by Benny D.

Created on: October 20, 2008

Roadside Daisies

Pete and Melissa stood in the vestibule at Primo Pasta. It was almost time for the big rush. The dinner crowd trickles in before six. They pour in after six. Pete and Melissa knew this; they'd been working here long enough. Melissa prepared the podium and Pete Windexed the glass doors.

The podium was Melissa's station, her headquarters. Each customer, satisfied or grumpy, had to go through her. She was the gatekeeper. She liked her job. It was important, yet she didn't risk dropping a tray of martinis or bowls of pomodoro. Melissa worked hard. She was efficient.

Pete glanced at her over his shoulder while he smeared the cleaner across the glass. It always smeared. The commercials lied. While Melissa manned her podium, Pete ran the floor, letting Melissa know when tables were clean and when patrons would be up. He sat new patrons and thanked those leaving for having dinner at the restaurant. She worked him. She worked him to a sweat. But he liked it.

Still wiping, he quickly looked over his shoulder. She saw him and smiled. Blushing, he smiled back. "Streaks," he said.

"They look fine. Why don't you grab a water before it gets busy."

"Do you want one too?" he asked.

"Sure. Such a gentleman."

Pete left and returned with two lidded, plastic cups, each filled with ice water. Pete handed one to Melissa. "Is this our first drink together?" Pete asked.

"We do this every Friday night," said Melissa.

"I guess it just always feels like the first time," said Pete.

Melissa giggled and put her cup against the back of his neck, just below his hairline. He quivered. "Cold?" asked Melissa. Pete returned the favor. She shivered.

Melissa's cell phone buzzed from inside the podium, startling both of them. Her slim arm disappeared for a second and then came out with the still buzzing phone. It read: Tim's Cell.

"I'm going to take this for a minute," Melissa said to Pete. She walked to a bistro set in the vestibule and sat. Her conversation was short and heated - a few shut ups, a few fines, and a few byes. She came back to the podium flustered.

"Everything okay?" Pete asked. "I hate fighting with my mom."

"It was my by boyfriend. But thanks for trying." Melissa's mood changed a bit. Her magnetic smile was there, but she was still bothered.

The crowd came. They came fast and they came in droves. Melissa's list of names stretched two pages long. She had to use first names and last initials to keep track of everyone. There were three men named Bob, five women named Jenn, and about

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