Member-only story
Novella: Happy Hour at the Empire Way-Stop
Chapter 3: No Matter What He Wore, He Wore the Knife.
You learn a lot sitting quietly at the bar, waiting for your burger and fries.
I learned a lot about Marlin, the server, as I sat at the corner of Becky’s outdoor bar on the porch of The Empire Way-Stop. There were five tables near my perch where I could watch and hear him interact with customers.
“It is unfair the only thing legal to hunt this week is frogs. But frog legs in garlic butter is sooo good,” he stated at the table full of flanneled men. He spoke using a deep voice with a tinge of southern accent.
He picks up a water pitcher and refills glasses at the table with a young family of four. Marlin, in the lightest of British tones, flatters the daughter on her hair ribbons. He flirts with the wife, “Those earrings really make your lovely eyes pop!” To the dad, “You are a lucky man sir,” and to the young boy, “I bet you are man enough to order off the grown up menu aren’t you?”
Slick! he just padded the check in an impressive way. Moved the kid off the kiddy menu. This guy is good!
Each table had its own private Marlin. Each dinner felt special and cared for. Marlin was a bit of a chameleon…