fandomtownies | Luke's Diner, March 28 (Monday)

Entry tags:

Luke's Diner, March 28 (Monday)

There was a miniature potted tree on the counter this morning when Lacey came in, bright and cheerful in its shiny foil-wrapped planter with tiny colorful fruits hanging from its branches, and it got an excited little "Awwww!" out of her when she spotted it.

Upon closer examination, though, she realized that the fruit dangling from the tree's miniature limbs was, in fact, miniature peppermint candy.

"All right. I know this is Fandom, but come on now," she announced to the as-yet empty diner.

The diner didn't (mercifully) have a comment in response. Neither did the tree.

Today's Specials
Salmon and Asparagus Frittata
Grilled Chicken Salad
Espresso Cheesecake

NOW HIRING - See Manager for Details

Luke's is open, and it refuses to dignify its proprietor's protestations pertaining to plausibility with a response.

[OOC: The OCD is hiding in embarrassment at my apparent compulsive need to be alliterative, but the diner is open.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Bobby had the best idea ever, and it involved visiting Luke's Diner when hopefully the manager or owner or someone was there and Jack wasn't. Because he was pretty sure that Jack might try to talk said manage or owner or someone out of it.

Looking nervous, he pushed the door open carefully and went inside. "Hi? Um is the manager here and can I speak with him or her?"

"Hi there!" Oh, look, a reason to stop contemplating the weird little candy tree. Kids who could be polite! That was still a novelty sometimes. "That'd be me. Hi."

She waved a little hyperactively. "I'm Lacey. What can I help you with?"

Kids who could be polite and were wearing a tie! Bobby followed his own weird little drummer.

"Hi!" he said, giving her a tentative smile back. "I'm Bobby McCallister! I saw your sign and thought maybe you might still be hiring? I'm a really good worker."

"Oh, yeah?" asked Lacey. "As a matter of fact I do have a couple of shifts open; do you have any references?"

A quick, awkward pause, then she hurried on, "I'm kidding. We're not that strict about references here. Although McCallister -- are you related to Jack?"

"I have references!" Bobby said, pulling a folder out of his backpack to offer to her before he realised she'd said she was kidding. He was a little disappointed but he went on to answer her other question. "Yes, absolutely. He's my brother."

It wouldn't take the most perceptive person in the world to read the hero worship in that statement.

Lacey was not the most perceptive person in the world, no. But she noticed.

"Well, I have nothing to complain about with your brother's work so far, so . . ." Aww, he looked disappointed? In between that and the hero worship, she could totally humor him. "Tell you what, let's see references, okay?"

Because he had a folder. And was wearing a tie. How cute was that?

"He's really awesome. I helped him the other week! He taught me how to mop better," Bobby said enthusiastically.

Actually Jack yelled at him for pushing dirt around, but details.

He smiled widely and handed the folder to Lacey. "See, I didn't have time to ask them to mail it here, but I printed out the emails they sent, and there is contact information on them if you want to call them. This one is from Mr. Benedict. He's the President of the university at home. And this is from Reverend Rindhart. She's the priest at my church. And then this one is from the president of the astronomy society that I belong to at home."

Edited 2011-03-29 01:49 (UTC)

That was more or less what the busboy did if Lacey left him to his own devices with the cleaning implements anyway, so pfft. Details.

"Oh, wow," Lacey said a little weakly, paging through the folder. "You really got serious about this . . . I mean, I'm not sure astronomy translates to a practical use in a diner, but . . . you could do an astronomy section on the bulletin board!"

Keep trying too hard, Lacey.

"This is impressive," she said, meaning it even though she was floundering a little here. "Now, you're sure you really want to work here? It's a lot of talking to people and getting orders."

"Oh, well, I mean, I know it's not a lot of help, but I thought maybe it was helpful cause I've been really consistent with it?" Bobby tried. "So you won't worry that I'm going to wander away, you know? But I could so put up information about astronomy! Did you know there's an excellent telescope up at the dorms?"

He wasn't totally sure she wasn't about to tell him to go away. "I like to talk to people! It's one of my favourite things to do even though Jack says I shouldn't be so enthusiastic."

"Is there? The dorms are a little off-limits for me," said Lacey, halfway considering some kind of impassioned letter about making a resource like that available to the public out of sheer civic-minded habit. "But talking to people is a good skill for a job like this, and if it's one of your favorite things to do I don't see why you shouldn't."

That was also partly civic-minded habit; she liked the idea of being able to claim she helped got the school kids started early with a good work foundation. Sigh, Lacey.

"Really?" Bobby asked, nearly bouncing at her ascent. "Cause I'll do really really good, I promise. You'll be so glad you hired me and -"

...wait a second. "Um, you mean do it here, right? Not like I should go talk to people somewhere else?"

"Nonononono, who you talk to outside of the workplace isn't my call!" Lacey said quickly -- which maybe wasn't what he'd meant, but she'd gotten a little carried away with all the bouncing and excitement. "You talk to whoever you want to out there, but on the clock, let's try and keep that to the people inside here, okay?"

There was supposed to have been a 'you're hired' in there somewhere. Supposed to have been.

"I can do that," he promised. "I can do that really well. And when I'm talking to them, I will get them to buy some pie or something!"

Bobby couldn't help asking even though the books said you weren't supposed to. "So...will you give me a chance with the job?"

The sad thing was that if Lacey had been wavering at all (she was, a tiny bit) the pie thing made up her mind for her; she was still under the mild delusion that she had some kind of rivalry going with J,GoB, and the Buy a Pie, Get a Turtle special had never quite worked out for her.

Which was why the first thing out of her mouth was: "Oh, you are absolutely hired."

Oh, there was a major, major grin on Bobby's face at that. "Really? You are so not going to regret it!" he exclaimed before managing to collect himself and remember what President Benedict had told him about interviewing for a job.

"Thank you so much, Lacey," he said formally, offering his hand. "I really look forward to working with you."

Lacey barely avoided squeeing out loud at the mix of enthusiasm and formality, but she couldn't pull off an entirely dignified air when she reached out to shake his hand.

"Aww. I look forward to seeing what you can do around here, Mr. McCallister," she told him with a nod. "What day works for you? I've got Thursdays and Saturdays open right now, and oh -- employees get free meals, and a pretty good break on desserts to take home."

Shh. She thought it was a clever way to advertise.

"Thursdays? Would Thursdays work? I'm the Doctor's TA third period, but I could come before then run back really fast?" Bobby said eagerly. "I think I might try to take desserts home a lot. I tried to make cookies last night, and it failed a lot."

He paused. "Maybe I shouldn't've said that."

Now was a great time to feel a sense of regret, Lacey!

". . . maybe we can work on that a little later, huh? And you can take your time getting back from class. Broken ankles are never any fun."

"Don't worry! Jack and I run all the time. I haven't broken my ankle yet!" It was weird, yes. He was not talking about the cookies anymore unless he had to. Bad cookies.

"Good! That's good," Lacey said a bit lamely. "Let's keep it that way."

Yes, let's not think about the cookies.

"I'll do my best," Bobby promised. "Can I start this Thursday? What time should I be here?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Luke's Diner, March 28 (Monday)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject