Door One-O-Six Episode Four
Guess Who Is Coming For Din Din
By Hilda Agard

The Office of Mystra the owner of Door One0Six

“Still no word yet?� Mystra asks Buddy. There are tears streaming down his face. “Oh, Buddy, Buddy, I am so sorry for you, you are really taking this very hard, aren’t you.� Mystra says as she cradles him in her arms to console him. Buddy’s lover of only six weeks, Larry, went to Louisiana for his mother’s funeral the Friday before Katrina and was due to return the Monday after, six months later he still has not heard from Larry. Buddy has been coming to work everyday since then with a very heavy heart. With his patrons, he is cheery and always smiling, and quite attentive to their every wish. But on his breaks he is a total mess.
Shabba, the Sous-Chef comes into the office and she too joins the sob party, by shedding a few tears and hugging Buddy. As she slowly pulls away from Buddy, she comments, “I don’t think that you should have too much to worry about, after all your boyfriend’s mother lived in the white affluent French neighborhood which is above sea level, and by the looks of things, that area was virtually untouched except for rain, which is to be expected. Have you ever given thought to the fact that he is either too over come by grief, or on the other hand he could’ve rekindled an old love affair and doesn’t want to return to Toronto.� Shabba gives Buddy another hug and returns to the kitchen. Shabba who is Canadian Arm Forces trained could be likened to a coconut, extra tough on the outside but soft on the inside. She is also one of those people who tells it like it is. Or rather, her opinion of what she thinks of the current subject. Unfortunately, those were not words that Buddy wanted to hear.

Mystra phone rings. She picks it up. The call seems important. She motions those in the room, Buddy, now joined by Azalia and Astoria both of whom entered the room upon Shabba’s exit, to shut up. After a series of “Yes Sirs� and Will dos� she hangs up the phone. The expression on Mystra’s face causes Buddy, Azalia and Astoria to stare at her with wide-open eyes.
“Guys, that call was from the Chief of Building Security.� She starts, and pauses. She breathes heavily as she continues. “We have to get everyone out of the restaurant, to do something to do with the American Ambassador and the building has to be cleared so they have to go.�
“Whoa! Wait a minute, what’s going on, the American Ambassador is coming to the building?� Azalia asks.
“I don’t know the security guy was babbling on. Please do as I say and don’t ask questions, whatever’s going on seems to be very hush, hush.� Mystra answers. “So, get out there and have this place cleared out in 30 minutes, no more than forty five.� This time there is urgency and authority in her voice. They had all heard her authoritative tone before; after all she was the owner of the establishment and their Boss. But they had never heard her say anything with that tone of urgency before. It was almost like desperation.
“What the hell are we going to say to 75 people to get them out of here in 45 minutes?� Astoria asks.
“I don’t know, think of something.� Mystra replies. “I know tell them that there is an emergency and their bills are taken care of.�
The trio leaves her room in a state of wonderment, whispering among themselves. Suddenly Buddy’s problems are reduced to items to be easily forgotten by all. The only thing on their minds, is, are we going to get tipped.

In less than the allotted time, by about ten minutes, the room is cleared. Thanks to the assistance of the boisterous and ebullient Shabba. It pleases Mystra and she covers their tips. Then hugs and kisses each member of the staff as they leave. With most of the staff now gone, except for Shabba, whose job, she is told after the others had left, is to give some inspectors who would soon be arriving a tour of the kitchen. Even with Shabba, Mystra was tight lipped. And answers all of her questions with a polite, “I haven’t a clue.�

The Show at Door One0Six continues in Episode Five.
Door One0Six is copyrighted by KHSpringer and may not be copied or distributed without the written permission of both the publisher, KHSpringer and author Hilda Agard.