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Authors: Isabelle Peterson
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elevator.
“Oh, work. Definitely,” I replied.
“Well, be sure to get out there and have a bit of fun, too. New York is a great city, she is.”
“I’m finding that out, thank you.” I said as we stepped into the elevator. I pressed the button to go to the lobby.
“So, where would you be comin’ from?”
“California. How about you?”
“Beautiful country out that way. Me? I spent my youth in the outskirts of Dublin, and been livin’ here for the past fifty-three years.”
“And what brought you to New York?”
“Ah, that’d be my Joseph. He was an American business man. Advertisin’. He sold me quite a bill of goods for me to leave my homeland, but I do love it here, and goin’ back – well, there’s not much there for me anymore. How long will you be stayin’ in New York, honey?”
Good question, Mrs. Hanlon. “A couple months,” I shrugged.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened to the lobby. I let Mrs. Hanlon out first and followed.
“It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Hanlon. I’d love to talk more, but I have to get to work. Hope I’ll be seeing you later.” I waved as Mrs. Hanlon stopped at the front desk.
“Just a quick moment, Mrs. Hanlon,” Dominic smiled as he rushed to the front door to hold it open for me. “Ms. Fairchild. Have a pleasant day,” he said with a nod, still smiling. I could get used to this.
I made my seven block walk to work, enjoying the frenetic pace of the streets of New York, along Lexington Avenue to Seventy-Third Street. I adored the fact that I was living in a city that was a true melting pot, listening to several languages all around me. I slipped right into the bustling action of the shops, the cabs, and people, with their cellphones and iPods. I wondered if I looked like a tourist or a New Yorker. I hoped at least a little New Yorker.
The next-thirty six hours passed in a blur. As promised, Friday’s lunch and dinner shifts were CRAZY. Saturday – well, I don’t remember much, they were as fast-paced as they came, I hoped. Or maybe it was due to my inexperience, which was rapidly disappearing. I was getting plenty of experience.
Sunday surprised me with its pace hopping from noon until six, then slowed to nearly nothing. It was nice that Sunday started later, and even though it was more of a family crowd, as opposed to the dating crowd, it was still non-stop. The only drawback was watching the happy families sit in the restaurant area. I missed family dinners, even if Greg wasn’t usually engaged. I wondered if the kids had stayed local, living at home for school, if I would have stayed.
The quieter Sunday also allowed for more time for Shelby and me to talk. I liked her. She wasn’t just a great mentor, but she was one of those people you were simply comfortable around. I guess that’s what made her such a great bartender.
Jack hadn’t returned to the bar all weekend. I should have been happy about that, but I was bothered that I wasn’t. I found myself continually scanning the bar looking for him.
When we were cleaning down the bar that night, again, Shelby took notice of my rings, and asked about Mr. Fairchild. I shrugged and reply, “He’s fine.”
She stopped wiping down the bottles and looked at me squarely. “I know we’ve only known each other for a few days, but if you ever want to talk, I’m a really good listener.” I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before I caved and told her everything. I was glad to have the Monday lunch shift off.
Around ten that night, I ambled, dead on my feet, into the lobby of my ‘new’ apartment building, with Gilbert holding the door. Gilbert wasn’t as cheery as Dominic, but professional and kind. I noticed that the elevator doors were just about to close and that someone was in there.
“Hold the door!” I shouted, and make a mad dash into the car. Inside, as the doors were closing, I took notice of who the other passenger was.
I recognized the man from crossing paths in
“Oh, work. Definitely,” I replied.
“Well, be sure to get out there and have a bit of fun, too. New York is a great city, she is.”
“I’m finding that out, thank you.” I said as we stepped into the elevator. I pressed the button to go to the lobby.
“So, where would you be comin’ from?”
“California. How about you?”
“Beautiful country out that way. Me? I spent my youth in the outskirts of Dublin, and been livin’ here for the past fifty-three years.”
“And what brought you to New York?”
“Ah, that’d be my Joseph. He was an American business man. Advertisin’. He sold me quite a bill of goods for me to leave my homeland, but I do love it here, and goin’ back – well, there’s not much there for me anymore. How long will you be stayin’ in New York, honey?”
Good question, Mrs. Hanlon. “A couple months,” I shrugged.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened to the lobby. I let Mrs. Hanlon out first and followed.
“It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Hanlon. I’d love to talk more, but I have to get to work. Hope I’ll be seeing you later.” I waved as Mrs. Hanlon stopped at the front desk.
“Just a quick moment, Mrs. Hanlon,” Dominic smiled as he rushed to the front door to hold it open for me. “Ms. Fairchild. Have a pleasant day,” he said with a nod, still smiling. I could get used to this.
I made my seven block walk to work, enjoying the frenetic pace of the streets of New York, along Lexington Avenue to Seventy-Third Street. I adored the fact that I was living in a city that was a true melting pot, listening to several languages all around me. I slipped right into the bustling action of the shops, the cabs, and people, with their cellphones and iPods. I wondered if I looked like a tourist or a New Yorker. I hoped at least a little New Yorker.
The next-thirty six hours passed in a blur. As promised, Friday’s lunch and dinner shifts were CRAZY. Saturday – well, I don’t remember much, they were as fast-paced as they came, I hoped. Or maybe it was due to my inexperience, which was rapidly disappearing. I was getting plenty of experience.
Sunday surprised me with its pace hopping from noon until six, then slowed to nearly nothing. It was nice that Sunday started later, and even though it was more of a family crowd, as opposed to the dating crowd, it was still non-stop. The only drawback was watching the happy families sit in the restaurant area. I missed family dinners, even if Greg wasn’t usually engaged. I wondered if the kids had stayed local, living at home for school, if I would have stayed.
The quieter Sunday also allowed for more time for Shelby and me to talk. I liked her. She wasn’t just a great mentor, but she was one of those people you were simply comfortable around. I guess that’s what made her such a great bartender.
Jack hadn’t returned to the bar all weekend. I should have been happy about that, but I was bothered that I wasn’t. I found myself continually scanning the bar looking for him.
When we were cleaning down the bar that night, again, Shelby took notice of my rings, and asked about Mr. Fairchild. I shrugged and reply, “He’s fine.”
She stopped wiping down the bottles and looked at me squarely. “I know we’ve only known each other for a few days, but if you ever want to talk, I’m a really good listener.” I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before I caved and told her everything. I was glad to have the Monday lunch shift off.
Around ten that night, I ambled, dead on my feet, into the lobby of my ‘new’ apartment building, with Gilbert holding the door. Gilbert wasn’t as cheery as Dominic, but professional and kind. I noticed that the elevator doors were just about to close and that someone was in there.
“Hold the door!” I shouted, and make a mad dash into the car. Inside, as the doors were closing, I took notice of who the other passenger was.
I recognized the man from crossing paths in
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