©2009 Wanza Leftwich
This is the part three of the Deli Style Series. Click here to read part one, click here to read the continuation of part one, click here to read part two, and click here to read the continuation of part two.
“I’m out at two today. Keep up the good work guys,” Klyde announced. “And David, don’t forget to fire Esther today. She’s a waste of my time.”
A waste of time? She’s smart, saved and beautiful! David had no idea how he was going to break the news to Esther. She had been with the company at least two years. Sure, she was late almost everyday, but once she got to work she worked hard.
“I got to fire somebody I love…” David murmured.
“What was that, David? Klyde wrapped his around his neck.
“Nothing, just talking to myself.”
“Make sure you mop upstairs, somebody missed the back booths last night.” Klyde was out the door and down the street.
“Will do.” David threw the wash towel on the counter. The lunch hour was at its peak and he was exhausted. Two years of working dogmatic shifts, David desperately searched for a job nightly on the internet. The economy finally took a turn for the better and more and more hotels and fine restaurant returned to their normal activity. This meant good news for Dave, the culinary chef. Losing his job turned David’s financial work into an uproar. Arthur’s Deli was a part time gig he obtained to pay for his chef supplies. David blessed the Monday Klyde offered him the night manager’s position. The next morning he found himself of of his understudy position at the exclusive French restaurant in downtown Brooklyn.
David punched out and went to his tiny cubbyhole in the backroom. The only phone in the joint belonged Klyde and he had a code to make local calls. He was a cheapskate and everyone knew it. David reached down, pulled up his pant’s leg and removed his prepaid cell phone out of his sock. He dialed Ms. Natalie’s number. It was busy. Well, at least she had a phone to call. David discarded the vivid memory of the disconnect notice that lay on his nightstand at home.
David tried the number again. “Hi, Ms. Natalie, please,” David looked over his shoulder. He could see Esther grimaced at a customer. “Yes, ms. Natalie, this is David…well no, nothing’s wrong. I wanted to tell you that I will be home by six to pick up Alaya” David bit his lower lip as he listened to Ms. Natalie’s boyfriend and her son full over the remote control.
“Yeah, make that five-thirty…yes, I’ll still pay you the usual. Good.” David clicked the end button and pushed the phone back in his sock.
David returned to the floor in time to see Esther rush through the front door. He eyed the clock and shook his head.
“Man, just ask her out for dinner.” Maurice the cook came up behind David.
David jumped. “I can’t do that. She would never go…besides, I can’t afford it.” David shrugged as he watched Esther punch back in.
“Had a good break?” David asked Esther.
“Yeah, thanks. I needed the polluted air.”
David could see Maurice motioning behind Esther’s back fro him to ask her out. David ignored him. “I’m glad you’re feeling better because I have something to tell you.”
“Shoot.” Ester took a deep breath.
“Esther, he wants to know if you’ll go out with him tonight after work.”
Esther mouth dropped open. David shoulders tensed from embarrassment. “Maurice is simple joking…”
“I would love to, David.” Esther smiled.
“Seriously?” David stared.
“Yeah, she’s serious, man. I told you. All you had to do was ask.” Maurice laughed and walked away.
Wanza Leftwich, The Gospel Writer, is freelance writer, speaker and avid blogger. She loves to write Urban Christian Fiction and Bible Study courses. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Arthur and daughters Symphony and Lyric.
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