Help Wanted
The sign was red, with the white block HELP WANTED letters and a rectangle for a note outlined in black. Jerk wrote “SEE: JERK” in clean block letters on the rectangle. He taped it on the inside of the door as the mid-morning rush began.
“I hope we get a lot of applicants.” Kid leaned against the counter, coffee in hand.
“You should.” Tiny was behind the counter at the register. “You’ve got 50 hours in here this week.” His voice was genuine.
“Kid’s saving our asses.” Jerk had started straightening soup cans in D after putting up the sign.
“Did Paul and Mary say when Paulie was coming over to help Kid get the deli back up and running?” Jerk looked at Tiny while he asked, then to Kid. “They want training.”
“Should be here soon.” Tiny looked over at the counter. The display case was dark now, everything thrown out. Kid’s bologna steaks were the last thing worth eating. A flowerbed waiting for spring.
Door opens, bell rings.
“You’re looking for help?” Sad Eyes.
Paulie shook his head. “This is a nightmare.” The bridge of Paulie’s nose was high and his thinning hair shimmered under the florescent lights.
“Norma kept it clean.” Tiny’s arms were crossed. “We just had to toss the meat when she got sick and didn’t come back.”
Paulie gestured around the deli. “You didn’t come back here and scrub every day while she was gone. I’m not sure you scrubbed at all.” He looked around.
“I want to learn this stuff. Tell me what I need to do.” Kid was leaning against a counter.
Paulie looked around and started pointing. “Everything needs to get scrubbed down and sanitized. Hot soapy water, wipe it down, then disinfect.” Kid was taking notes. He pointed at the slicer. “Every single piece of that comes apart. Wash everything until it looks clean, then wash it one more time.”
Next he looked at the cooler. “Every shelf out. Scrub them down. If you don’t take care of that empty cooler smell now it’s never leaving.” He pointed at the display case. “Same goes double for that.”
Tiny seemed insulted. “There’s no smell.”
“There is. If you can smell it, it’s already too late.” Paulie moved on. “Check every condiment, seasoning, and dry good. If it’s even close to expired, toss. Write down everything you toss or is low.”
“That’s going to take the rest of the day, Paulie.” Kid looked around.
“I’ll be here with you, we’ll get this done.”
Sad Eyes was working as an aide at a nursing home in Arrow already, but he could work 7 a.m. till noon every day. He was excited to see activity in the deli and to hear the sandwiches would be coming back in-house soon.
“Roxy uses too much mayo.” He explained.
The next one wasn’t as smooth.
“Clark.” Jerk’s stomach tensed before he set his voice cold.
“Buddy!” Clark’s smile was warm, like he never left. Like—Jerk shut that thought out. Clark had been running a small betting circle out of The News while he worked there.
“We had to make a rule because of you.”
“Oh, what was that?” Clark’s eyes sparkled.
“No crimes on the clock, Clark. That rule’s got your name on it.”
“Oh.” Clark looked down.
“Still making books?” Last time, Clark left in handcuffs.
“No.” Clark looked at Jerk as he said it. “I’m almost done with my probation. I thought seeing your name maybe The News had passed down a generation.” Clark looked back to where Tiny was talking with Kid and Paulie.
“You know the job.” Jerk stated a fact.
“Has it changed?” Clark smiled, like they were friends. Jerk stared at him like a bedbug crawling across a tenant’s headboard. The smile faded.
Clark’s voice dropped, he leaned in. His aftershave hadn’t changed. It smelled like standing close to him during late-night conversations about Heinlein. “Buddy, I don’t want to cause another problem between you and your old man.”
“I’m not your Buddy anymore, Clark.” Jerk leaned back. He wanted to run. “You have a few gigs?” Clark always did.
Clark nodded. “Listen, If it’s going to be awkward between us.”
“Why would it be awkward?” Jerk looked back at Kid. They were staring intently at Paulie as he gestured at the kitchenette, head shaking.
“No reason. I have a wife now. Little girl on the way.” Clark’s voice shrugged for him.
“I know. Everyone’s heard.” Jerk stared at the back of Clark’s head in the hyperbolic mirror. “How is ‘Crazy’ Becky?”
“Jerk-” Clark paused, as if he had more to say. Maybe something he should have said two years ago. “I could really use the money.” He didn’t say it. Coward.
“Floater to start. You know all the roles so we call you when we need you.”
It was dark out before Kid came out as Paulie left. “Meat comes tomorrow. Prepackaging, maybe.” They wiped their brow as they sat on the second stool behind the counter.
“Got a few solid hires and a few high school kids.” Jerk looked at where the sign was still posted. He looked at his paperwork. “Oh and a college student. Your wish is coming true.”
“You OK?” Kid looked at him as they asked. Head tilting.
“Of course I am. I’m always OK.”
Kid pulled on their soaked shirt and left it bunched high on their chest. “Liar.” They laughed. “One guy came in, you turned white, but talked a long time.”
“Clark.” Jerk gripped his stool. “We were close. Once.”
“Ah.” Kids bright eyes were curious. “Did you… want to…”
“No.” Jerk’s tone was flat and decisive. “It’s not worth talking about.”
“So pretty close.” Kid smirked.
“No!” Jerk pushed past and went out to Aisle D, sorting the ramen and soup. “Clark was just someone I trusted who ended up… screwing up.”
Kid checked a customer out and looked over at Jerk as they left. “Screwing up?”
“Made books. Ran it out of the store. Busted, September three years ago.” Jerk moved back to the cooler and started facing the bottles outward. “Tiny cut him loose. He and I fought over it. Clark pled, got community service. Probation.”
“You didn’t move like he screwed up. You moved like he betrayed you. He leaned in to say something and you jumped back.”
“He knows the job, OK?” He knocked bags of chips on the floor as he rearranged a shelf of them. “I don’t need to explain this decision.” He picked them up and carefully arranged them.
“I’ll let it drop. But…” Kid looked at Jerk, and then the door.
“Yeah?”
“I’m keeping an eye on him.”