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Wanza Leftwich
The Gospel Writer

Deli Style – Part Five Cont.

Deli Style – Part Five Cont.
©2010 Wanza Leftwich

This is the continuation of part five of the Deli Style Series. Click here to read the first part of this series, click here to read part one, click here to read the continuation of part one, click here to read part two, click here to read the continuation of part two, click here to read part three, and click here to read the continuation of part three, click here to read part four, and click here to read the contiuation of part four.

“Unfortunately, I can not give you an exact time that I will be home tonight. Something came up.” David shook his head as he listened to Ms. Natalie rant about babysitting Alaya. “I will be there soon…and yes, I will pay you tonight.”

David slid his cell phone closed and stuffed it into his back pocket. Ms. Natalie had called four times since he left the deli. David walked onto the college campus. He scanned through the people scurrying to class. He didn’t see Esther.

He knew coming to her school was a long shot but he had to take the chance. “She has to walk by this way to go back to the train.” David said aloud. He sat down on the grass in the middle of the campus and pulled out his handy slim pocket bible to read while he waited.

He read the first page he turned to.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalms 27:14

David shrugged his shoulders and lay on his back. He prayed silently that he was not making a mistake by coming to Esther’s school. Would she think he was crazy? He was too scared to think of the reaction she might give him. After all, he did fire her.

“I may not even have a job after the way I left today.” David looked into the dimming sky. “Can you hear me God? It’s me David,” he chuckled at the thought of his sister reading her favorite book. “Are you there God, it’s me Margaret.” And her name was Margaret. Margaret the avid reader, college track star and dreamer.

Nothing was going to stop Margaret Warner, David remembered. Only something did stop her. The though of Margaret at that time in her life grieved David’s spirit. He longed to talk to his older sister. He wanted to yell at her, to tell her to mind her business and to let her hang up on all of his old girlfriends that she didn’t approve of. He was sure she would approve of Esther.

“I miss her God, I miss Maggie. Why did she have to be taken?”
~~~

Esther scribbled the last answer onto her test and slammed the pencil on the desk. The entire class and the professor looked up. With a weak smile she apologized, gathered her bags from the floor and walked up to the professor’s desk.

Professor Klein rolled his eyes and pointed to the right corner of his desk. Esther dropped the answer sheet and headed for the door.

“She can’t be finished,” a student whispered.

Esther felt within herself that she failed her midterm so it made no sense to take two hours and ponder over it. She smiled at her classmate and exited the room.

Esther was grateful for the cool breeze on the outside. She adjusted her book bag and began to walk towards the train station.

Esther walked briskly, steadying her eyes toward the train. She envisioned her bed waiting for her. She couldn’t wait to drown out the day’s events. Fired by day and failed a biology midterm by night. Not to mention losing a great friend in between. Esther hated to think that she blew her one chance to be with David.

Esther had her eyes on David after their first meeting at the big A deli. He was handsome, well spoken and looked so out of place for the fast paced sandwich and soup joint. Esther saw the vibrancy in his eyes and heard the warmth in his voice as he interviewed her. If she didn’t know any better she’d thought he was flirting during the interview.

“Esther! Esther!” she heard someone yelling her name. She didn’t want to stop for anyone. “Esther!” The voice bellowed again.

Esther turned to see David running across the grass towards her.

“Esther, didn’t you hear me?” David caught his breath.

“David, what are you doing here?” She kept walking.

“I need to talk to you. You left work before I had a chance to explain.”

“Explain what?” You fired me and that’s all to it.”

He grabbed her arm, but she continued walking. “Let me explain.” He stopped walking. “Please, Esther. Let me explain.”

Esther wanted to smile. She was overwhelmed that he showed up at her school. Maybe he does like me, she thought. She shook head and continued to walk. “You fired me. What’s done is done, right? Did you come all the way to Brooklyn to give me my job back?”

“No, but I did come to Brooklyn to tell you that our date had nothing to do with the job. The job is business and Klyde gave the order to fire you, not me.” He yelled.

Esther decided to stop and listen. Besides, she couldn’t have him yelling across the campus as she walked to the train. David caught up with her.

“David, I thought you had my back.”

“I do. It’s just I couldn’t cover for you any longer. Klyde checked the timecards for the past three months. You were late every day.”

“Wow.” Esther looked toward the ground. “I didn’t think it was that bad.”

“I did what I could for Klyde not to find out, but he did.”

“Well, I understand, but I really need that job. I can’t afford not to get paid – not even for a week.”

“Now, that I do understand.”

Esther stood staring into David’s eyes. They had something in common – they both had a serious financial struggle. “Thanks for coming all this way. I just want to go home now.”

“I came out here to tell you something else as well.”

“Oh?” Esther continued to stare at David.

“I love you.” David took her hand and squeezed it. “I love you.” He repeated.

Esther dropped her head and smiled. Maybe today wasn’t a bad day after all.
Wanza Leftwich, The Gospel Writer, is a freelance writer, speaker and avid blogger. She loves to write Urban Christian Fiction and Bible Study courses. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Arthur and daughters Symphony and Lyric.

Deli Style – Part Five

Deli Style – Part Five
©2010 Wanza Leftwich

This is part five of the Deli Style Series. Click here to read part one, click here to read the continuation of part one, click here to read part two, click here to read the continuation of part two, click here to read part three, and click here to read the continuation of part three, click here to read part four, and click here to read the contiuation of part four.

Instead of studying for her midterm, Esther read the advertisements on the train, counted the amount of people in the train car and watched a group of what looked liked high school students laughing and talking loudly. It was only a few years ago that she was able to laugh with her friends on the train going home from school. Those days seemed so hard, but if Esther knew what she knows then what she knows now, she would have never taken getting good grades or having friends for granted.

A tear rolled down her face as she remembered the day she dropped out of school. It was exactly one month after her mother died. It was the first time Esther was ever early for class. Mr. Brewster, her biology teacher was stunned when she walked in the door before the bell rang.

“Ms. Dowdry,” Mr. Brewster’s eyebrow arched above his gold trimmed glasses. “You’re here early today, so nice to see you.”

“Good morning, Mr. Brewster. I’m here to tell you that –“

“You’ve finished your project early as well?” He smiled.

“Actually, I won’t need to finish that project,” Esther bit her bottom lip. “I came to say goodbye.”

“Oh?”

“See, today is my last day of school and I came to say goodbye to you because you are my favorite teacher.”

“So, you’ve decided to move out to California with your aunt – good choice.”

“Uh, no. I’m not moving in with my aunt Jamie. She doesn’t want me. I’m dropping out of school.”

“Dropping out? You can’t drop out.” Mr. Brewster sat on the edge of his desk. “You’re an honor student with less than a year to go. You can’t drop out.”

Esther stepped back from Mr. Brewster. “I’ve made my decision. Today is my last day. I got a job in the city so I can keep the apartment.”

“Stay in school. There are programs to help children that have lost parents. You can go into foster care and – “

“No, no foster care. That’s why I have to get out of the school system.” Esther backed away from the desk.

“The school has to report that you have no guardian. They will make you go into foster care.”

“No! No, absolutely not. I’ve heard too many horror stories. I will be fine on my own. I just wanted you to know that I am fine and for you not to worry.”

The bell rang and students began to enter the classroom. “Good morning, class,” Mr. Brewster greeted them. “Esther wait!”

Esther ignored his plea and exited out the back door of the classroom. She never spoke to Mr. Brewster again.

Esther sighed at the memories she wished she could forget. “Oh, no!” She jumped up and ran off the train. She could hear people laughing at her as she pulled her jacket out of the closing train doors. One second more and she would have missed her stop.

She glanced at her watch. She was early for class for the first time.

Wanza Leftwich, The Gospel Writer, is a freelance writer, speaker and avid blogger. She loves to write Urban Christian Fiction and Bible Study courses. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Arthur and daughters Symphony and Lyric.

Deli Style – Part Four Cont

Deli Style – Part Four Cont
©2010 Wanza Leftwich

This is the continuation of part four of the Deli Style Series. Click here to read the first part of this series, click here to read part one, click here to read the continuation of part one, click here to read part two, click here to read the continuation of part two, click here to read part three, and click here to read the continuation of part three.

Esther could not believe that David walked her up to the front of the line. Did he not know this was Brooklyn? Yes, it was Brooklyn Heights, but Brooklyn all the same. Nobody does that. She could hear the murmurs of the people waiting in line.

She remembered the time her mom forgot to make reservations and they waited two hours in the snow only to be seated near the door. She pushed back thoughts of her mom. She couldn’t afford to cry in front of David. He wouldn’t understand.

She reluctantly walked with David to the front of the line. She pressed her eyes closed and prepared herself to be embarrassed when the hostess sent her and David back to the end of the line.

To her surprise, the hostess smiled and gave David a hug when she saw him.

“Follow me, please,” she said.

“How’d you do that?” Esther held David’s hand tight as they walked to their table.

David winked but didn’t say a word

“No, seriously, how’d you do that?” Esther tried not to speak loudly.

“Your table ma’am Sir, your server will be right with you.” The hostess smiled again at David and returned to her post. David pulled out Esther’s chair

“David, this is the hardest spot in town to get into.” Esther sat and placed her linen napkin on her lap.

“God’s favor.” David laughed.

Esther rolled her eyes, “Now, David…tell me!”

“Oh, ok…don’t be so pushy. I simply got juice like that.”

Esther wasn’t buying his story. There was more to it than God’s favor, although in some situations that all you needed but she knew David had something more than that.

“It’s a long story.” David said.

“I’m listening.” Esther took a deep breath and surveyed her surroundings. Couples sat closely in a dimly lit room that smelled of everything French. Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered her mom again.

“Good evening, my name is Chante and I’ll be your server for the evening. Would you like to start with…David? David!” She almost dropped her menus.

Esther’s left eyebrow rose as it always did when things didn’t quite fit. How did the waitress know David. She came to Avec Moi many times and none of them knew her by name. She prayed silently that Chante wasn’t an ex-girlfriend of some kind. Her strip of pink hair did not seem like David’s type. But who knew what David’s type was anyway?

Esther had never heard him talk about a woman in his life nor did he make any moves on anyone at work. Esther knew why now. They were all at Avec Moi.

“Does James know you’re here? Oh…I’m sorry, David. I’m being so rude.” She extended her hand to Esther. “Hi, my name is Chante.”

Esther shook her hand. “I’m Esther, nice to meet you.” She hoped.

“So, David what’s going? I can’t believe it’s you, man!” Her teeth glistened in the candle lit room.

“Nothing much…same ole thing. Work and church and more work. And you?” David took the menus from Chante and handed one to Esther.

“Just working here at Avec.” She bent down and whispered, “You know thing have been a little hard down here.”

“Doesn’t look like it to me.” Esther prayed David didn’t pick up on her sarcasm.

“Well…how about a drink or appetizer to start off?” Chante smiled at Esther. Esther knew she had got the hint loud and clear.

Esther wanted to crawl under the table. Why was she acting like a jealous little school kid? “Oh, I’m sorry. You guys can keep talking.” Esther offered a quick apology to make amends.

“No, it’s ok.” Chante look towards the back of the dining area. “I have more tables to get to. What would you like?”

“I’d like your special blend of raspberry hot tea.” Esther opened her menu to see if anything had changed.

“And you David?” Chante wrote on her pad.

“A Lemon Zest is good for me.”

“One raspberry special and one L-Z. I’m going to tell James that you’re here. It’s so great to see you after all this time!”

Esther eyed Chanted as she walked to the other side of the restaurant. She was dying to hear how he knew all the people that worked in the most exclusive restaurant in all of Brooklyn. She bit her bottom lip so she wouldn’t say anything stupid. She didn’t want to apologize again or embarrass herself in front of David.

“I guess you’re wondering how I know so many people here, huh?” David placed the black linen napkin on his lap.

Esther nodded and waited. She thought of the hostess and the waitress? Who was James and how did he fit into this picture? Where girls ex-girlfriends, friends from school or fellow church members? They didn’t look like church members. She shook her head again, reminding herself not to judge anyone by their appearances.

“I used to work here.”

Esther wanted to laugh. She rebuked herself for thinking such crazy thoughts about the women David knew. She had no right to make assumptions. He was not in a relationship with him – no matter how much she wanted to be.

“You used to work here? When?”

David looked around the room. “A few years ago, I landed a job here right out of culinary school. It was the best. A chef at Avec Moi, this was like heaven.”

Culinary School? Esther had no idea she knew so little about the man she liked. He went to Culinary School? Why in the world was he flipping burgers and slicing up lunch meat for heros in Big A’s Deli.

“You were a Chef?” Esther saw Chante making her way toward them with their teas. “Here?”

Chante placed their teas in front of them. “James said to stop by the kitchen before you leave.”

Esther waited until Chante was out of earshot to continue. “So, you’re a chef?”

“Yes, I was a Sous Chef here.” David looked around again. “I learned so much here…and the food is great, but you know that already.”

“So, why are you a short order cook for Klyde.” Esther hoped she wasn’t going too far with her questions, but she couldn’t believe anyone would leave Avec Moi to work at a deli. Who would do that?

“It was the economy. The recession hit Avec Moi hard. The suppliers raised their prices.” David sipped his tea.

“So what did he do? This place is always busy. It doesn’t seem like he lost customers.”

“Nah, the customers remained pretty steady but James worked himself to the bone. When he let me go, he did all the cooking himself and depended on a few servers to remain until times got better. The hostess is his daughter. He made major adjustments to stay open.”

“Wow. He was able to keep it open like that.”

“That’s one reason why the lines are so long. He trained the servers to take their time with each table. This way it gave him time to cook.”

“It worked because people love this place.” Esther smiled thinking about James’s strategy to stay in business and keep the customers satisfied.

She wanted to ask David how he felt when he was let go but she didn’t know what he would say. He couldn’t be happy being a short order cook after being a Sous Chef at Avec Moi. She decided not to pry any further.

She didn’t want to ruin her first date with David…the David. The one she wrote about in her journal at night.

Wanza Leftwich, The Gospel Writer, is a freelance writer, speaker and avid blogger. She loves to write Urban Christian Fiction and Bible Study courses. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Arthur and daughters Symphony and Lyric.

Deli Style – Part Four

Deli Style – Part Four
©2010 Wanza Leftwich

This is the part four of the Deli Style Series. Click here to read part one, click here to read the continuation of part one, click here to read part two, click here to read the continuation of part two, click here to read part three, and click here to read the continuation of part three.

“You don’t know what I would give to have my mom back David. You have no clue.” Esther stopped walking.

“Are you ok?” David placed a hand on her arm. She looked like she had lost her best friend.

“Yes, I’m just looking at this line for Avec Moi. My mom used to make reservations here a month in advance. If you don’t, you end up here for hours praying that someone canceled at the last minute.” She lowered her head.

David had no idea she was so familiar with Avec Moi. He prayed he had made the right decision to bring her here. “Well, this is where we are going tonight.”

Esther spun on her heel and eyed him. “Here? I don’t know if I can. My mom…”

David thought he saw water in her eyes just before she lowered them again. He shifted from one foot to the other. “I’ve wanted to bring you here since the first day I met you.” David smiled, hoping that the memories of her deceased mother would not damper the evening. “This place is special to me, too.”

“We’re going to wait for hours, David. We don’t have to eat here. Besides, it’s expensive. We can do the hamburger place down the street.” Esther sniffed and blinked her eyes several times.

“No, it’s okay; this is the place for us.” David took Esther’s right hand and pushed his way to the front of the line.

Wanza Leftwich, The Gospel Writer, is a freelance writer, speaker and avid blogger. She loves to write Urban Christian Fiction and Bible Study courses. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Arthur and daughters Symphony and Lyric.

Deli Style – Part Three Cont

Deli Style – Part Three Cont
©2009 Wanza Leftwich

This is the continuation of part three of the Deli Style Series. Click here to read the first part of this series, click here to read part one, click here to read the continuation of part one, click here to read part two, click here to read the continuation of part two.

Esther ran into the locker room at the end of her shift. She pulled her book bag out of the locker and searched frantically for her deodorant.

“So you’re getting ready for you hot date, huh?” Her co-worker JoAnn closed the magazine she was reading.

“What date?” Esther rubbed the cool fragrance under her arm.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Ms. Dowdry.” JoAnn threw the magazine she was reading at Esther. “Everyone in this joint knows that you and the boss man are going out.”

“News travels fast, doesn’t it? We’re not going out, JoAnn,” Esther changed out of her uniform. ‘It’s one date.”

“And one date leads to another and then another. No wonder you’ve got the best shift up in this joint. I’ve been trying to get on days for the last two years, but you’ve got that sown up. I should have known.”

‘Whatever, it’s all in your head. Besides, David is fair with the schedule.” Esther decided not to say anything further. “It’s whatever, JoAnn…whatever.” Esther slammed the locker door. JoAnn had been giving her fever ever since she mentioned that she had a crush on David.

“So you say, Ms. Dowdry. So you say.” JoAnn smirked and left the locked room.

“God sometimes I just don’t understand women. Is she jealous or something? This is the one date that I’ve been waiting for.”

“You’ve been waiting for this date?” David stood at the doorway.

“Esther gasped. Had she said that out loud? “Oh, David, I didn’t know you where there.”

“I wasn’t until a minute ago. You ready to go?”

“Yes. Please, let’s go.”

~~~

Avec Moi sat two blocks from the infamous Brooklyn promenade highlighted by the Manhattan skyline. David didn’t know whether to walk fast or slow. Esther was so quiet on the train ride into Brooklyn that David began to rethink his decision to take her out.

He could not remember a time when he felt more awkward than this very moment. He was on his dream date with the love of his life. Only she didn’t know how much he loved her. David took a deep breath as they waited for the traffic light to change. Proceed with caution, David thought. He had no intentions of mission up the once chance he had waited on for the last three years. He even convinced Ms. Natalie to watch Alaya until he got home.

“Do you like this part of Brooklyn, Essie..Esther.” David stuttered as he jumped over a puddle of water.

“It’s beautiful down here. I don’t live too far from here either. I used to always come down to the promenade with my mom. This was her favorite place. When she first passed away, I came down here once a week to remember her.”

“I can understand that. I don’t know what I would do if my mom was gone. She gets on my nerves at times, but I love her just the same.”

“You don’t know what I would give t have my mom back, David. You have not clue.”

David decided not to say anything further until they reached Avec Moi. The entrance was packed with people.

“Oh, David, we can go somewhere else. The wait seems long and I don’t want to be out too late. I can’t be late for work.” Esther joked.

David smiled but felt a pang in his heart. He could see Klyde’s face of disapproval. David shook the thought from his mind.

He was not going to ruin his first date with Esther. He would have to fire her tomorrow.


Wanza Leftwich, The Gospel Writer, is a freelance writer, speaker and avid blogger. She loves to write Urban Christian Fiction and Bible Study courses. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Arthur and daughters Symphony and Lyric.

Deli Style – Part Three

Deli Style – Part Three
©2009 Wanza Leftwich

This is the part three of the Deli Style Series. Click here to read part one, click here to read the continuation of part one, click here to read part two, and click here to read the continuation of part two.
“I’m out at two today. Keep up the good work guys,” Klyde announced. “And David, don’t forget to fire Esther today. She’s a waste of my time.”

A waste of time? She’s smart, saved and beautiful! David had no idea how he was going to break the news to Esther. She had been with the company at least two years. Sure, she was late almost everyday, but once she got to work she worked hard.

“I got to fire somebody I love…” David murmured.

“What was that, David? Klyde wrapped his around his neck.

“Nothing, just talking to myself.”

“Make sure you mop upstairs, somebody missed the back booths last night.” Klyde was out the door and down the street.

“Will do.” David threw the wash towel on the counter. The lunch hour was at its peak and he was exhausted. Two years of working dogmatic shifts, David desperately searched for a job nightly on the internet. The economy finally took a turn for the better and more and more hotels and fine restaurant returned to their normal activity. This meant good news for Dave, the culinary chef. Losing his job turned David’s financial work into an uproar. Arthur’s Deli was a part time gig he obtained to pay for his chef supplies. David blessed the Monday Klyde offered him the night manager’s position. The next morning he found himself of of his understudy position at the exclusive French restaurant in downtown Brooklyn.

David punched out and went to his tiny cubbyhole in the backroom. The only phone in the joint belonged Klyde and he had a code to make local calls. He was a cheapskate and everyone knew it. David reached down, pulled up his pant’s leg and removed his prepaid cell phone out of his sock. He dialed Ms. Natalie’s number. It was busy. Well, at least she had a phone to call. David discarded the vivid memory of the disconnect notice that lay on his nightstand at home.

David tried the number again. “Hi, Ms. Natalie, please,” David looked over his shoulder. He could see Esther grimaced at a customer. “Yes, ms. Natalie, this is David…well no, nothing’s wrong. I wanted to tell you that I will be home by six to pick up Alaya” David bit his lower lip as he listened to Ms. Natalie’s boyfriend and her son full over the remote control.

“Yeah, make that five-thirty…yes, I’ll still pay you the usual. Good.” David clicked the end button and pushed the phone back in his sock.

David returned to the floor in time to see Esther rush through the front door. He eyed the clock and shook his head.

“Man, just ask her out for dinner.” Maurice the cook came up behind David.

David jumped. “I can’t do that. She would never go…besides, I can’t afford it.” David shrugged as he watched Esther punch back in.

“Had a good break?” David asked Esther.

“Yeah, thanks. I needed the polluted air.”

David could see Maurice motioning behind Esther’s back fro him to ask her out. David ignored him. “I’m glad you’re feeling better because I have something to tell you.”

“Shoot.” Ester took a deep breath.

“Esther, he wants to know if you’ll go out with him tonight after work.”

Esther mouth dropped open. David shoulders tensed from embarrassment. “Maurice is simple joking…”

“I would love to, David.” Esther smiled.

“Seriously?” David stared.

“Yeah, she’s serious, man. I told you. All you had to do was ask.” Maurice laughed and walked away.


Wanza Leftwich, The Gospel Writer, is a freelance writer, speaker and avid blogger. She loves to write Urban Christian Fiction and Bible Study courses. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Arthur and daughters Symphony and Lyric.