Page 3 of Strip It Down
The woman opens her arms. “Come on, sweetie. Girl time.”
I wait anxiously. Did I do the right thing? I knew there were guys using the urinal. Would a two-and-a-half-year-old even notice? Did it matter? She’s too young for the girls and boys are made different talk. Hell, she’s walked in on me and not said anything.
What the hell am I doing? Kids were supposed to be for the future…maybe. I was an only child and there was no partner on my radar. I was a career man.
Running a hand over my short hair I pace back and forth. What’s taking so long? Damn, I suck at this.
I’ve just about decided to go in when the woman walks out with Ayla in her arms. My daughter is giggling. She hasn’t done that often.
The woman looks across at me and smiles. That niggle of recognition is back. “Sorry, we had to wash our hands. A couple of times since the electric soap dispenser was so fun. What’s her name?”
“Ayla, like A-La. It means moonlight.” Now I’m rambling. Geez.
“That’s beautiful. Just like she is.”
“Thank you. We just moved back from a bigger city. I’m used to the places always having a family bathroom. I guess I’ll have to double check going forward.”
A man’s voice sounds from behind me. “There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. You weren’t in your office.”
The woman’s jaw clenches. I turn recognizing the guy from years ago. “She was kind enough to help me with my daughter since you don’t have a family restroom.”
Turning my back on the jerk, I smile at her. “Thank you again for your help.” She nods.
As we head out of the hall into the seating area, I’m making my way to the cashier when another woman calls out loud enough for the whole restaurant to hear. “That’s the jerk who stiffed me!”
Suddenly, I remember half the reason I moved away from this small town. The loudmouth judgmental, jump to conclusions population who thought they knew everything about everybody just from hearsay. Once you got a reputation,you’d never change anyone’s mind. I’m sure some of them still think of me as Fists.
I turn to her and respond just as loudly. “My daughter had to go the restroom.” I hold up the lunch ticket. “Now that she’s done, I’m going to the cashier to pay. If I’d been stiffing you, I’d have gone out the back door.
“Since we’re at it, I’m only giving a two-dollar tip because I had to ask for silverware twice, got the ketchup but not the mustard, and I’m still waiting for the milk for my little girl.” I glance around the room. “Hope everybody got all that.”
I hand the cashier the ticket, two twenties and walk out the door.
CHAPTER 2
Gentry
It’s a job. It pays the bills. Just ignore my useless boss.The same litany I play in my head every time I’m forced to deal with the jerk, Bill. Just like all the full-of-themselves asshats I was forced to deal with back in high school.
Four years ago, a new metal manufacturer opened, hiring a lot of the younger locals. Within a year they doubled their staff and are now expanding to a second building. The business is growing like wildfire.
With our central location in the country, easy shipping and the number of willing workers, Archer Falls fits all their needs. There’s a whole new housing edition being built on the outskirts of town for the people moving here for jobs. The new construction is opening up even more job opportunities.
Blue Spruce, a town down the highway, has a community college and started offering more classes geared to manufacturing needs. I was able to go back to school and get an associate’s degree in bookkeeping.
Some people are fighting the changes. Many old timers in town are losing their stature in the community and they resent it. Like, Bill, my boss.
His grandmother started the restaurant. She was friendly, well liked and a great cook and baker. Her prices were reasonable, and she catered to families. Always walking the floor and greeting people while still running the kitchen.
She was also on the town council and library board. Outspoken but fair. She pushed for free breakfast and lunch for kids, donating a lot of it herself.
Bill was a couple years ahead of me in school and in with a lazy entitled crowd. He inherited the restaurant when his grandmother died, and his parents moved to Florida. He has mismanaged everything since, failing to upgrade or keep up with food and health changes. He still struts around town acting like he’s a big shot. More like big loser.
I follow him to my closet of an office, and he sits in my chair. “You’re fired.”
“Excuse me? Because I helped a guy with his kid? Or because I took a bathroom break?”
“You’re fired. I’ve got someone starting who knows how to keep books right.”
