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"Hi!" He looks up froe And there--when he shts up It’s like his other expressions are placeholders

I realize I’ back I tame my own mouth so I don’t look like a total idiot "Hey So You’re the new cook?" Oof, yes, ask the guy cooking if he’s the new cook

"Yeah! Isn’t this place a?"

"There … was no sarcashs "I couldn’t believe my luck when they hired h to understand when he’s joking Surely he’s not sincere He removes the pot from the stove, wipes his hands dry, and then holds one out to , but not in a o before he does, self-conscious I don’t knohat I look like right now I didn’t bother checking ain: this is not what I expected to find

ThereIt’s the only explanation for why he would consider hiles as Santa insults another custo--for no one, apparently--and I walk out and scan the restaurant It’s still ereat tio back to Ben I lean as casually as I can ainst the counter, but the kitchen is weird now No co sameness Ben has transformed it into an unknown quantity

"So, who ordered the ht But she didn’t order it"

He shrugs, as though he, too, is unaware of how this all worked out But there’s a sly pull at one corner of his lips "They like it, though" It’s not a question

"They’re thrilled Have you looked at the menu? We don’t offer baked macaroni Probably because Dottie couldn’t think of a way to nature dish is the Rudolph’s Delight Salad--iceberg lettuce, ranch dressing, and one token cherry toain, and this time both corners of his lips follow the upward s out"

"Maybe it’s better if you don’t That looked way yu we rabIt’s a red polyester dress that never sits right, with a red-and-white-striped apron We also have to wear sequined reindeer-antler headbands

Year Round

The door to the women’s bathroom always sticks, so I shove it open withover the sink

"Oh, sorry! I thought the bathrooo, when I realize her shoulders are shaking "Candy? You okay?"

Her reflection is drained of color by the fluorescent lights She has dark circles under her eyes, but that’s nothing new At least they aren’t bruises this week Two years ago, when she first ht We used to hang out sometimes after work, if Jerry was still on a shift at the mine She wanted to be a hair stylist, soo to business school so she could run it But little by little, she stopped talking about school Jerry didn’t like it Then she stopped talking about doing hair Then she pretty le day, but I miss her

She holds up a white stick, expression blank "I’ratulations?"

"I had to sneak out froo any other time, because then he’d know"

Jerry always picks her up I see hi her tips And on payday he holds out his hand for her check without even asking