Mildred Pierce - James M. Cain [62]
"I haven't any idea."
"Well, let's see now, the reflectors, they were seven cents apiece, six of them, that's forty-two cents. The lights, a nickel apiece—say, they're Christmas tree bulbs, can you beat that? Thirty cents for them, that's seventy-two cents. The wire, ten cents. The sockets, screws, and plug, maybe a dollar. Say altogether, a couple of bucks. How's that?"
"I just can't believe it."
"Took me maybe an hour. But it ought to sell pies."
"And get a free dinner."
"Oh, never mind that."
"A free dinner, and second helpings."
But the clock was ticking inexorably on, and she hurried back to work as soon as he left, though in a pleasant glow now, feeling that everybody was trying to help her. The vegetables, started before Wally came, were now ready, and they took them up. She put them in their pots and turned the hot water into the steam table. She made waffle batter, laid beside it the dipper that held exactly one waffle. She made pie crust, for biscuits. Her ice cream arrived: chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. She had Pancho set all three freezers on a bench, where they could be easily reached, and showed Arline how to dip it up, reminding her she would be responsible for desserts as well as starters. She made salad, started the coffee.
At five thirty she went to the ladies' room to change for the evening. She had given considerable thought to what she would wear. She had decided on white, but not the sleazy white of the nurse uniforms then becoming so common. She went to Bullocks, and bought sharkskin 'dresses, of a shade just off white, white with a tint of cream in it, and had little Dutch caps made to go with them. Always vain of her legs, she had the dresses shortened a little. Now, she hurriedly got into one, put on her Tip-Top shoes, stuck on the little cap. As she hurried out carrying the apron she would wear in the kitchen, and slip off when she came out to greet the customers, she looked like the cook in a musical comedy.
However, she didn't go into a number. She assembled Pancho, Letty, and Arline for final instructions, paying most attention to Arline. "I'm not expecting many people, because it's my first night and I haven't had a chance yet to build up my trade. But if you should be rushed, remember: Get their orders. I've got to know whether they're having vegetables or waffle before I can start, so don't keep me waiting."
"Call them both?"
"Call the waffle only."
"Call biscuits?"
"I'll keep biscuits out all the time, and you pick them up yourself. Pick up your own bread and your own biscuits, but put them in separate baskets and don't forget that biscuits call for a napkin, to keep them hot. Three biscuits to a person, more if they want them, but don't be stingy with them and don't take time to count. Pick them up quick, and pick up enough."
Arline surveyed the place with a practiced eye, counting tables. There were eight tables for two, around the wall, and two tables for four, in the middle. Mildred saw the look, and went on: "You'll be able to take care of them, if you get their orders. There's plenty of room here, you're using a tray, and that'll help. Any time you need her, I'll send Letty out to bus up your tables for you, and—"
"Can't she do that right from the start? So we get used to working together, and don't commence bumping and stepping all over each other's feet?"
"Then all right."
Letty nodded, with a self-conscious grin. She was already in the brick-red uniform, which was quite becoming to her, and obviously wanted to be part of the show. Mildred went back to the kitchen, lit the oven, and started the waffle irons to heat. She was using a gas waffle, instead of the usual electric waffle, "because that's the old-fashioned kind of round waffle that people really like." She went to the switch box, put on the lights. The last switch worked the outside sign, and when it was on, she went out to look. There it was, as beautiful as ever, casting a bluish light over the trees. She drew a deep breath and came inside. At last she was open, at last she had her