Walking the Gallows ✔️

Chapter 26

Tony POV

"Antonio, trabaja más rápido! Necesito ayuda en la cocina," Tony heard his mother yell from the kitchen. He was taking orders for people at the register and people sitting at booths while simultaneously preparing and serving drinks. For months, he had told his mother they needed more help at the restaurant. It was a difficult feat to accomplish considering they were just barely making ends meet.

"Coming, give me a minute," he called back as he tried to get through the long line of customers. It was a fine art trying to balance serving hungry people and getting out orders quickly while also keeping up with the food quality, hygiene, etc. It was all very exhausting.

"NOW, Tony!" Her thick accent coming through with venom as she said his given name. Though she was a little woman, she had a voice loud enough to bring down a bridge. He groaned in frustration but kept taking orders. He knew his mother would likely kill him for abandoning work and his duties in the kitchen.

Occasionally he wondered about what his life would be like in a couple of years. He wanted to work on cars, modify them and fix them. However, the way things were going with the diner would probably stop him from ever getting out and following his passion. Telling his single mother about leaving would not be taken well either.

How can we still be so poor even though we have so many people in here, he thought in tired perplexity.

The orders had been taken and he raced into the kitchen to prepare food for the customers. The palm of his mother's hand met his forehead before he had a chance to move aside. It didn't hurt but it did startle him. Shocked for only a split second, he got to work quickly and helped cook and put together the patron's meals before taking them out.

"You work good," his mother said to him coyly. He smiled shyly unequipped on how to receive the first compliment she had given in a long time. She looked up at him and softly pushed his face away so that he would stop staring.

They were almost finished making the food but Tony noticed people started to line up by the register again. It didn't take long for him to get through the line of customers. The people throughout the store buzzed excitedly with an energy that hadn't been around the town in months. Young children were gazing out the windows into the small parking lot with smiles on their faces. People chattered continuously, their words and voices filled with life. He knew that it was a good day.

A man in a grey suit and hat was at the very back of the line waiting patiently to be addressed. When he reached the front of the line, Tony knew that the man wasn't there to dine in.

"I was told to bring this to you today. It's waiting outside for you whenever you're ready." It was quick, it was simple, but it made absolutely no sense. He handed him an envelope that was slightly chunky with his name scribbled messily on the front with dark black ink. After uttering the words, the man in grey left out the front of the store.

He didn't tell his mother about the strange visitor for the rest of the day. It seemed too strange to discuss and he didn't want to upset her. Instead, he stayed quiet and worked until his muscles were tired. At around two o'clock, when the lunch rush was over and there was practically no one but him and his mother in the store, he cracked his back and stretched. The room smelled of oil and he could feel it seeping into his skin. He rubbed his eyes tiredly.

Deciding he had enough time in the diner, Tony left to get some fresh air. The envelope was still in his back pocket and he planned to read it. The handle on the door was so hot from the sun's rays it had almost burnt his hand. After jumping back in surprise and pain, he used his shoulder to nudge the door and let himself out.

The smell of the outside world filled him and he took it all in, pleased. He savored the feeling of the sun on his skin and he shut his eyes. It was a more than a blissful feeling. It was ironic that even though he had so much to worry and be concerned with, a part of him had let go of the stress and made him relax for a moment.