Chapter 13 - The Golden Shift
By the following summer, Evan was fourteen and had been promoted at the diner.
Sal had moved him from the dishwashing station up to the prep line, where he learned how to chop vegetables, prepare sauces, and work the short-order grill alongside Chef Marco.
He wore a crisp white apron over his clothes, his hands no longer raw from dish soap, but skilled and confident with a chef's knife.
On a busy Saturday evening, I stopped by the diner to pick up an order of takeout.
I stood by the front counter, watching through the kitchen pass-through window. Evan was moving between the grill and the plating station with smooth, effortless coordination. He was laughing with Marco, calling out order tickets, and managing the fast-paced flow of the kitchen with the maturity of a seasoned worker.
Sal walked up beside me, leaning against the counter.
"Look at him," Sal said softly, nodding toward the kitchen. "He’s got a bright future, that boy. Whatever he decides to do in this life, he’s going to succeed."
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"He got his work ethic from you and Marco," I said, looking at Sal with deep gratitude.
"No, ma'am," Sal shook his head firmly. "He brought that with him the very first day he walked through my door in those worn-out sneakers. All we did was give him a place to shine."
