Stories, Thoughts and Snippets
Valor 1 Valor 2 Valor 3 Valor 4
I gave her the info, but for some reason I didn't call the restaurant. I got a wet towel from the washroom and wiped off as much of the blood as I could from the car, there wasn't as much as I had thought. I slipped into the back of the restaurant and changed into a clean waiter's shirt, tossing the other into the hamper.
My dad chewed me out, and I told him a story about an accident over on Aurora way, and he told me I should have found another way around. For the most part he let it go. I sure as hell didn't forget about it, but I didn't want my parents to find out about it either. I think even at that point I had ideas that wouldn't profit from my parents learning about this woman.
We didn't get an order from her the next week, but the week after, on a Wednesday, which was an unusual day of the week for her to order we got a call. Three dishes this time. As I left my father shouted after me, "Watch out for Aurora!"
I pulled up to the house and there were two cars again, the coupe as always, and another I'd never seen. Business as usual. I rang the bell and the door opens. Business as usual. A man maybe five years younger than my father answers the door. Business as unusual.
"Hello, son." He began.
"Sir. I uh...have your food, it comes to..."
"Would you mind coming inside for just a moment, son?"
"All right."
I walked in and took a look around the place that I hadn't on the only other occasion I'd had to cross the threshold.
"Please bring the food into the dining room."
I followed him in, the woman was sitting at the table, with a glass of wine and a cigarette in her mouth. She looked as perfect as always, but I could remember what she looked like with her jaw slack and blood coating her face.
"You've met Eva. Of course."
"Not officially actually."
"Really?"
"We never had occasion to exchange names." Said the woman.
"He's been bringing you food for five months now and you never saw fit to tell the boy your name."
"Or ask him his."
"That was quite rude of you, Eva. Well. In that case, my name is Sawyer, this is Eva, and we are pleased to meet you...?"
"Michael."
"Michael. We are very pleased to meet you. Would you care for a glass of wine?"
"I should really be getting back, my Dad will be angry if I'm late again, especially after last time."
"Ahhh. But last time is the reason we're asking you to stay, we want to thank you for so chivalrously taking care of Eva. Surely your father will understand if you are justly being rewarded for your good deeds."
"He doesn't know about last week. I told him there was an accident and I was stuck in traffic."
"Why would you do that, Michael."
"I don't know, Mr. Sawyer."
"That was very discreet of you, Michael." Said Eva.
"I appreciate a man of discretion, Michael. A man that can recognize a sensitive situation and has the grace to not broadcast the private affairs of a few to the world. I now have that to thank you for, as well as for assisting Eva."
"I just did what anyone would have, Mr. Sawyer. I really do appreciate the gratitude, but I need to be going so if you could just..."
"All in good time, Michael. Here, I'll buy your time, just a second."
Sawyer picked up the telephone.
"What's the number to your restaurant?"
"765-9086."
"Damico's!" I could hear my father shout over the line.
"Is this Mr. Damico?" Sawyer asked.
"Yes, Sir. What can I do for you?"
"Mr. Damico your son, just delivered some food to us, and..."
"Is there a problem?"
"No, Mr. Damico. The food is fine and your son is very professional, so much so that I had an offer of employment for him, and I was just wanted to make sure it would be all right with you sir."
"Well I need the boy for deliveries..."
"I will be happy to pay for any losses you might experience, in fact I'll double that cost, and I promise I'll have him back to you within a few hours. You see I have a few heavy pieces of furniture that I need to move upstairs, and I hurt my back on the job the other day."
"I have no problem with my boy doing some extra work for you, but we do very well, especially in the next few hours I'm sure the cost would not be worth it to you."
"Name your price, Mr. Damico."
"Well, let's see, Wednesday from 7-9 we could very easily deliver a hundred dollars worth of food in that time."
"Then I shall have Michael back to you by nine o'clock, with two-hundred dollars in his pocket."
"You must be joking sir."
"I assure you that I am not."