Billy - 6. Chapter 6

Finishing breakfast, I went to open the café. We start to serve breakfast at 7 am. When I went to unlocked the door, there standing by the door was Clark. “Clark, you're early. Come on in, tell Billy to fix your breakfast, you can't start working on empty stomach.”

“Thank you sir, I had breakfast before I left home.”

“Okay, then you can help me set up the tables. When we close at night, we piled the chairs on the top of the table so we can clean the floors.”

I stuck my head in the kitchen, “Billy, can you find me an apron and a hot chocolate for Clark.”

Looking at Clark, I got a smile

Once the café was set for business, I sent Clark to the kitchen to help Billy. Business normally doesn't pick up until 9 on Saturday and Sunday. I checked the till for the correct change, got a cup of coffee and waited for the rest of my staff. I took a peek in the kitchen, Billy had Clark cooking bacon. They were talking a mile a minute, I’d bet tonight at home, the subject will be Clark.

As the café became busy, Mario came in and headed for the kitchen. It wasn't long before I ask Clark to help bus the tables. He pitched right in, when he saw me watching, he just smiled.

We had a break about 11, it wasn't much of a break, it did allowed us to catch up a little and to have a cup of coffee before the lunch crowd hit. Mario asked Clark to help in the kitchen, I think his smile even got bigger. He had to run the dishwasher, but they did let him chop the vegetables. If you stuck your head into the kitchen, you’d see everyone was busy and you would hear a lot of laughter.

Clark worked weekends and holidays, while he completed his senior year. Upon graduating, we had a party for him at the diner. Mario baked a cake that had three layers and each layer was a different flavor. But the best news for Clark and his parents, was the notification that he was granted a scholarship to the Culinary Institute. I got a hug as well as Mario and Billy. Mr. Roberts and Miss Resto were very proud of their prodigy.

Clark continued to work for us full time during the summer. His parents made sure he put most of that money in the bank to save for college expenses not covered by the scholarship. Clark was a happy young man and Mario and Billy took advantage by having him start in the morning, allowing Billy and Mario to sleep in. That lasted about a month when Billy got a twinge of conscious, and a new schedule was worked out. Billy opened, joined by Clark and myself for lunch and dinner. Billy went home, while the evening cooking was left to Mario and Clark.

With Clarke heading off to school, Mr. Roberts brought over another student to replace Clark. Unfortunately, the young girl didn't want to work with Mario and Billy. Something about her parents not approving of her working in an all male kitchen. I didn't really believe that was the reason and Mr. Robert agreed with me. He did send over another young man who Billy and Mario liked. So when Clark left to go to culinary school, Lawrence Bishop took his place. The first words out of his mouth was, “Please call me Larry.”

Clark still joined us for holidays. I told him he'd have a job with us during spring break and summer break. Larry did well, we had a full staff for the holidays that allowed Billy and Mario to relax a little. The café continued to be busy. We did start to open at 6 as originally planned. I also hired another hostess and a new schedule that was based on 36 hour workweek

Among all of this success, there was one thing I was disappointed about. Mario and Billy decided they wanted their own home. A neighbor a few houses down from mine, put his home on the market and Billy bought it with the money that was in his trust. He also arranged for the furniture that was in storage to be delivered to his new home. Although I was sad to see them go, I was happy for them.

People come into your life and leave but never without leaving something behind that you'll treasured for the rest of your life and so it was with Billy. He left me with the feeling of love and accomplishment, the cinnamon rolls that occasionally found their way to my kitchen helped.