Page 100 of Tasty Cherry

“Sophomore year.”

“Then it’s about to expire. You have to take it again. That’s why we sync it here so we can offer the test to employees when they need it. If you’re in the system, you go on the list. You do it here at the hotel, on the clock. You get paid to take it!”

Maverick’s hand starts rapidly tapping his leg. Carly mentioned that, too, that people who struggle with frustration might use body movements to calm their nervous system. It’s both a tell and a coping strategy.

“Are you worried about passing the test?”

“Of course not.” Maverick’s face screws up like I said the dumbest thing ever. “A third grader could pass it.”

But his hand moves even faster. This is exactly what he’s afraid of.

Carly mentioned that some people — not necessarily Maverick, of course, as his diagnosis was confidential — but some people did better when written instructions were read aloud.

So if there are parts of his job requiring complex comprehension of written material, I should find a way to offer an oral version.

“It’s hard for some. We have an employee with dyslexia and another with ADHD who are coming due for their re-certification. So we’ll be doing another test for them, this one read aloud. If you think you can handle the read-aloud option, I can put you on the list to take it then. Will that work?”

“Who the fuck needs it read aloud?”

His voice is full of disdain, but his hand has stopped tapping.

We’re getting somewhere.

“Lots of people. We have a couple of low-vision employees as well, but they aren’t due yet.”

“Fine. If Raya’s going to have a damn fit about it, I’ll take it then.”

Another element of Maverick’s struggle unlocks. Reading is a challenge. He gets angry if he has to do something that should be easy, but for him, is hard.

I wonder if this is why he was so awful in school. Why wasn’t he tested? He probably hid it well. Charmed the teachers, maybe.

“I’ll let Raya know to put you on the list for the oral exam.”

“If I’m still here, of course.”

There’s that. “I think if you keep doing good work on your rotations, it will be fine. You shouldn’t be around Raya that much.”

“Good. She’s a piece of work.”

I don’t disagree with him there. “You’re in the kitchen today?”

“Yeah, Monique likes my chopping technique. I told her I’m good with my hands.”

“She said that?” Chef Monique is one of the toughest nuts in the hotel. Even I give her a wide berth when I can. She’s single, though. It would be wild for our forty-something chef to get entangled with an intern.

“I’m not going to fuck her,” Maverick says. “Even I know better than to strike that high.”

I almost agree that it’s unwise to break the hotel policies like that, but decide it would be better not to bring up the very fraternization clause that I’m quite decidedly breaking myself.

“Wise words.” I stand up. “Good luck in the kitchen. You there all week?”

He stands, too. “If Brooklyn doesn’t get me kicked out.”

“You’re not getting along with her? She seemed very likeable on the front desk.”

“If you mean lickable, yes, that.”

“Oh, I see.” She’s one of the scorned. “It’s a big kitchen. Maybe avoid her.”

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