Free Burnout by Teresa Trent Page B

to be spending my Wednesday night alone."
    "You don't usually work Wednesday nights, do you Birdie?"
    "Actually I don't.  Two of my waitresses are out sick tonight. This flu is nothing to play around with. It was pretty bad, but I'm feeling fine now. It just takes a couple of days."
    "Yeah, our Zach here had it," Leo said, "but I think he's through with it. Right, Zach?"
    Zach smiled weakly. He was doing okay physically, anyway.
    "If you don't like the view in this booth, I can offer you any seat in the house." Birdie said as she gestured across the entire restaurant.
    "Thanks, we're good here."
    "I hope you're hungry because we have plenty of food going to waste back there." Birdie said. Even with the prospect of a smorgasbord nothing really sounded good.
    "Can we get milkshakes?" Tyler asked.
    "I guess so." I said.
    The door jangled and Stan's assistant from NUTV came in. She looked around and saw the empty restaurant then her eyes landed on us. She walked over seeking us out.
    "Did I miss something? Where is everybody?" She asked.
    Leo rose and extended his hand to her.  "Betsy, you remember Jeanette from the television station?"
    "Yes, it's nice seeing you again."
    "I didn't know you ate here." Jeanette spoke to Leo as if it was only the two of them in the restaurant.
    "We don't usually eat here on week nights. Everyone seems to be out with the flu."
    She arched her back in a catlike way making her breasts protrude. This was something not missed by either Zach or Tyler.
    "Whoo. What a day. That Stan is a taskmaster. That's for sure. I'm just glad I didn't get this flu."
    Birdie came around the counter with a large white plastic bag with "To Go" written on it. "Here you go, Jeanette. Hope your friend is better soon."
    "Thanks Birdie I'm sure your home cooking will help."
    "We aim to please.  Seems like most of the town is on a take-out order basis right now." 
    Jeanette turned back to us. "I just wanted to tell you that your weather forecasting is a hit. Everyone in Pecan Bayou loves you."
    "Now don't be saying that. I'm sure Hurricane Hal wants to come back to his job. "
    "Hurricane Hal getting sick has turned out to be a good thing for us. I wouldn't mind if he was sick for another week." The way my stomach was feeling I wouldn't want to put that on anybody.
    "You're terrible Jeanette." Leo said.
    "I guess we just won't tell him now, will we?" She said out of the side of her hand. "I'd better get going. My friend needs his sustenance." With that she gave a little wink as if saying that her friend was a little more than a friend. Given that she was flirting with my husband I was pleased she had someone to wink about.
    "Bye now. Take care Leo."
    "Take care Leo."  Tyler echoed in a falsetto voice once Jeanette was out the door. He bobbed his head back and forth, smiled and stuck out his chest.  "Whoo!  That Stan is a taskmaster."
    Leo blushed.
    "Who is she, Mr. Leo?" Zach said as if he had just come upon a rare treasure.
    "Oh that's just a lady who works at the television station."
    "Cool." Tyler said. "I want to work at the TV station."
    "Stan isn't hiring any middle school employees right now." Leo said.
    "Why not? It would be a lot of fun. I could operate the camera. Are you ready for your close-up Mr. Fitzpatrick?" Tyler said with his hands as he imitated an old-time camera.
    "I don't think I want you as my cameraman, Tyler. A pretty girl would walk in and I would lose all my airtime."
    Birdie came back over with her order pad in hand. "So do you folks know what you want to order?"
    Leo glanced at each of us at the table. "I'm guessing we want hamburgers and milk shakes all around.  Right guys?"  I held my hand up to stop my order.
    "I think I'll try some of your mother's chicken soup instead."
    *****
    Later that night as Leo and I got ready for bed, I was feeling better after a generous portion of soup.
    "So what did you think of that woman?" I said.
    "What woman?" Leo said as he brushed his teeth.
    "You know