Prologue
“Al! We got anymore Filet Mignon left?!”
I looked up from the ‘ticket’ line and turned to stare at one of my haggard looking waiters. We were one of the last restaurants that relied on printed orders.
“Ashley... I called ‘86’ filets an hour ago.” We had ran out the particular steak pretty damn hard, way before we even had a chance to realize we were running low, not a single backup to cover the ticket string.
“What?!” She growled, “ No one told me! I put in the course order half an hour ago, why didn’t anyone come and tell me?!”
“Bullshit! You’re one of the people I told first!” Shouted another waiter while running past us.
“No running!” I called after whoever that was, then turned to look one of the worst servers on my floor. “Ash, just go to the table and find out if they are ok with a New York? Tell’em they’ll get the 18oz upgrade on us. It won’t take long to send out since I got ‘grill’ to start a shit ton of them cause I know half of yall are deaf.”
“What if they don’t want a New York?”
“Then offer the Porterhouse.”
“Fuck, really? Same price? And what if they don’t want it?”
She was starting to piss me off... again. “They won’t, not if they aren’t completely stupid. Just the filet part of the T-bone is larger than the one they were going to get in the first place. You should know this already.”
I grabbed a finished set of plates from the hot side of the ‘line window’ and practically tossed it at the nearest food runner.
“And if they are completely stupid, grab me and I’ll do my groveling act.”
“Okay, fine.” She turned to rush back to her table, but I stopped the dumbass.
“At least take something out!” I said, shoving a loaded tray and tray jack into her arms. “Table 34. Lamb, medium rare. French onion soup, no croutons. And the sea bass. Careful, hotplate on the lamb.”
“Shit, ok.”
****
I heard someone walk into the small, cramped manager office. Most of the staff had gone home, or to a bar, including dishwashers that were usually the last of the non-salaried employees to leave. But, tonight was rough, and the head-waiter stayed back to help me close the restaurant.
“Heya Boss, everything’s all good for the morning crew. I’m scheduled back in at 4 again tomorrow. You’ll be here too right? You’re usually the mid-manager on Wednesdays.”
I didn’t look away from my laptop. The day’s paperwork wasn’t going to finish itself, but I laughed tiredly, “Nope, finally got some approved time off from the owner. Going to see the grandkids in Vegas.”
There was a slight pause.
“Shit... how long are you going to be gone for? And why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I wasn’t sure if it was going to be approved or not. So, just bought my tickets last night. Don’t worry, I won’t be gone too long. I’ll be back in two weeks. ”
“That’s... cool, hopefully the restaurant won’t burn down before then. You’re the only one keeping this place together, you know.”
“Haha, shut-it, the other managers are alright. A bit quirky, but they do their jobs fine.”
“Sure...Maybe... but things don’t run as smoothly as they do when you’re around.”
“Blarg, it’s the industry. All the managers here have weak points, even me.”
“True, you’re not as fast as you used to be, hah. But I wouldn’t trust the rest with more power with you gone. In fact, a few of them shouldn’t have the authority they already have.”
“Quiet you, they all went through the manager training. They all know their roles entail as well as the responsibilities they need to uphold.”
“Yet, you are the only one that isn’t sleeping with an employee.”
‘....’
“Yeah... I don’t want to know.” Actually, I did , sort of want to know. I had suspected. But, still, this wasn’t where I thought the conversation was going.
“You sure?! Did ya know Ashley had finally seduced-”
“Stop. Hell no. I don’t want to know now.” God, there were only two other male managers.
‘I was sure that girl prefered hotdogs instead of tacos.’ And both of those guys I didn’t really want to lose respect for. But... Ashley... Christ... Why?! That’s like willing stick your junk in a blender, adding broken glass, and putting it on ‘crush ice’ mode.’
“-the dumb bitch gossips all the god damn time about how she got all the good tables because she suck-”
“I’m ignoring youuuu... Trying to finish the nightly reportsss...”
“-and don’t get me started on how Marrissa sank her old ass claws into that new bus boy! He’s still in highschool!”
“Lalalalallalaaa, I hate doing paperworkk.... It’s a pain in the assss...” ‘Marrissa too!? ‘
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“Seriously though, the five other managers are a bunch of horny fuckers. And is the rest of the staff is abusing the crap out of that.”
I was starting to get a little annoyed, at the other managers, and without really thinking I said, “What about you? Are you sleeping with one of them?”
There wasn’t a response. ‘Shit.’
“Crap, I didn’t mean-”
“No.” I heard a drawn out chuckle. “I’m not sleeping with any of them. I would never.”
I sighed, “Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Please forget the entire conversation-”
“You know.. Like..Them. The other managers. I would never sleep with any of the other managers. Never..”
‘...’
“You though... that’s another... uh..
‘.......’
“Anyways... Um., you know.... I know you like to use the community bikes to get to work.. uhh how about I wait and give you a ride? We could even get a drink a drink next door before heading out...”
‘What...’
I rubbed my face, slowly looked up from the desk and stared at the young, beautiful waitress standing in front of me.
Samantha Walsh.
She was, in my honest, unbiased, opinion, the restaurant’s top employee. I had been the one to hire and then train her when she first applied as hostess nearly eight years ago. Since then, I’ve taught her almost everything I knew about fine dining.
A lot of the staff called her ‘Alan’s protege’ and even ‘Alan’s Daughter.’
“How about it? We... uhh... haven’t gone drinking together in a long time.. What? Like a uh.. not since the holidays right?”
Normally, she was one of the most confident woman I’ve ever known, always smiling brightly, standing tall, with clarity, strength and command in her voice. I was very proud of being part of her growth.
‘My protege indeed...’
Yet, right now she wasn’t displaying any these traits. This was a Samantha I hadn’t seen before, or... haven’t seen in a long time.
Sure, the long haired redhead was smiling. But, looking closer, there was a minute strain to keep those lips curved. Not only that, her excellent posture had taken a hit with a slight slouch. A hand resting over a fidgeting arm. A tapping foot .
But most of all, her gorgeous pale green eyes told me of an uncertainty...
A memory of young girl approaching her first table as an official waiter flashed through my mind.
“Sammy...”
No one used that nickname for her out of respect. Only I was allowed that privalledge, though I rarely used it, and only when no one else was near.
“I.. uh.. I mean, only if you’re almost done with closing, and um.. If you’re fine with it, haha.”
‘God damn the world.’
I was nearing on living three times her life in years..
At the youthful age of 24, she had just received her Master’s Degree in Hospitality and Management as well as completing her Level 3 Sommelier Certification.
She was ready to take command of any luxury and/or fine dining establishment.
‘Yet, what the fuck is she doing nervously propositioning to an old fucker like me. She isn’t drunk, or high.’ I almost wanted to just tell her to go home and forget about the whole thing. But, I felt like that’d ruin our relationship.
‘Not that any other option would produce better results.’
“Sammy, I’m almost 60 years old. Fifty years ago, people retired at that age. I’m about to visit my son and grandchildren, for goodness sake.”
“Exactly, fifty years ago. Now, our lifespans are almost twice as long.”
“Your lifespan. I’m probably going to have a heart attack at 85.”
“They can print you a new heart; lungs, eyes and whatever other organs. ”
“I still look ancient.”
“You look like you just turned 40. There are also procedures available to rejuvenate cellular regeneration.”
“My hair is greying.”
“Buy fucking hair-color from any store! But please don’t, I think the grey is sexy.”
“This is extremely inappropriate. I’m your manager.”
“Didn’t I just explain to you that the other mangers are fucking around with staff.”
“You’re actually arguing with me. Why are you arguing with me?”
“I’m trying to get you to sleep with me!”
“Why?!”
“Because I love you! I’ve been in love with you since I first started.”
“What. I’ve basically acted as your father figure this entire time. Hell, you’re basically the genetic daughter I never had.”
“I’m into that! I’ll call you Daddy if you want.”
“Oh. My. God.” I shut my laptop. “I need to leave. Right now. I’ll see you when I get back from my trip.”
I quickly got up and slipped on my bag.
Samantha grabbed my arm and got uncomfortably close. “Alan! Let me take you home at least! It’s pouring outside.”
Nope, there was no way I was going to allow us more time alone in close quarters. Especially in a car. Heading toward my apartment.
There was also this look in her eyes that I was doing my best to ignore.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I made to go around her, but her grip tightened and she moved block me from the door.
“Samantha! What are you-”
“Alan, please... I finally said it... Just..”
There it is. An emotion I’ve never experienced from her before.
Desperation.
“Daddy...”
“Yepp, leaving now.” As gently as possible... I ripped my appendage out of her grasp, shoved her out of the way and ran toward the exit.
‘A young, smart, amazing woman like her should never act like that.’
I was horrified by what had just occurred. And... maybe a little bit flattered... But mostly all around horrified.
I pretty much bolted through the restaurants double doors and made my way onto the streets. Samantha knew how to lock up and set the security system, so I’ll leave that to her. Hopefully, it’ll give her enough alone time to calm down.
My car was parked in a lot across the street. But to get to the crosswalk from this side, I needed walk down the block a little. Along the way were several bars, one in particular was probably servicing most of my staff tonight.
‘A bunch of alcoholics they are...’
I didn’t feel like running into any of them if they were outside smoking a cig or something. So, ‘Fuck it, I’ll just cross here-
***
The Paths We Walk
Paths They Made
Forward
Clearing The Way
A New Frontier
*
Alan S. Daproza Jr.
Beloved Father, Grandfather
Mentor, Friend
And Leader
November 8th, 1992
- July 10th, 2050
***