Renewal; A Tale of Katrina's Kitchen

Hired

     At 8:00 am, Jonah took the twenties Katie had handed him and went next door. Though open, the hardware store didn't look any brighter than it had three hours ago. He stepped inside, the lights didn't do anything to brighten the place. They cast a pale yellow glow over the shelves of tools and parts.

      He found the aisle marked with a hand printed sign that said 'Plumbing'. It only took a few minutes to find what he needed. A few feet of plastic line, a coupler and glue. He took the items to the cash register. The man he guessed was Randall didn't ask if he'd found everything he needed, or even if he was new in town. Just rang the order and took the cash.

     Jonah picked up the bag and made sure to take the receipt to return to Katie with the change.

     When he walked into the kitchen, he was relieved Katie had located an old tool box. It had everything Jonah would need.

     It only took about twenty minutes to make the repair. He turned on the water carefully, looking for leaks. "Everything looks good here, Miss Crowe."

     "Good lord, call me Katie. Miss Crowe makes me feel my age" Katie had been mopping up water while Jonah worked on the broken line. She looked at the new line, "Nicely done. I really appreciate your help, you've saved me a bunch of time."

     Jonah smiled for the second time, "No trouble, it was an easy fix. I'm glad to help, makes me feel better about breakfast."

     "Don't you worry about breakfast. What plans you have for a month or so? You have a destination in mind? Cause if you're staying around Renewal for a while, I got a lot of fixin' needs done here. And, I'm pretty sure I could use a dish washer. My 6:00 boy doesn't seem to be here, and the dishes are lonely." Katie looked at him hopefully, she could use the help, and keep him near to help him.

     "I hadn't really thought about where I'd go next." Jonah's instinct was to leave this town, but he'd come here looking for help. Maybe just staying in one place for a while would help him come to terms with what had happened. Wandering aimlessly hadn't been the answer. "I could help out for awhile, no promises though."

     Katie grinned, "Good enough, let me give you the tour!"

     Katie gave Jonah a quick tour of the dish area and routine. He didn't need much instruction, seems he'd done dishes here and there during his traveling. He had the breakfast dishes washed and put in their places in record time.

     "Wow! I'd forgotten what it was like to have someone actually work at dishes instead of daydream through them." Katie gave Jonah a smile of appreciation. "If you're up for it, I need the stock room swept and the the shelves dusted. Maybe even organize a little. If you would."

     "No problem, Miss Katie, I appreciate you giving me a chance to repay you."

     Katie waved his concerns off and chuckled. She went back to her office, her short acquaintance with Jonah certainly belied the dreams of violence that included him.

     After the lunch shift ended, Katie let Jonah know he could take off for the day. She paid him cash for his time.

     "You have anywhere to stay in town? There's no motel or anything around here. You'd have to get to the city for that. And, if you're really interested, you are welcome to be in bright and early tomorrow."

     Jonah smiled, "I think I'd like to come back tomorrow. I can probably hitch a ride to the big city."

     "Or," Katie said "you could check with Missy McKay. She rents rooms outta her place on the other end of town. At least it's sensible walking distance for a dish-washing job."

     "She'd want to rent to a, well...transient?" Jonah was hesitant to walk up to a stranger and ask for a room.

     Katie held a finger up, "Wait right there."

     She left the kitchen to see which customers might be in her dining room. As she guessed, the woman they had been discussing had arrived for her afternoon coffee. Missy McKay was predictable. Katie ducked back into the kitchen and motioned Jonah to follow her.

     He stayed behind Katie as she approached an old woman lifting a cup. "Missy McKay!" Katie greeted the woman warmly. "How are you today? I didn't get a chance to say good morning today."

     Missy looked past Katie to Jonah. "No Katie Crowe, you didn't. I was feeling a bit put out about that, too."

     "Well, there was a minor crisis today, so I apologize. And I'd like to introduce my new dishwasher."

     "Ah, yes. The new man in town. Jonah, I hear." Missy smiled mischievously. "Don't look all shocked. Its a small town. Folks know who flush their toilets at what time every day around here."

     Jonah liked the old woman at once. "Glad to meet you ma'am. And, yep, I'm the new guy in town. At least, I'd like to stay a while."

     "Do not ever call me ma'am. You may call me Missy McKay just like everyone else does."

     Katie jumped back into the conversation, "Missy McKay, since you're already aware of the 'new man', and that he's got a good job, I was wondering if you had a room available at the house." Missy snorted at the good job statement, so Katie continued, "And he fixed a bad leak in my kitchen today. Saved me a call to the repair outfit in the city."

     "A handy man, eh. Hmm, in that case I may just have a room. And a fence that needs fixing, amongst other things."

     Jonah grinned, "I'd be glad to look at your fence Missy McKay. Thank you for giving me a chance."

     Missy threw a look at Jonah, "I said I may  have a room. We'll see." She drained the last of her coffee and got up to leave. "Grab that bag, young man, you can walk me back home, I'll make up my mind about that room when we get there. By the way, you like cats?"

     "Actually, Missy McKay, I haven't been around cats since I was a kid. I guess I like them okay."

     "You better like 'em okay, that's a deal breaker there, buster."