'm sorry, food," Christy said. Basically apologizing to the food as if it were sitting with us.

"Now what's the other thing?" Kat asked. I gave them both a devilish smile. "No. Not that. Anything but that," she said over dramatically.

"Please no. We'll do anything else. We apologized to the food already," Christy said following Kat's lead.

"It's too late now. You two have to do it. Unless you don't want to hear the rest of the story," I told them. I had them both in the palm of my hand and it was time for me to get what I wanted.

"Fine. I'm in," Christy grumbled.

"Me too," Kat said grudgingly. "When are we being poisoned?"

"Tonight!" I exclaimed.

"But I thought you worked tonight," Kat said.

"I do," I told her.

"Oh yay! You want us to go to your work to eat!" Christy said, with glee in her voice. "Oooh! Should we dress up? Is Tina going to be there? Do we get to meet her?" She was bouncing up and down in her chair.

"And if I get food poisoning, do I sue them or you?" Kat said jokingly. "I was wondering when you were going to have us come into your work. I wanted to for a while but didn't want to embarrass you."

"Come on now Kat, you two couldn't embarrass me any more than I embarrass myself." We smiled at each other.

"Ooh! I should get my nails done first and get all fancy!" Christy said to Kat.

"Alright. Sounds like a plan. Are you meeting me here for our date?" Kat smiled. She's always happy to see Christy excited.

"Oh my gosh! Yes! Are you going to get me flowers? I like lilies. Any color will do but if they have pink, get those." Christy started bouncing in her chair.

"Alright, ladies. I have to get some sleep. I am working in a couple of hours, and as fun as it sounds to run on no sleep, I'll take the power nap route instead," I told them, as I got up from my chair and cleaned my coffee cup.

They both turned to me. "But what about telling us what happened last night?" Christy asked.

"Oh, I'll tell you." I walked up between both of their chairs. Leaned in like I was going to say it quietly. "But not until after you finish our deal." With that, I pinched both of their sides, making them both yip, and walked away laughing. "Goodnight, girls."

"Night," Kat replied.

"Night Jimmy! Ok, so, what are you going to wear? I'm thinking a pink top with some jeans for me. Or did you want to match?" Her voice trailed off as I dropped onto my bed and fell right to sleep.