Chapter Twenty-One
Just like the breakfast service, lunch was also busy. Walter kept looking out the hot food service window into the dining room and would shake his head.
“Jamie, we’re going to need more corn bread soon,” Hazel said as she filled two baskets. She opened up the bread warmer drawer to check for biscuits. She looked over at Jamie. “And for sure more biscuits before dinner.”
Jamie sighed and wrapped up the pastry dough he’d been working on. “I thought for sure I’d made enough to get us through the day.”
“What the hell is goin’ on?” Jamie asked no one in particular. “I thought you said breakfast and lunch weren’t going to be that busy,” he said, directing the comment to Walter.
“It hasn’t been this busy for breakfast or lunch in ages,” Walter answered back.
“Order up,” Florence called from the service window.
Walter pulled the green ticket from the spinner. “I got two catfish dinners.” He glanced over to Jamie. “Two apple pies à la mode.”
“Well, crap,” Jamie said, pulling a pie from the shelf. “I’m going to have to make two more pies.”
Once Jamie had the pies on a plate, he jogged over to the walk-in freezer and got the ice cream. He had to hurry to get it on the plate, with Hazel waiting to take them out to the dining room.
They had been busy from opening for breakfast until Florence turned the sign on the door to closed and locked the front glass door. “I’m getting too old for this,” she commented, leaning against the door.
“Amen to that.” Hazel sat down and toed off her shoes. “My feet are killing me.”
Even Minnie sat, her legs stretched out in front of her. All the while, Joesph watched everything, seeming to sketch on a large paper pad, his eyes constantly moving.
When Jamie came out from the kitchen, he was fanning himself with a paper plate and wiping his face with a wad of paper towels. “Can someone please tell me what’s in the dickens is going on?”
Florence looked at him and pointed. “It’s you! It’s all your fault and your fancy biscuits!”
Jamie stopped and looked at the wait staff. They looked exhausted. Maybe I should try and find a few more waitresses while the renovation happens. I knew I’d need a few more since we’ll drop back to only two shifts per wait staff, but I may need to rethink that.
“Um...” he started, “Do any of you know of a potential waitress?”
Minnie meekly raised her hand. “My sister is looking for a job.”
“Tell her to come see me today if possible.” Jamie looked at Florence and then Hazel. “You two know of anyone?”
Hazel shook her head.
“I may...” Florence looked off as in thought. “I’ll make a few phone calls.”
“I’m also looking for a few kitchen staff as well.”
Walter, Timmy, and Dexter joined the rest in the dining room. “That was insane,” Dexter said, a glass of water in one hand and a gob of paper towels in the other. “I have never seen this place so busy.”
“M-m-me e-e-ither.” Timmy dropped onto a chair and guzzled what looked like lemonade.
A few moments later, Salzy meandered into the dining room, a large glass of soda in one hand. He had a bandana tied around his head, his tank top glued to his body, showing off his tight, muscled physique. He looked around the room. “What happened in here?” he asked.
“Ask him!” Florence said, again, pointed to Jamie. “He’s trying to kill us all.” She walked slowly towards the kitchen. Over her shoulder, she asked Hazel and Minnie if they wanted a Coke.
“I’ll take one,” Jamie said.
Florence looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Your legs broke?”
Jamie sat down across from Dexter and pulled out a small notebook from his back pocket.
“Well, this is useless,” Jamie said, holding up the soaking wet pages.
He laid it on the table. “I know I need to make more biscuits, corn bread, and at least two apple pies before dinner.” I also need to prep a steak for Mike.
“I need to make two or three meat loaves,” Dexter added. He thought for a moment. “And then basically prep everything else... again.”
Timmy nodded and said, “Same.”
“It’s going to be like starting the day all over again,” Walter slumped.
“Who’s got the best handwriting?” Jamie asked.
“Florence,” Hazel and Walter said at the same time.
“What?” Florence walked back in through the swinging doors, a tray loaded down with sodas and a pitcher of ice water. “What’d I do now?”
“You just got volunteered to make a sign for the front door,” Jamie said, a grin on his face. “We need to inform everyone that we’ll be closing for a period of time. Need to get it up tonight since tomorrow night will be our last service for a while.”
That got a smile out of Florence. She looked up. “There is a God. I sure do need a vacation after today.” She handed out drinks.
“May I say something?”
Everyone looked at Joesph, who was now standing just in front of the booth where he’d been sitting.
“Sure,” Jamie said. “What’s up?”
“I’ve been very lucky to be able to observe this place in full swing, and I may have a few suggestions to make it more efficient.”
“I’m all ears,” Florence said as she sat next to Jamie. “If it will save our feet, then I’m all in.”
Joesph spoke, his voice completely professional, losing most of his flamboyancy. He went through, step by step, how they worked and what he thought would make things flow better.
Florence looked at Jamie, and Jamie looked at Walter. “He makes a lot of good points,” Walter finally said.
“Why didn’t I think of all this sooner?” Florence said.
“Because Papaw would have skinned you alive,” Jamie snickered. “All those things cost money, and you know how he was when it came to spending money.”
“Point made.” Florence frowned.
“Okay.” Jamie stood up. “That just means that I will have to completely rethink my ideas for the kitchen, but it’s doable.” He stretched, arms over his head. He let them fall. “Meanwhile, I need to get my butt in gear, or I won’t be ready for dinner.”
Everyone groaned as they stood. They all started to busy themselves for the dinner service. Jamie already back to his pastry for the apple pies.
“I am going to assume that you’re going to be too busy to have a look at what I’ve come up with?” Joesph asked, stopping next to Jamie.
“Um... can you show me while I work?”
“Sure.” Joesph watched Jamie for a minute. “You know, I’ve never actually seen you work.”
Jamie laughed. “You’ve never been in the kitchen when I was working.”
Joesph only nodded. “I didn’t realize how hard you work.”
“Yeah, well, it is one of the hardest jobs to do. There are a lot of people who could never do it.” Jamie glanced up at his friend standing next to him. “As you saw, everyone here works hard.”
“They sure do. I’ll be right back.” He stopped for a second. “And you better save me a piece of that pie.”
Jamie worked nonstop as Joesph showed him the storyboards that he’d made up, standing across the stainless-steel table, making sure he was far enough away, Jamie noticed, as not to get covered in flour.
“Now, I did listen when you told me that your grandmother liked the green and peach colors, but now, having seen this place in action, I’m of the opinion that we need to punch the colors up. Still keeping with the green and pinkish theme but not muted like before.”
Joesph stopped and looked at Jamie. “Ohhh-kay,” Jamie said, drawing out the word. “Like?”
Reaching down, Joesph pulled out another storyboard. “Like this.”
Jamie’s jaw dropped. It looked like the diner he grew up in, but... different.
“Oh! I love that!” Florence had walked over to Jamie. “Hey, y’all, come look at this!” Florence yelled loud enough to have been heard all the way over to the interstate.
A moment later, the entire staff were standing around Jamie, looking at the presentation Joesph held up. “I did this while y’all were working. It’s the feeling I get for this place. It’s not... complete or finished. Just an idea I had.”
Jamie had to shake his head to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“Say yes, you big dummy,” was Florence’s immediate response.
“I like it,” Minnie kinda of squeaked when she spoke.
“That’s a clear winner, if you ask me,” Hazel added. “I like it too.”
“I have never been a fan of pink, but...” Walter took off his ball cap and scratched his head, “But yeah. I think it fits.” He clasped a big hand on Jamie’s shoulder. “And I think Ms. Mattie would be thrilled.”
“It’s a mid-century modern design, and it would be consistent with the color scheme as well.
” Joesph pointed to one of the dining room tables and the chairs.
“We can keep all the tables and chairs, just have them refurbished, which should cut down on the costs of just buying all new. Some will need repairs, obviously, but I think it could work.”
“I remember when they all looked new,” Walter said, his voice almost dreamlike.
“And the flooring,” Joesph pointed to the floor of white, green, and pink check, “I’d like to use a new product underlay that will have a bit of cushion, so it won’t be so hard on the feet. It’s made of cork, so it’s really good for this type of use. It’s also naturally antibiotic.”
“Do what?” Hazel sounded sceptical. “Like carpet.”
“Not as soft as carpet, but it won’t feel like you’re walking all day on concrete.”
“That would be a godsend.” Florence sighed heavily. “There are days when I get home, and my feet and legs feel like I’ve run a big-city marathon.”
“Sounds good to me,” Jamie said. “Let’s make sure to do that.”