Getting Elsa Off The Job - Part Three

Back in the kitchen, Ben asked, “Who is that?”

“That’s Scott.”

“You like him, I can tell.”

“Yeah.”

“There must be something about him.”

“Yep.”

He walked in a circle around me. He was checking all angles and it made me laugh.

“Well I wonder what it is. I’ve seen you, but I’ve not seen you like this. How intriguing. Elsa’s morsel. He told me he’s known you since you were fifteen.”

Oh crap, they did talk. “Yeah, that’s right,” I said.

“Was he fifteen too?” he asked, a Scorpio looking for a scandal.

“Eighteen.”

“Hmm. So he was in high school and he plucked you out of junior high? Or were you a mere freshman?”

Huh? I thought. “I met him in his mother’s bar.” I said it as if the high school thing was ludicrous because to me, it was.

“Bar! What were you doing in bar when you were fifteen?”

“Working.”

“Working doing what? You can’t work in a bar when you’re fifteen!”

“I was tending bar.”

“What? You know how to tend bar? They let you tend bar when you were fifteen? Sit down,” he said. “I want to know about this. I knew you had a history. So you’re a bartender?”

“Yes,” I said, ignoring his order to sit. “I quit tending bar to come to work here. And I don’t want to sit. We have to work.”

“How intriguing. I thought you were a waitress. You’re such a good waitress, too. Little Elsa is a bartender? Don’t tell me anymore. I have to absorb this. I want to talk to you about this privately. Are you going to see him tonight?”

“Of course.”

“He just shows up and you go with him?” he asked.

“Uh huh,” I said. I laughed because this was none of his business and I was amused he thought it was.

“Well then I guess I can’t call you tonight and talk about him, can I?”

“Obviously not, Ben.”

“Well I don’t think I can wait. I need more information. Give me something to chew on, little Elsa. Some kind of tidbit. A morsel about your morsel. Let’s see. You met the mystery man in his mother’s bar when he was eighteen and you were a fifteen-year-old bartender. Did he work in the bar with you?”

“No. No, he’s not a bartender, he’s a pianist.”

“A pianist? Your morsel is a pianist?” Ben played the cello. This was getting interesting.

“Is he any good?”

“Yeah.” I laughed. “He’s good. He’s world class. He’s a boy wonder, just ask him.” I laughed.

“He is not!”

“Yeah. Well yes. Actually, he is.” I smiled wide and laughed. You should have see Ben’s face. He looked at me intently, wondering if I was lying but knowing it was doubtful.

“Hmm. I did notice his hands,” he said. “What’s his name? Besides Morsel, I mean. I’m going to have to check this out. I know someone I can ask about your little piano player out there. This way you can get laid tonight and meanwhile, I can get the information I need. I want to process this.”

He started to walk away, then turned back to shake his head. “And you look so pure. You must have been like a daisy, growing up in a bar. I’m so glad I came to work today. I thought about calling in sick. I’m sure glad I didn’t because this has been something not to miss.”

I wrinkled my nose and shrugged. Really, I had no idea what he was talking about.

“I’ll need his last name so I can do some checking. I want to see what I can find out about your morsel. A lot of the pianists are gay, Elsa. Especially if they’re any good. I’ll be able to check that out for you. If I find out anything, do you want me to tell you? Would you want to know?”

I looked stricken for a second, then laughed and gave up his name. I hated to think of Ben up late stewing, while I was getting laid.

“And Elsa?”

“Yeah?”

“Your morsel is in love with you, isn’t he?”

“Yeah. I guess he probably is. How do you know?” I asked, wondering.

Unfortunately, he didn’t answer. I wanted to know what was said out there. Instead, he kept blathering. “Our little Elsa. I knew you had a history. You’re very interesting for a daisy.”

He clucked a few times and I walked away like I didn’t notice. I had all the good cards at the moment, so I played them. Ben went out on the floor saying he wanted another look at my morsel’s hands.

“I can tell if he plays the piano. I’ll be able to tell. I have to make sure you aren’t trying to trick Benjamin! And for that I need a closer look. This is getting very interesting. You’ve piqued my interest, Elsie and that’s not easy to do.”

I couldn’t believe he was calling me Elsie. He left but he was back in sixty seconds.

“He left!”

He looked all dejected so I laughed.

“You sent him, didn’t you? You’re no fun.”

“I did.”

“And he does what you tell him to. Hmm. Verrrrrry interesting. He must be afraid of you. What did you do to him to scare him like that? I was having fun with him and you just ruined it. Just what kind of daisy are you? Maybe you aren’t the daisy I thought you were. Daisies aren’t dangerous, but one word out of you and you just scared that poor morsel off. You could have let him eat.”

“I’ll feed him later.”

“I bet you will.”

We finish the workday. Intermittently Ben asked a probing question and absorbed my response. Classic Scorpio. I was under investigation, but I didn’t mind that. I knew I’d never be found out. Too many aces hiding too many places.

The End