Page 58 - The Myth and the Moment

Afternoon

“All right.” Glass doors pulled open, just screens to close behind
me. Still some people here. Ah, Phil’s wife : his karma come home to
roost.
“Hello again, Lin. Phil asked me to bring Nate up here, since he
didn’t have any transport. They are going to have a little talk when
Phil’s off the phone.”
“I know. Maybe you help me. These guys not understand English.”
“Oh? Well, I’ll try.”
What guys? Oh, those aren’t guests hovering over the buffet;
they’re caterers. Obvious from their outfits, right, Nate? Not really,
not in Hollywood. They’re all fresh meat, aspirants to every opening
in Tinsel Town. No longer sitting at the soda fountain in Schwab’s
waiting to be discovered: more exposure waiting on tables, washing
and driving cars, delivering singing and stripping telegrams.
Somewhere, in the back pocket, a talent yearning for expression. Oh,
don’t I sound superior because I was born in this town! Probably
accounts for my lack of hustle; never was a stranger here fighting just
to keep my sense of self together while pursuing my art. Phil is from
back East. Aestheria? Michigan, maybe; or Kansas. They’re all
standing in the shade: only I, the mad dog or Englishman, remain in
the solar spotlight. Move. But not too close.
“Look, we just tried to explain to, uh, Mrs. Kolpak here, that the
deal is to provide food for thirty people. If they don’t all show up, or
the ones that do don’t eat everything we put out, then we take it
back.”
“No. Mine. I pay, I get. Simple.”
“Well, Lin, I guess you’ve got some kind of right to this stuff,
but—”
“I have receipt. Says ‘Brunch Buffet Deluxe with Champagne, paid
in full.’”
“Look, lady, try to understand. It’s, like, the custom here is to let us
have what’s left. We don’t get paid much, you didn’t give us a tip,
we’ve been standing out here on Sunday for three hours in the heat,
and it’s customary to give it to us. Okay?”
“Half hour late. I not reporting, but no tip.”
“They do have a point, you know, Lin. Of course, you have one,
too. Perhaps we should ask Phil what to do.”
“Not Phil’s business. My business.”

57