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“Yes, sir?” said Sal.
“Give me your biggest table, Sal. You got a waiter named Franck here?”
“Yes, Mr Fondler.”
“Put me at the biggest table he’s serving.”
“We’re very busy now, Mr Fondler. The bigger table’s reserved.”
“You heard me, Sal. Do it.”
“Yes, sir, right this way, sir.”
Fondler sat down alone at an eight-person table. Franck came over with a glass of water. “Would you like a drink?” he asked.
“Give me a cup of coffee, kid.”
“All right. Would you like to hear the specials?”
“No.”
Franck came back with coffee service.
As he poured, Fondler said, “So you’re the kid who signed the paper.”
Franck nearly poured coffee in Fondler’s lap but regained his composure.
“You just lost your job and every other job you can hope for,” said Fondler. “Or you can work for me. I have an opening. I heard you’re pretty…resourceful. Faking Zeke out, putting on a show like you own the place. I could use talent like that.”
Franck said nothing. He returned to the kitchen. He was breathing hard. He leaned against the wall.
“What’s the matter, big boy?” said Regina, carrying an empty tray into the kitchen. “What’s up, Franck?”
“That guy out there. Single guy at the big table. ‘Member I told you about feeling like I was in a Sopranos show?”
“Yeah. That’s him?” she whispered.
“That’s not him, that’s the guy’s boss. He’s way worse. He says he’s going to get me fired, wants to twist my arm to work for him. Oh, God.”
“You’re not leaving, are you? You can’t go, you’re too good. How could he get you fired?”
“He’s thick with Sal, I think. He’s probably in with everyone.”
“Wait, wait a minute, I’ll go talk to Uncle Sal.”
She came back a few minutes later.
“No way Uncle Sal’s going to let you go. I told him about the guy.”
“You did? You shouldn’t say anything. Nothing!”
“Don’t worry, Sal’s cool. He knows who I was talking about. Says don’t worry, Franck. Sal likes you. He says he knows how to handle the fellow. Sounds like he’s already been told to fire you.”
“Already?”
“Yeah, but he’s not going to. He’s got a few connections himself, Franck. He’s not worried about this guy.”
“Oh. That is really, really a relief, Regina. Really. So Sal’s on my side?”
“We all are, Franck. You just go give him his coffee and wait for him to get out of here.”
Franck pulled himself together and brought out the coffee pot.
“Would you like some more coffee, sir?”
“No. What’s the answer, kid? You in? You can quit this place before they fire you and start with me tomorrow.”
“Thank you for your offer. I’m happy here, and I don’t feel like working for someone who rips off people’s houses, threatens people and what else are you good at? Extortion? Blackmail?”
“You watch your fucking mouth, kid. You are finished, you’re fired, you better take off your fucking apron and get out here now and don’t look back and hey, you want a good tip, my waiter man? Here’s a good tip – don’t look anywhere else in this town for a job, cause you’re blacklisted now, kid.”
Regina walked by with a pitcher of water. “Hi, honey, nice to see you again,” said Regina.
Fondler softened and eyed her full figure. “Nice to see you too, sweetheart.”
“Want some more water, Mr Fondler?” asked Regina.
“Sure, sweetheart,” he said, and as she leaned over to pour, he gave her a pat on the ass.
Regina had bad aim today. She missed the water glass and poured the entire pitcher of water and ice into Fondler’s lap.
“Aaaah! Aaaah!” he screamed, leaping up from the table. “Fuck this place! I’m going to Luigi’s from now on!” he shouted, running out, as Regina and Franck laughed.
Even Sal couldn’t help chuckling as he rang up a bewildered customer.