by Tracy Krauss
pretty busy, as you can see.”
“Yeah, Carmen mentioned it.” Jed wiped the crumbs from his lip with a napkin. “By the way, this is Lester Tibbett. ‘E and his sister just moved into our building.”
Tamara turned her gaze to Lester and nodded. “I recognize you, actually, from the day you moved in. My son and his friend were watching from the balcony and I had to come out and get them.”
Lester nodded as he swallowed the bite that was in his mouth. “I remember.”
“Matonabee can be very curious. That’s my son – Matonabee.” Tamara paused for a moment. “Is your sister interested in a part time job, by any chance? We’re really short staffed right now.”
Lester shook his head. “I don’t think so. She needs to focus on her studies.”
“Let me know. Jed knows my number. I better get back to work.” Tamara waved and walked back to the counter where there was another line up waiting.
“So? Either of ‘em strike your fancy?” Jed gestured with his head to the counter where both Tamara and Carmen were working. “I know ’em both and could probably set you up.”
“I told you before I’m not in the market, so you can stop trying to set me up with every random woman you know.”
Jed shrugged a shoulder. “Just like to see my friends ‘appy.” He took a huge bite of his pastrami sandwich.
Lester couldn’t help but grin. Jed was a giant of a man; talkative and a bit rough around the edges. But he had a heart of gold. He probably was genuine in his offer. “No thanks. I prefer to pick my own women. Not that I’m looking,” he was quick to add. At least not yet.
◇ ◇ ◇
Lester was out in the parking lot doing some much needed repair work on his truck. He revved the engine several times, listening out the driver’s window. After a few seconds he shut it off, got out of the truck and walked around to the front of the vehicle and looked under the hood.
“Hi.”
Lester glanced up and saw the same two boys he had seen on moving day. They were leaning on the rail of a balcony, looking down at him. “Hi,” he said and waved back.
“Whatcha doin’?” asked the native boy.
“Fixing my truck. Are you Matonabee?”
“Yeah… how did you know?”
“I met your mom the other day. That’s a pretty cool name. Matonabee.”
The little boy shrugged. “It’s some chief’s name or something. This is my friend Jason.”
“Hi Jason.”
“Hi.” The little black boy waved in response.
“Well, I gotta get back to work.” Lester raised his hand in salute and then ducked under the hood to make a few adjustments. A few minutes later he stalked back to the cab of the truck and started it up. He revved it a few times, listening intently out the open window.
A minute later Jed sauntered up to the truck. “Need some ‘elp?”
“Sure. Could you keep it going while I check under the hood?”
“No problem.”
Jed switched places with Lester behind the wheel, and Lester went to the front of the vehicle, leaning in over the motor as Jed roared the engine. Lester was just wiping his hands on a rag when Patsi arrived. “Can you give me a ride to the mall?”
“Are you meeting someone?” Lester asked.
“Are you a cop or something?” She sighed dramatically. “Never mind. I’ll take the bus.”
“Don’t be silly. This’ll only take a few minutes.” Lester raised his hand in the air. “One more time,” he called to Jed.
Patsi leaned again the side of the truck box and crossed her arms over.
Jed poked his head out of the cab and turned to Patsi. “Your brother tell you about the job offer at that café downtown?” He spoke louder than normal in order to be heard over the motor.
Patsi frowned and her eyes flashed to where Lester’s head was hidden under the hood. “No. What job?”
“Oops. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to mention it.”
“Lester!” Patsi yelled. “Jed says someone wants to hire me at a café downtown.”
Lester bumped his head as he stood up and grimaced. He pushed the ball cap he was wearing toward the back of his head and made a ‘cut’ signal with his other hand. Jed let off the gas.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the job at the café?” Patsi demanded.
Lester slammed the hood down into place, and narrowed his eyes at Jed. Then he swung his gaze back to his sister. “It’s nothing. The owner of this coffee shop happened to mention they needed more waitresses. But I knew you’d want to focus on school, at least until you get into the groove.”
Patsi put her hands on her hips. “When are you going to quit trying to run my life?”
“I’m not trying to run your life. I’m just trying to make the transition easier for you.”
“I never asked you to make my life easier. What’s wrong with me getting a part time job?”
Lester tossed the greasy rag he had just wiped his hands on into the cab of the truck through the open window. “For one thing, that café is downtown. Who’s going to drive you to and from work?”
“I’ll take the bus.”
“What about late at night? That’s not safe.”
“Sorry man.” Jed raised both hands in apology. “I guess I should have kept my mouth shut. Last thing I want is to get in the middle of a family fight.”
“We’re not having a family fight,” Lester said.
“Yes we are,” Patsi countered.
“If you really want to make some extra money why not do something closer to home? Like babysit?” Lester suggested.
Patsi rolled her eyes. “Great. Who do you suggest I babysit for? I don’t know any kids.”
Lester turned and looked up at the balcony where Matonabee and Jason still stood watching. He waved. “Hey boys. Either of you ever need a babysitter?” They both shrugged. “My sister here is a real good sitter. Tell your moms.”
A dark skinned woman appeared on the balcony and scanned the ground below until her eyes pinned Lester.
“Hi,” Lester called. “I was just telling the boys my sister here is a real good sitter if you ever need one.”
“Thanks,” the woman called before ushering the boys into the apartment.
“And that was Goldie. Jason’s mom,” Jed said under his breath. He rubbed his hands together. “Did I tell you she’s also single?”
Lester let out a frustrated breath. “I’m not interested. Quit trying to set me up.”
“Maybe you should let him,” Patsi put in. “Then you wouldn’t be so uptight all the time.”
“She might be onto somethin’.” Jed grinned and clapped a hand on Lester’s shoulder. “In any case, good luck with your discussion. I gotta go.”
◇ ◇ ◇
Lester got out of the taxi as Jed shoved some bills at the cabby. It was Friday night, and as promised, they were heading for The Urban Cowboy to check out the mechanical bull. “Thanks!” Jed said with a wave as the cab driver drove off.
Jed had insisted on taking a cab ‘just in case’ even though Lester had tried to assure him that he wasn’t going to be over indulging. “I hardly drink. I’d rather take my truck.”
“The parking is terrible downtown,” Jed had said. “Besides, better safe than sorry I always say.”
Lester hadn’t liked leaving Patsi alone, but as Jed also pointed out, she wasn’t a baby.
They approached the neon sign that said ‘The Urban Cowboy’ in scrawling ‘70s script and Jed opened the door. A blast of country music met their ears.
“This way.” Jed waved for Lester to follow. The interior was like a flashback to the seventies. Neon and wood paneling; large framed posters of cowboys in designer jeans. Lester shook his head as he passed. Those models had probably never seen a real horse, let alone a bull. Jed led the way to a long bar that took up one whole wall. Mirrored glass behind made the place look larger than it really was. They perched on two stools and Jed ordered two beers.
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br /> “What if I didn’t want beer?” Lester asked.
“They’re both for me,” Jed said with a grin.
Lester laughed out loud and ordered his own beer from the bartender.
“‘Ey Jacques,” Jed called to one of the bartenders further down the line. “Come over ‘ere a sec.”
A tall and lanky fellow approached. His dark blonde hair was slicked back into a ponytail and he sported a goatee and moustache.
“This is Jacques,” Jed introduced. “Lives in our building, too. Lester and ‘is sister just moved in.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Jacques had a distinct Francophone accent. “I believe I heard the ruckus on moving day.” He smiled congenially and Lester couldn’t tell if he was miffed, teasing, or serious.
“Sorry about that,” Lester apologized.
“It is nothing. I sleep late, that is all.”
“Jacques ‘ere is from Quebec, but I don’t ‘old that against ‘im,” Jed confided in a staged whisper. “Not to mention he’s the best barkeep around. Can make anything. Can’t you, Jacques? Go ahead. Ask ‘im anything and ‘e’ll know ‘ow to make it.”
“I’ll just have my beer thanks,” Lester said.
Jacques bowed his exit and went to serve another customer.
“So? Where is this mechanical bull you were telling me about?” Lester asked.
“Around the corner in back.” Jed gestured in that general direction with his lofted beer bottle.
“So there’s more to this place than meets the eye,” Lester said with a nod.
“Exactly. Pool tables, some retro arcade games, and the mechanical bull, of course.”
“Of course.”
“The place isn’t actually that old. They just decorated it this way to make it fit with the name. We’ll check it out after I finish