V
898 Words
VTHEY WERE WAITING FOR us before dawn.
Hungry people. Lots of them. Jean nudged my feet and I sat up, rubbing my eyes.
"No rest for the wicked."
I rolled up our sleeping gear and stowed it while Jean went inside to make sure Hami was up - she was. And he came back out with a wad of her sleeping bag and pad for me to roll up and stow. Jean then went around back to start the generator. I heard Hami firing up the grill and soon got all the smells of it. Meanwhile, I unfolded the chairs again and set out the small condiments table. Hami opened up the screen window and passed out the napkins, salt/pepper packages, and plastic-ware.
Everyone was pretty orderly and started forming into lines. I heard some coughing, some sneezing, but nothing really serious. Of course, in the dark, it was hard to tell much beyond the yellow glow under our awning. I did see some white nurse's and doctor's outfits in the line out there.
The guys in front of the line just smiled at me when I gave them any attention. And I smiled back. Our work was cut out for us, but they were honestly happy to see us.
Jean was inside, doing a final check to see everything was in place. I pulled up a trash can and put a liner in it, one of many I could see filling today.
Then I headed inside the van to get started.
- - - -
THE DAY ROLLED THROUGH with just enough breaks that we got our own meals in between. Jean showed up regularly, often riding up with someone's delivery truck with more supplies.
Both of us got frazzled from working in the humid heat. And I had to take my “quick-counts” for “centering” myself often – just keep going on an even keel. Hami seemed to deal better with it than me. But she got to smile at the customers and seeing them smile back. Of course, I was focused right on the hot grill, while my bandanna kept my brow sweat wicked to the side and out of my eyes.
All I could see most of the time was the next order and the last one going out.
And Hami's cute backside every now and then.
But mostly my mind had to stay on what I was cooking and my supply of hamburger and cheese. For our menu was simple. It had burgers and cheese in different combinations. And we never had any complaints.
By our long lines, we didn't have much competition, either. Jean had understated how much we were needed. We were on our feet for most of that day. Hot, sweaty work with few breaks.
Finally, after sunset, the lines quit. Before then, there was no shutting them down. People just kept coming. Some said it was the first meal they'd had in days. Most paid in cash, but we also accepted the local version of government welfare cards. Our truck had some sort wi-fi connection that was locked down within an inch of itself. It took care of their payments somehow.
All Hami and I needed to do was just keep everything moving.
What helped was the intermittent showers that cooled everything off. The hungriest stayed in line, but that line shortened to the few who could stand under our awning. Hami and I could take a break during those showers and clean up inside the van a bit. Then the rain would let up, the line would stretch out again and we'd get going on their requests.
- - - -
JEAN WAS BACK BY NIGHTFALL. He brought us both some ice cream in pints. We ate it as he walked us over to a nearby truck stop that had shower facilities. Hami went first, and I caught up Jean on how it went that day. I went next, then Jean was in for his.
I didn't have much to say to Hami, nor she to me. Tired, too tired to say anything.
But she looked over at me with her eyes. Those hazel eyes of hers set off against her deep red hair always got my attention, even when she was a little girl at the festivals. Not that she couldn't lead most of the boys around just by her looks alone.
While I was remembering our years of growing up, she just moved over and hugged me.
My surprise was evident. Not that I didn't like it, I just wasn't expecting it.
"That's for staying cool today. You really kept it together. All I had to watch out for was your elbows. Those patties were almost flying out of there on their own. Thanks."
I was speechless. "Well, you did good, too."
She just smiled and went back to leaning her shoulders and hips against the brick wall and combing out her long red hair.
"Boy, I hope the rest of the days aren't as bad." I said to no one in particular.
Jean surprised me by answering. "Some will be worse. But you both did real good today. I'm proud of you and your parents will be, too. We helped a lot of people today."
Jean smiled at both of us. "Ready?"
We walked back to the truck. It was dark and late. You could still hear the traffic, and occasional music blaring out of someone's open car or truck windows. Still humid, still gritty. Far from the open fields and graveled roads of home.
- Writer
