Closing

Oliver Agate set out a plastic tarp at the base of the wall, taping it so no paint would spill onto the carpet. He felt a slight tug on his painting shirt and turned to see Ramona Mori, another server, dressed to go home.

Tormino’s Family Diner sits on Cambridge Avenue near the local hospital. Right behind the restaurant flows a river with a nearby bridge crossing over it. Right now, the restaurant looked vacant, at least from the outside; but inside the diner, Oliver was getting ready for a long night of painting a new mural.

“Have you decided what you are going to do for the mural?” Ramona whispered; her mouth covered by her hand. Typically, people struggled to hear her soft voice, but in the quietness of the closed restaurant, it sounded a normal volume. Plus, Oliver had been working with her long enough to understand her mumbling.

“I’m thinking about this one.” Oliver pulled his sketchbook closer, flipping to a page before showing it to his younger co-worker. Her eyes sparkled as she nodded. The page showed a playful winter scene in front of the restaurant, with snowmen replacing people.

“Everyone out?”

They turned around to see their manager, Cyrus Serrano, approach the front with a piece of paper in hand.

“Mori, you should head home already. We closed half an hour ago,” he snapped, marching to the front door to lock it.

“Um, Linda wanted me to ask you if I could bring the holiday basket tomorrow to start collecting donations,” Ramona whispered as she followed Cyrus.

“Yeah, yeah, that’s fine. Make sure it is small enough so it won’t block the entry.”

“Thank you!”

Ramona turned and ran towards the back exit, tripping over her feet, but managing to catch herself.

“You alright?” asked a concerned Oliver as Cyrus shook the door, making sure it was locked tight. Ramona looked over at Oliver and smiled in embarrassment before moseying out of the restaurant.

Both Cyrus and Oliver dared to breathe once she left.

“I swear that girl needs to be more careful,” grumbled Cyrus as he watched the empty space where she had left.

“She’s trying.”

Cyrus shrugged, looking back at his remaining underling.

“Still, she’s a walking hazard. I’m terrified of the day she’ll hurt herself.”

“Because Linda will be on your case about not being more careful with her.”

Cyrus scowled, “She’s a high schooler, albeit a clumsy one. She can choose whether she wants to work or not.”

Cyrus turned to the window to put up a piece of paper. Oliver started at the fluttering of the sheet stuck to the glass.

“What’s that?”

“Corporate approved hiring a new employee. Hopefully, we’ll get someone before the holiday rush.”

When he was confident that the paper had stuck to the window, Cyrus started walking to the exit.

“If you sleep, make sure everything is off. And don’t mess up the carpet.”

“Alright.” Oliver waved him off before returning to his tools, making sure he had everything he needed. Cyrus watched him for a few moments before leaving.

“Get a place to sleep,” he yelled out before leaving the restaurant, locking the back door behind him.

Oliver smiled and shook his head. Fat chance a struggling artist working at a diner could afford a place of his own.

He set up his sketchbook to see the drawing, double-checking that he had everything. He looked around the quiet restaurant and over at the window to view the illuminated words, “Help Wanted.”

He turned back to his work, ready to paint.