Work

Ned stayed at the table. He pulled out his phone. The world was full of numbers. You just had to find the right one to make a problem go away.

He searched for live-in private chef salary. The number was high. Higher than he expected. But he had it. He had plenty of it.

-I found the rate, Ned said. He turned the screen so she could see. Meerka looked at the number. Her eyes widened.

-That is per month? -That is the standard, Ned said. I’ll add ten percent.

Meerka looked up from the screen.

-Ten percent?

-Sure, you always pay a little extra, for that temptation to skim the grocery money, you know? Pawn silver.

Meerka straightened her back. She wiped her hands on her trousers.

-I don't steal, Ned.

-Obviously not, he said, taking a look over to the living room from the kitchen. But everybody steals a little bit. Especially when you get hungry.

Meerka looked at the stove. The heat was still rising from the burner.

-Keep the ten percent, she said.

Ned paused. He lowered the phone.

-I want the standard rate. No favors. But I want terms, she added, pausing again. Permission.

-Permission?

-To use the kitchen. After your meals are done.

-To do what?

-To cook extra. I can make portions. I can take them to the market. Sell them.

Ned looked at her. Not bad, a hustler after all.

-You want to run a business out of my house, Ned said.

-I’ll pay for the extra ingredients myself, she said quickly. Out of my wages.

Ned kept looking at her.

-I won't use your gas during peak hours.

He laughed and snorted.

-Okay, sure. Standard rate. You get full use of the kitchen when I’m not eating. What you sell is yours, for now. If it grows, I might want a cut, he said, laughing as an after thought.

Meerka smiled but it was a real smile.

-Thank you, Ned.

-Don't thank me, he said, standing up. Make it work. He walked toward the hall.

-We’re going out, he said.

-Out?

-You can't cook in those clothes. And you can't sell food looking like a street rat.

He grabbed the keys by the door.

-Let’s go spend some of that salary you just made.