and sorry I didn’t come to the funeral. I don’t have a car.”
“I’m glad you weren’t there, Barry. It’s a sad memory that I don’t want you to be a part of.” His apology and his kindness are awkward. “I knew you were thinking of me,” I add, and the air returns to normal. Barry retreats to the kitchen and I turn to Sydney who is rolling her eyes, and Jason who’s rubbing his in disbelief.
“He is such an ass, but that was nice. He’s always nice to you,” Sydney says bitterly.
“He’s just misunderstood.” Jason is silent. “Can we get a table? For three; Julia is meeting us.”
“Fun. Why do I always have to work? When are you coming back?” Sydney asks, and I’m sad. Now that I’m here I want to come back, but it will make it impossible to see Jason. I won’t be able to get that many weekends off. It’s no longer about the money. The insurance and settlement made sure it will never again be about money. Looking around at all my coworkers I realize it never was about the money. Sydney leads us to a four-top in the bar area, her section of course, and leaves us to peruse the menu I’ve got completely memorized. Jason doesn’t even open his.
“Who’s your friend?” He says, and I realize I didn’t introduce him to Barry.
“I’m sorry I didn’t introduce you. He’s nice.”
“Sydney doesn’t make him sound nice at all.” Jason’s voice has an edge to it. As if anger is creeping in, but he’s not sure where to put it.
“He’s misunderstood. He’s not here for school. He was born here. He’s in his forties. He’s lived a hundred lives, none of them very easy,” I say, and reach across the table to touch Jason’s hands.
“Barry has scars all over his hands and I asked him once what they’re from and he said, ‘knives.’ His life is not that of a college student, so he has very little time for our nonsense. This is his job; it’s our time to party. He walks me home every time we have a closing shift together.” Jason’s eyes harden, his anger finding a home. “I’m usually carrying a lot of cash. I appreciate the company.”
“You check out the menu,” I tell him. “I’m going downstairs to the office.” Jason seems even more annoyed. “To resign.” At this he softens and I get up. “Order me a drink when Sydney comes back.”
* * *
I return to find Sydney sitting at the table with Jason. I have no idea what they’re talking about, but she’s hanging on every word. Sydney can make anyone talk. It’s her gift. I sit down and they both look at me.
“Jason just told me you’re resigning.” I can’t even be mad at him. I left him here, with her, unprotected. I lean in and try to slide past an elderly woman speaking Russian to what must be her granddaughter, but I need an inch more space.
“ izvinite ,” I say in Russian and Jason’s eyes bulge. The grandmother nods kindly and moves her chair in, letting me by.
“Yes. I just told Tony. I’m regrouping,” I answer Sydney.
“Hey! You resigning?” Barry asks, poking his head out from the kitchen.
“For now, Barry. I might be back, but I need some time.” I turn to Jason and he is staring at Barry’s hands. “I’ll still be in here all the time. I’ve got to eat,” I add, and Barry huffs and retreats to the kitchen. That’s about as well as it’s going to go with him.
Julia comes in, toting Noble and his roommate Wes. They engulf us. Apparently, Jason met Wes in Salem County last summer so introductions are unnecessary. Sydney brings out ecstasy fries and bolis without us ordering. “I knew what you’d want,” she says, and we all dig in. Noble is explaining the campus layout to Jason. He’s concerned with the inter-campus bus system and any classes I might have off of College Avenue. There are plenty, most across the river on the Busch Campus this year. Noble offers to drive me, since most of his business school classes are there, too. Judging from Jason’s face, this
“I’m glad you weren’t there, Barry. It’s a sad memory that I don’t want you to be a part of.” His apology and his kindness are awkward. “I knew you were thinking of me,” I add, and the air returns to normal. Barry retreats to the kitchen and I turn to Sydney who is rolling her eyes, and Jason who’s rubbing his in disbelief.
“He is such an ass, but that was nice. He’s always nice to you,” Sydney says bitterly.
“He’s just misunderstood.” Jason is silent. “Can we get a table? For three; Julia is meeting us.”
“Fun. Why do I always have to work? When are you coming back?” Sydney asks, and I’m sad. Now that I’m here I want to come back, but it will make it impossible to see Jason. I won’t be able to get that many weekends off. It’s no longer about the money. The insurance and settlement made sure it will never again be about money. Looking around at all my coworkers I realize it never was about the money. Sydney leads us to a four-top in the bar area, her section of course, and leaves us to peruse the menu I’ve got completely memorized. Jason doesn’t even open his.
“Who’s your friend?” He says, and I realize I didn’t introduce him to Barry.
“I’m sorry I didn’t introduce you. He’s nice.”
“Sydney doesn’t make him sound nice at all.” Jason’s voice has an edge to it. As if anger is creeping in, but he’s not sure where to put it.
“He’s misunderstood. He’s not here for school. He was born here. He’s in his forties. He’s lived a hundred lives, none of them very easy,” I say, and reach across the table to touch Jason’s hands.
“Barry has scars all over his hands and I asked him once what they’re from and he said, ‘knives.’ His life is not that of a college student, so he has very little time for our nonsense. This is his job; it’s our time to party. He walks me home every time we have a closing shift together.” Jason’s eyes harden, his anger finding a home. “I’m usually carrying a lot of cash. I appreciate the company.”
“You check out the menu,” I tell him. “I’m going downstairs to the office.” Jason seems even more annoyed. “To resign.” At this he softens and I get up. “Order me a drink when Sydney comes back.”
* * *
I return to find Sydney sitting at the table with Jason. I have no idea what they’re talking about, but she’s hanging on every word. Sydney can make anyone talk. It’s her gift. I sit down and they both look at me.
“Jason just told me you’re resigning.” I can’t even be mad at him. I left him here, with her, unprotected. I lean in and try to slide past an elderly woman speaking Russian to what must be her granddaughter, but I need an inch more space.
“ izvinite ,” I say in Russian and Jason’s eyes bulge. The grandmother nods kindly and moves her chair in, letting me by.
“Yes. I just told Tony. I’m regrouping,” I answer Sydney.
“Hey! You resigning?” Barry asks, poking his head out from the kitchen.
“For now, Barry. I might be back, but I need some time.” I turn to Jason and he is staring at Barry’s hands. “I’ll still be in here all the time. I’ve got to eat,” I add, and Barry huffs and retreats to the kitchen. That’s about as well as it’s going to go with him.
Julia comes in, toting Noble and his roommate Wes. They engulf us. Apparently, Jason met Wes in Salem County last summer so introductions are unnecessary. Sydney brings out ecstasy fries and bolis without us ordering. “I knew what you’d want,” she says, and we all dig in. Noble is explaining the campus layout to Jason. He’s concerned with the inter-campus bus system and any classes I might have off of College Avenue. There are plenty, most across the river on the Busch Campus this year. Noble offers to drive me, since most of his business school classes are there, too. Judging from Jason’s face, this
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