Gifts From The Kasbah - Robert F. Clifton (read any book .TXT) 📗

player was performing and the music he rendered carried on the air and mixed with the voices of a hundred patrons seated at the bar or their tables. Wallace guided Jane to where the Maitre d stood behind a service desk. The man at the station smiled and said, "Good evening Captain. so nice to have you and the lady with us tonight. allow me to show you to your table".

"Thank you, Charles", Wallace replied and guiding Jane the couple followed the host to a window table. Wallace waited until the maitre d seated Jane then he took a seat. "Your waiter will be right with you Captain", the man said.

"There's no hurry Charles", said Wallace as he handed the head waiter a twenty dollar bill".

"This is lovely Robert. do you come here often?"

"No, only on special occasions".

"And New years Eve is a special occasion?"

"Not really. You are the special occasion".

"Come on now, you're making me blush', Jane responded.

Their conversation was interrupted when the waiter stepped up to the table. "Good evening. My name is Joseph and I will be your waiter tonight. May I get you something to drink?". he asked as he handed the couple menu's.

" I'll have a Bloody Mary and not too spicy please", said Jane.

"Very good. And, you sir?"

"You can bring me a cup of decaf coffee", said Wallace.

"Thank you", said the waiter as he turned and left.

"So now you're going to tell me that you don't drink", said Jane.

"Very seldom. Once in a while I'll have a beer, maybe wine at dinner, but not too often".

"Have you always refrained from alcohol?", she asked.

"It's not a question of refraining. I just don't happen to like it. Besides do you have any idea just how many drunks I've handled in my career?".

"So you don't drink and you don't smoke", said Jane.

36.

"Not now, I'm trying to quit smoking. I use to smoke two or three packs of cigarettes a day".

"Really?"

"Yep, have you found anything on the menu that you might like?', he asked.

"Not really"

"What's your, preference, meat, poultry, seafood?"

"All of the above", she answered with a giggle.

"Sorry, you have to pick one".

"What are you having?", she asked.

"Fish"

"I think I'll have a meat dish. You're familiar with the food here, order for me".

"I'm familiar with the cuisine, but not with you. Are you sure you want me to order for you?"

"Yes'.

"OK."

The waiter returned with their beverages and asked if they were ready to order. Wallace then ordered. "The lady will have the Salad DE Crevette, French Onion Soup, Lamb in Red Wine, roast potatoes and asparagus".

"Very good. and you sir?

"I'll have the Oysters Casino, Clam Chowder, Sole Veronique. Les Pommes Nouvelles and asparagus".

"Excellent. As you know the lamb in red wine is made to order so the chef asks that you be patient as you wait', advised Joseph.

"No problem. I see the orchestra taking the stage. We'll sit and listen to the music", Wallace replied.

"So you speak French", said Jane.

"Not really. A couple of years ago I took a menu home, got a French dictionary and practiced. I did the same thing with an Italian menu. I know that Les Pommes nouvelles is no more than boiled potatoes finished in butter'.

"Then what is the Salad DE Corvette that you ordered me?", she asked.

"Shrimp cocktail"

"Really? How did you know I like shrimp cocktail?"

"Just a guess"

Jane took a sip of her drink. "Are you guessing anything else?"

Wallace smiled. "Absolutely", he answered.

"And just what would that be?" she asked.

"I'm guessing that you would like to dance"

"So far you're two for two on guessing".

 

37. "And I haven't even started yet", said Wallace as he escorted her to the dance floor.

The orchestra began to play. As it did Wallace took Jane in his arms and began dancing across the floor. He smiled as he held her.

"What are you smiling at?", she asked.

"The orchestra is playing old Tommy Dorsey tunes. The one we're dancing to is, I'm Getting Sentimental Over You".

"And that makes you smile?", she asked.

"I'm a Dorsey fan, easy to dance to'.

"I must say that you do dance very well", she said.

"And that surprises you?"

"Robert, I've reached the point where nothing you do surprises me".

"As for my dancing you're pretty good at following"

Jane giggled, then said," It all depends where you plan on leading me".

"Be assured that it's not astray", Wallace responded.

"Oh, I'm assured. I just want to make sure that you know it".

Wallace began to laugh. "Do you honestly think that I would do anything to jeopardize the evening, not to mention what I hope will be a lasting friendship".

"No, I don't think you would", she answered as they headed back to their table.

Seated again, Wallace changed the subject "O.K. now it's my turn to ask questions".

"Where would you like to start?", she asked.

"Let's start with your dancing. you're pretty good. In fact you dance like a pro".

Jane smiled, "I took ballroom dancing in college rather than a phys ed class".

"What college?"

"Rutgers".

"What was your major?"

"Liberal Arts".

"Did you get your degree?", he asked.

"Certainly. I now know a little bit about everything, but not enough about anything. That's what a Liberal Arts degree gives you when you finish", she responded.

"I'm sure that it's not as bad as you claim. So, I take it that you are a New Jersey girl. Where are you from?"

"Born and raised in Toms River. Like you, no siblings. Mother and father deceased. Graduated high school 1961. Went to college on a scholarship my

37.

freshman year then I worked my way through as a waitress the next three years. I've dated some, never been engaged or married and that just about sums up my resume unless you have other questions".

"I do, but here comes our appetizers", said Robert.

The waiter placed the shrimp in front of Jane then walked to Wallace and placed in front of him a plate of oysters on the half shell that rested on crushed ice. "Excuse me sir, but will you be ordering wine?",he asked.

Wallace looked at Jane who nodded her head. "Yes, a bottle of Beaujolais Noumea please".

"Yes sir'.

"I thought that you would order white or pink since you are having seafood", offered Jane.

"You are having lamb in red wine".

"Of course, actually I forgot".

"No problem. How are your shrimp?'

"Excellent".

"Good, now here comes the owner. I'll introduce you to him.

Manny Hoffman walked up to the table placed his left hand on Robert's shoulder and offered his right hand in friendship. "Robert, you don't know how happy I was when I saw your name on the reservation list". Turning to Jane he said, "And you Miss, allow me to welcome you to the Glass Menagerie. I hope you enjoy your dinner and will return".

"Manny, this is Miss Jane Chambers, originally from Toms River, Rutgers University and other parts of North Jersey, but now resides in Nautilus Beach."

"A pleasure Miss Chambers. I hope that being from North Jersey doesn't mean that you are a New York Giant fan.”

“I don't follow football”, said Jane

“Hopefully, Robert will expose you to the Philadelphia Eagles. How do you like our resort town?”

"I find it very nice. I enjoy the beach, the boardwalk and the shopping. Of course I also enjoy the people, the residents", she answered.

"Fine, now if you will excuse me I have other guests that I must see. Enjoy your meal and come back soon", said Manny, shaking Robert's hand again.

“He seems very nice”, said Jane.

“Manny?...He's top of the line. Unfortunately it's a full house tonight and he must greet a lot of customers, otherwise he would have spent more time with us”.

“Do we have enough time for another dance before the next course?”, she asked.

“Hey, let's take the time”, he said.

38. When they stepped out on to the dance floor Robert took Jane in his arms. This time he held her closer and noticed that she didn't resist. The orchestra played, “The Touch Of Your Lips” and he guided her across the floor with ease, dancing around and through other couples that were on the Marley surface. He enjoyed the feel of her body close to him, the faint aroma of the shampoo she had used in her hair along with the light, fragrance of her perfume. Too soon the music ended and to him too soon he had to let go of her. When he did she looked up at him and said, “That was nice. This is a good orchestra”.

“That's Bill Conover. A local boy that made good. I went to school with him. All he ever wanted to do is have his own band or orchestra. Well, he made it and he's good. He does his own arranging”, said Wally as they sat again at their table.

Over the second course, Robert looked up from the bowl of chowder he was eating and said, “Now, as far as that so called resume that you supposedly gave me a little while ago, which incidentally told me practically nothing it is now time for you to open up, tell me more”.

Jane smiled, “I bet you really want to know if I am a New York Giants fan”.

“Not really, but I would like to know more about you, nothing personal of course, but your likes and dislikes, your interests, hobbies and ambitions”.

“My interests, hmm. Let's see. Like you I like fine dining and although I do not indulge in gourmet cooking, I do experiment with a recipe from time to time. I enjoy the beach, swimming, getting a tan. I'm a fan of music, but not classical or rock and roll. I guess you can say I like the kind of music your friend the orchestra leader is providing. I dislike rude people, unruly children, guys that come on too fast and think they can get me into bed. I like my job and the perks that come with it. When Doris Kerr travels I go with her, so it could be Paris in spring or summer, South America or Spain in autumn and the ski slopes of Germany or Switzerland in Winter.'

“But no football?”, asked Wally with a smile.

“No, not yet”.

“How are you and the outdoors?”, he asked.

“I told you I enjoy the beach”, she said with a giggle.

“No I mean outdoors, in the woods, surrounded by trees, the smell of pine in the air. The sound of a babbling brook as the water washes over stones and gravel. The call of blue jays and crows as they cry to one another. The aroma of a hardwood camp fire with sizzling steaks on a portable grill and the red/orange glow of dying embers in the darkness of evening. That kind of outdoors”.

“You make it sound like paradise”, she replied.

“Sometimes I think it is”, he answered.

“Well, since I haven't tried it yet, I can't give an opinion”.

39. “Fair enough. But, you used the word yet. I might hold you to that”.

“We'll see”, she said.

The waiter arrived with the entree's, removed the used soup bowls and silverware, asked if they needed anything and after finding everything satisfactory left the couple allowing them to dine.

Jane tasted her lamb and red wine and made a face.

“Something wrong? Tell me, I'll send it back”, said Wally.

“No you won't. It's delicious”.

“Good, you had me worried”.

As they ate, Jane looked long and hard at Robert. “I know that there's more to you than you have told me”.

“You think so? OK`, what else would you like to know?”

“Why did you choose law enforcement as a career?”

“That's mostly what I did in the Navy. I liked it and at the end if you make it there's a pension.”

“What do you mean if you make it?”, she asked.

“Hey, policemen are killed every year in this country”.

“Doesn't that bother you?”

“No. If it happens, it happens and they play the pipes for me”.

“The pipes?”

“Yeah, the bagpipes, They're played at most police funerals”

“I didn't know that”.

“I wrote a poem about it some time ago'.

“Really? Recite it for me”.

“It's called, “Police Officers Lament” and goes like this:

Play the pipes for me as you lay me to rest,

Play the pipes for me