Read 44: Book Six for Free Online Page B

line moving, in a friendly way. But always moving,” she said. “Some of them like to talk and that slows things down. That can cause problems at the back of the line.”
    I smiled at David. He ran his fingers across his lips in a zipper motion, his eyes bulging.
    “We get all types here. Most of these people never imagined they’d end up in a place like this,” she continued. “But they lost their jobs, their savings, and can’t find work. Or they do have jobs but just can’t make ends meet. Some of them are homeless and sleep in shelters. For some it’s temporary. For others it’s a way of life. Anyway, focus on being friendly but efficient. I’m sure that after a while, it won’t feel that much different than serving coffee. And I think you’ll find it rewarding.”
    I nodded.
    “David, I’m going to put you on the food line tonight,” Angie said. “And, Abby, if you don’t mind, I’ll have you work in the back with the girls in the kitchen for a while.”
    I gave David a little wave goodbye and played with the hairnet. The two older women in the kitchen had me work on the garlic bread. I was grateful. I inhaled the aroma of the garlic, trying to block out the horrid tomato sauce that seemed to run down the walls and drip from the ceiling.
    It was hot in the kitchen and even though I wasn’t working very hard, I could feel the beads of sweat forming on my forehead and the back of my neck.
    But after a while I started to get in a rhythm of sorts and relax a little. After I finished chopping the garlic and spreading the cheap margarine on top of the bread, I dressed the salad with a weak vinaigrette.
    I heard the doors open and the sounds of people shuffling in. I peeked out a few times to see how David was doing. He was up to his usual behavior, a little work mixed in with a lot of talking. I smiled. Wherever he went, there he was.
    He came in a few times during our shift to say hello. He made fun of the mesh on my head and whispered that my spaghetti sucked.
    “Someone needs to go back to cooking class, Abby Craig,” he said, clearing his throat.
    He buzzed back out before I could answer.
    Unlike David, I stayed busy and it made the time go by quickly. I was surprised when the women started cleaning up and putting things away.
    Angie had been right. By the end of the evening I felt good. I was glad that Mike had signed us up. David handed me my jacket and we said goodbye.
    “Thank you for coming, guys,” Angie said. “We really appreciate it. They do too. See you next time.”
    “I’m beat,” David said as we walked outside. “No way do we work that hard at Back Street.”
    “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said. “And I’m pretty sure you don’t either.”
    “Ouch, Abby Craig, sizzle, burn. Why all the hostility? Did something hairy and nasty crawl under that fabulous little number you were wearing on your head?”
    I swung at him and he stepped right into it, causing me to hit him harder than I had intended.
    “Ouch!” he said. “Double ouch. No, triple. Ouchy, ouchy, ouchy. Help! I’m being assaulted. Help!”
    I reached up and put my hand over his mouth. We both started laughing and it wasn’t long before he was in the throes of that familiar wheeze.
    I was glad he was feeling better. I could see the energy dancing around him, quite the change from just a few hours earlier.
    “C’mon, let’s go get some pints at McMenamins to celebrate.”
    “We’re celebrating our first night of helping the needy with a beer at a pub?” I said.
    He laughed again.
    “Of course, Abby Craig. I have my needs too. I need a beer. Plus, we live in the Beer Capital of the World. Where else would we go to celebrate?”
    I shook my head, but didn’t say no.
    “It’s a date then,” he said, hooking my arm and turning me in the direction of McMenamins.
    “Okay, for reals now,” he said, skipping now. “What we’re really celebrating is that I got a call while we were