Ham & Chaz-4
961 Words
A FEW DAYS LATER, JEAN came back with some guy wearing a lab coat. He shook all our hands and thanked us over and over for all our help. Apparently this was the guy who had contracted with the company that recruited Jean and us. The quarantine had been lifted, and he was bringing back in his own cafeteria cooks and serving staff again.
About then a patrol car came by (they had been making regular rounds to visit us daily since the 'banger incident) but today it was the Police Chief himself who wanted to inspect the scene. Somehow, he didn't know why, but there had been a remarkable drop in crime in this area. People were taking care of little incidents on their own, while various known and notorious gang-bangers had either turned themselves in or been escorted by "friends or family members" into the local station house.
Our little food cart was ground zero for a circle that went out for blocks. They didn't even have to give out traffic or parking tickets. And so their extra officers were being reassigned to other precincts. He just came by to tell us all that, and thank us for being there.
Chaz and I were busy serving customers and didn't catch the exact conversation, especially when they moved their talking out of the van. (But I kept an eye on their gestures and asked Jean later about the details.)
Jean thanked both the lab coat guy and the police chief, and told them the sad news that we were moving on that night. But he had heard of several restaurants that had opened up in the last week, and more were in the plans. It seems that they “happened to come by" our little hospice parking lot and saw the long lines that stretched out of it and down the sidewalk.
And Jean pointed right across the street from us to one that had just opened up with big blue awnings. They had a walk-up window for only burgers and cheese combinations, just like ours. And they already had a long line. Then we saw Jean point down the block where a fast-food place with a drive-through was being renovated.
Both of those gentlemen shook Jean's hand again. And thanked him over and over.
The last of our line didn't take long to serve, and we had cleaned up and put away everything just as the clearing clouds were beginning to tinge red.
Jean did a final check of the truck while Chaz and I took our last full trash bag liner out to the roll-off bin by the gate. Hand in hand as we came back, smiling and relieved.
Jean was waiting for us with both damp and dry towels to clean up with, plus a couple of iced coffees.
Following him into the van, Chaz and I settled into the cozy bench seat and belted in. The truck started smoothly and Jean slowly rolled us out of that lot. Soon we were back on the interstate.
Darkness had fallen by then, and I snuggled up next to Chaz. He'd kept one of the bedrolls out, and covered us with it. The last thing I remembered was his kissing my head.
XWHEN DAYLIGHT BROKE the scenery had changed.
While we expected to see rolling pastures with oaks and hickories and elms, we saw scrub brush, cacti, and junipers.
"Uncle Jean, where are we?"
I could see his reflection in the mirror above his head, his face smiling. "Nearly there, Chaz. Specifically, close to the border of Nevada and California. Technically, close to the middle of nowhere."
We were rolling down a two-lane highway now, the patched holes and tarred cracks were making the van bump every now and then as we moved along. The sky was clear, no real wind or traffic. Soon we turned off onto an old state blacktop road with barely a stripe on it. That took us a few miles into more desert. We finally saw what looked like a ghost town coming up ahead.
All that stood was a couple of buildings on one side. The biggest one was a two-story wood-frame structure with a squared off false front and a painted steel awning beneath it.
"Great place, isn't it kids?" Jean was beaming at this scene.
He pulled the van over right in front and shut down the engine. We all unbuckled and got out, with Uncle Jean almost jumping down the steps.
"Well, how do you like it?"
We saw big glass windows, cleaned to be nearly invisible, with simple curtains across their insides. Dual screen doors and what looked like a long bar inside. Several benches and chairs were waiting under that porch shade for locals. But no one was around to enjoy them.
I looked at Hami and then back at Jean. "Well, it needs some work. And the location isn't great. But that porch is in permanent shade on the north, so that's a feature."
"Chaz, I think you're missing the bigger picture here. Think of it as a graduation present."
I looked at Hami under my arm, and she looked up at me. Her face changed and she put her other hand as a shade in front of her forehead so she could read something above that awning.
I did the same. My jaw dropped.
The sign on the building front said "Ham & Chaz - Sandwiches, Etc."
Uncle Jean had to laugh at our faces. "Of course I'll be around for awhile to help set you up and get things running. But there are some other people who live around here you will want to meet.
Beyond him we saw several cars and trucks coming toward us from every direction of the compass, using dirt roads or paved. Taking their time.
Hami and I had a new home, and a new town, and a new family.
Together.
- Writer
