The Boy and the Bookstore

Chapter 10 - Getting Real Serious

Sam was sitting at the bar of an upper scale restaurant having lunch. A man on the other end of the bar kept glancing over at Sam and it was making him uncomfortable. Sam didn’t recognize the man’s face. He was a bit overweight with black hair on the side and a bald spot on top. He was an older gentleman probably in his 40’s and possibly even his 50’s wearing a black suit and a white dress shirt. Sam happened to be doing some research for his newspaper writer and was playing the part. He was dressed up in a fitted black suit and a blue dress shirt with a white collar. Sam knew his clothes weren’t making him stand out in this place. Sam took a few more bites and took a big drink from his water class and asked for the bill. The man who had been staring at Sam came over and sat down in the bar stool next to him.

“You’re Marcus right? Do you remember me?”

“No.” Keep it short and unrevealing Sam thought. Sam started to worry about this guy blowing his cover or being a guy he did some shady business with.

“Yeah you’re him. You used to eat at that diner up on 23rd street right? I used to go there all the time.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about sir.” The bartender had returned with Sam’s bill. He quickly pulled out some cash out from his pocket and told the bartender to keep the change. He didn’t want to risk the man actually seeing his wallet or any type of identification from it. The fact was Sam had been taken off guard by the man.

“Oh come on. You have to remember me.” Sam got off his bar stool and started walking towards the door. “My name is James Galloway. You loaned me some money. It changed my life.” Sam stopped near the entrance of the building. The name James Galloway did register in Sam’s mind.

“That name does sound familiar. Where do I know you from?”

“From that diner. I was going through a divorce at the time and was at the diner with a ton of legal papers and trying to figure out how I was going to afford everything and keep myself from living off the streets.”

“Ok. Keep going.” Sam still wasn’t sure where the story was going.

“You must have overheard me because you mentioned that my lawyer was overcharging me and gave me a card of another lawyer to call. You said you wouldn’t leave until I called the guy so I did.”

“Connors?”

“Yeah his last name was Connors. Anyways I called the guy. He sets up a meeting with me and explains how divorced are tough and he won’t expect any payment until all the papers are signed and I have a place to live. So I thank you for your help and…” Sam cut off the man

“And I bought your dinner. We talked about the financial problems you had been going through and I ended up writing you a check for three grand.”

“Now you remember me?”

“What’s your name again?”

“James Galloway.”

“James Galloway. Yeah I remember you now. You must be doing pretty good now eating in a place like this wearing a suit.”

“I’m doing great actually. I ended up getting a promotion not long thereafter and a bonus. A friend of mine came to me with a business adventure about a year ago and now I’m a partial owner of Magglio’s downtown.”

“Magglio’s? I think I’ve heard about it. It’s like an Italian cuisine place with like piano music and stuff right?”

“That’s the one! Listen I owe you a meal and probably a drink or two at the least. How about you stop by the place tonight and we talk.”