a dozen waiting tables here. None right now, however. They’re not the best employees. Their heads are in the clouds, and they don’t appreciate the work and what’s required of them. Billy thinks you will, says you come from a very respectable family where you were taught to be efficient, responsible, and you have a good work ethic. Since you’re the first he’s ever sent over here, I will take his word for it.”
“Thank you,” I said, but I could see he was all business, just as Mr. Abbot had warned.
“I hope you won’t let him and me down,” he cautioned.
“I won’t. I promise.”
“Hmm. New York’s full of promises, but the people making them don’t always fulfill them. Okay. Here’s the deal. I’ll pay you a dollar over minimum, but you make most of your money with tips. For the first two weeks, you’ll train with Marge Arnold over there,” he said, nodding toward an attractive blond woman who flashed smiles at the customers at her table as if they were long-lost friends. She was taller than me, with a figure that was struggling to survive the addition of years.
“Marge has no other ambition aside from dating and marrying a millionaire, so she’s the best to break you in. But I warn you, she’s serious about what she does and how it’s to be done. Just mimic her, and you’ll be fine. She’s doing me a favor by taking you under her wing.”
“I understand,” I said. Like my father, I hated accepting too many favors. He always thought of it as debt accumulating severe interest.
“It’s as simple as that,” he said, nodding and smiling at some customers coming into the restaurant before turning back to me. He looked serious again. “I know why you’re really here. I’ll let you go to any audition you want if you give me fair notice. You’ll be going to what they call open auditions until you get an agent.”
“I understand.”
“Yeah, well, they can take all morning. You’ll see the lines down the sidewalk sometimes. I’ve heard the complaints a thousand times from those employees trying to be the next hot item on Broadway, but you can make up the time by staying longer with your regular daily schedule. We’re open twenty-four hours, so you’ll always have time to compensate. You can even work on your day off. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Call me Donald. I learned to hate the word ‘sir’ in the army. Go through the door to the kitchen, and take the door to your immediate left, where you’ll find a uniform that should fit. There’s a dozen or so hanging up there. There are lockers there, too. Just put your valuables in one with your clothes and take the key. Learn to lock everything up in New York. Thieves smell naivete.”
“I’m afraid I learned that the hard way last night,” I said, and described the incident and what was stolen.
He shook his head. “It happened to you that fast? Something of a record, I think. Sorry to hear it, but you can’t dwell on it. Think of it as you would an audition that didn’t pay off.”
“I already have. You needn’t worry,” I said firmly.
He smiled. “Maybe you’ll make it here. The Brits do have grit. They held Hitler back until we got into it.”
He looked down at my feet. “Those shoes won’t work,” he said. “You’re going to be on your feet ten, twelve hours a day and walking to and from here and all over the city to audition for this and that. Ask Marge where to get the right shoes, and get them this afternoon either during your lunch hour or after work. I’ll have my bookkeeper, Mary Springfield, get your information today. She hasn’t smiled since she was slapped on the ass at birth, so don’t be put off by her manner of speaking. Her ‘good morning’ can bring you to tears. She doesn’t make mistakes, so I overlook it.
“Oh,” he said as he was turning to leave me. “I have a name, a number for you to call, someone who wants to share the apartment and expenses with you. She was in here yesterday for breakfast and saw the posting. I think she fancies herself a dancer. Maybe you’ll drum up an act together. I’ll get it to you later.”
“Thank you.”
He waved at Marge Arnold and then pointed at me. She studied me a moment, nodded, and smiled at Mr. Manning.