One More Time

The Return of Mr. Lacroix

Another boring day at work. I sat at the back of the shop, with a cigarette hanging from my mouth and a bottle of fresh orange juice in my left hand. Waiting. Waiting for maybe a glimpse of her. It has been a year and yet again I'm still waiting. It's already 3 in the morning. I am still at the back of the shop, I don't feel like going back home. So I took my lighter and light up my 7th cigarette when I started to slowly to doze off. And that was when I heard a voice, calling my name. I saw a tall figure, waving towards me, walking towards me. "Are you alright? You look messed up. Come, let me take you home.". As he help me up, I look at the street lights as it shines ever so brightly in my eyes, and I fainted.

In my deepest thoughts, I was swimming around through old memories. Wondering what is going on back in LA? How my dad is doing? How is Lamar doing? Do they miss me? Depressed as I sort of miss home, but then yet again God showed me a glimpse of beauty once again. It was her. The woman I've been waiting for. The reason of both my happiness and sadness. The reason why I wake up everyday feeling hopeful, but goes to sleep everyday with disappointment. She smiled and waved at me cheerfully while standing alone, in a field of roses and daisies. "Where have you been?!" I asked. She replied "Just here, thinking about what to do". "Why didn't you come back for me?" I asked again. "Well I am here now... wait... who are you talking to?". Then I heard a loud whistling sound that probably came from a kettle. I woke up to find myself in a very familiar living room. "Oh.. it was just a dream" I said to myself. "Whatever you were dreaming, it was pretty weird, I was about to freak out!" said a man in the kitchen. As he walk towards me, coming out from his dark kitchen, I saw an all too familiar face. It was Mr. Lacroix! "MR. LACROIX! IT HAS BEEN SO LONG!". "Please Max, we are not working in a kitchen anymore, just call me Dimitri" he replied while passing me a cup of hot tea. "How did you found me?" I asked. "Well, I have eyes and ears everywhere. Lucky you, I found you just as you were about to passed out at an alleyway". "Ah, thank you, God knows what could've happened to me". I sat back on the couch and take a sip of the tea. For some reason, in my mind I was upset because, if only the one who helped me that night was her, I would be the happiest man ever. Yet again I was still hoping for the impossible.

I broke the silence by asking "Why did you came looking for me? If I may ask". Mr. Lacroix smiled and look directly to my eyes "Ah, about that, how would you like to be a sous chef in my restaurant?". I was shocked as I never thought this day would come. I thought my career in the culinary world is over. But now, I have been given a new chance, a new hope, a new beginning. He saw the smile in my face and responded "I'll take that as a yes. Come, let me show you the place!". We then take our coats and went out straight away. "I've been planning to do this years ago, but never had the opportunity, now that I have the time and I miss being in the kitchen, I think it's only right if we do this" he briefly told me his story on how he met the restaurant owners bla bla bla.. I couldn't care less. All I know is that I'm back. I'll be back in the kitchen, doing what I love most. When we get to the restaurant, it had that old classical french theme with the restaurant name big on top of the entrance "Couverts et Serviettes" which literally means cutleries and napkins. He introduced me to the people of the restaurant, they were all very interesting people.

That night, when we all were drinking at a nearby pub to get to know each other, I asked Mr. Lacroix, why of all people in France, he choose me to be his sous chef. He then said "I see a lot of me in you my friend. I know you have potential. You can make it big, I am sure of it. You just need your well deserved chance to show the world what you got. And that's what I'm doing for you". I smiled and replied "Thank you, for believing in me". He laughed and said "Now that I believe you, don't ever think of letting me down!". I laughed and did my best impression of employees in Hell's Kitchen "YES CHEF!". Laughter could be heard everywhere that night. Not too long after that, we decided to head back home and have a good rest. I know now that God has opened up a window for me to take a step outside to the world again. Whether is it a big step that will last long, or a bad one that I'll trip soon afterwards all laid on my hands. One thing for sure, I'm going to make use of every chance I get. Including this one. I got back home safely, drop my coat on the couch, ran towards my bed and jumped straight on it. My heart soon felt this warm feeling, as if I'm finally back on track on a journey to my goals. I had a sweet, soundly and undisturbed sleep.