Romeo

As per usual, all names and places are changed to cover identities but all of these are real stories.  Moments of a young man who probably has countless stories to be told about all the fun shenanigans, work times, and family sharings, but these are just a few on my behalf.

It was my second day of work at One Eye and particularly slow.  I'd just moved here across the States and was tipped to come in here by a coworker at my other job.  Said this bar was totally cool and hip and had delicious food.  I was lookin for more work to pass time and quickly catch up with bills so I'd applied the week before. I trained with someone the previous day, but I'd done this a million times and it wasn't rocket science so they put me the next day on my own shift. The bartender had a crowd but I had no tables and so I went to the back to assemble silverware in napkins- the only busy work I could think to get out of the way without just standing around very awkwardly.

Walking to the back storage area for a pack of napkins, I looked up to see who the cook was- a tall, lanky, dark fellow with concentration in his eyes, preparing all the food orders that were in front of him. Feeling my glace, he looked up, and smiled that smile I would become familiar with every day I worked there.

"Hey, what's up?" He greeted without hesitation. I walked around the service counter and two steps up stairs into the side of the kitchen to be eye level with him. Well. As eye level as I could be. He really was tall! "Nothin, second day at work."
He removed his glove and reached out a hand, "Oh that's what's up. Romeo."
"Thibs." A quick hand shake and a head nod.
"You the new server?"
"Yeah, or whatever shifts they want to give me.  This is my second job and I bartend over at my other one."
"That's cool that's cool," He nods his head, putting a clean glove back on, "This is it for me," he chuckles, puttin his hands up in a wide gesture and lookin up around the kitchen.
"Hey, if it pays the bills that's all you need, " I smile back at him and walk away to start my side work.

Days go by like this, always smiling always having something to say, mostly big ideas.  He came off to me as one of those Dreamer types.  Planning different recipes, talkin about opening up his own place and being his own chef.  So optimistic in such a big city and I always found it fascinating to listen to him.

One day toward the end of work, my boyfriend came in to eat with me.  I sat him in my section and went to go retrieve Romeo. "Come here, I want you to meet someone." I walk him to the table Superman was sat at, "This is Superman; this is my cook, Romeo." Superman stood to greet him, with a handshake-turned-half-back-slap like the brothers always do. "What's up man?" "Cookin and chillin, cookin and chillin, you hungry? You tryin to eat?"
"Yeah man, what's good?"
"The wings are pretty good. Got a nice buffalo sauce on em."
"Alright, let's do that."
"Cool, man, I got you."
I just shook my head, going to the computer to put in his order,  He was always so welcoming to everyone he encountered.
After our shift, Romeo and I sat with Superman and they got better acquainted. Superman liked Romeo, got good vibes all around and was jealous I got to work with all around good company at that job.

A few more weeks went by and my schedule between both jobs evened out. "Between both jobs, I have Tuesdays off."
"No shit, me too. I don't work Tuesdays and Wednesdays,"
"Dude," I looked at him with raised eyebrows, "you busy tomorrow?"
Shaking his head,"Nah, I don't think so. Gotta take baby boy to the dentist but that's about it."
"You wanna do lunch or somethin?"
"Yeah, alright that'd be cool. Shoot me a text so I got your number."

The next day I text him to meet me at a bar that one of my coworkers at my primary job worked at.  This was also her second job.  I chatted with her and got a drink while waiting.  About an hour later, Romeo walked in and greeted me with a hug, "Sorry about that, took a little longer than I thought. Then parking is ridiculous around here. You know how that goes."  I nodded my head.  "What you drinkin?"
"Tom Collins, always."
He shook his head, " Man, I don't fuck with gin like that," then laughed a little. Hennessy. That was his cup of tea. I winced the same face at his drink as he did mine.  The next while at the bar was just shootin the shit, talkin about our significant others. about his 'little man', his mum, where I came from.  Finally I felt like I had a friend in this big ass city. Someone to hang out with that actually gave a damn about a new person in this new world.

"Hey, my friend Kiddo has the day off too, wants to know if we wanna join him for pool up on Capitol Hill," I suggest, looking at my text I'd just gotten. He looked down at my phone, "That thing is tiny! It's old as shit!" Laughing, and completely disregarding my comment.  I started laughing too, "Dude. This thing never breaks, I can text, and make calls. Go ahead and make fun of my Dino phone next time yours fucks up and you gotta update."

Our friendship was like that.  Jesting with each other, crackin jokes, making light of everything.

"Yeah whatever, where does he want to meet us?"

We got in his car and drove it up the hill.  I walked everywhere and didn't think it was that far, he insisted we drive because he was 'way too lazy for that'.  I always laughed at these comments, wondering how the hell he was so skinny but ate like a champ and refused to walk up hills.

We parked the car where it was convenient and still had to walk about six blocks up, him dreading it every step of the way.  We met up with Kiddo and played pool with him and his friend that he also brought.  Romeo bought the first round, I'd gotten the second.  Just a nice warm day at the end of summer, in a bar, playin pool with the guys.  You couldn't ask for a nicer way to be adjusted into the city.

One evening, I was particularly angry.  Romeo saw it when I walked in.  His eyes widened and his mouth dropped. "Uh oh!, " he said, "I've never seen that face, Watch out people!" I walked up to the kitchen. "Hey Romeo." I forced a small smirk of acknowledgment. "What's wrong?" He gave me a half hug. "That man is pissin me off today, I tell you what." "Well damn why didn't you say so! Invite him in tonight to eat and I'll jack up his wings!"  He started laughing and it made me smile a genuine smile, "Oh my lord child, you are so ridiculous."
"Well, you're smiling now so I guess that's okay."
And I was smiling.  Work that day turned out not to be so bad.  I even got an unexpected phone call sayin that I got the job at this nice hotel.  It was going to replace my other job that was full time,  "Congrats!" He said, "Yeah, and tonight I'm gonna celebrate." "Well shit, if you start here, I can join you." So that's what I did. I had my shift drink at the bar after work and he joined once he had the kitchen all cleaned and clocked out.

Once he downed his shift drink, he had somewhere to stop by so we continued our journey a couple blocks up.  It was a dispensary. I'd never been in one before. I don't smoke so I didn't have a reason to.  He played it real cool, and left me in a seat at the front while he went to handle his business.  He came back to me to see if I was ready to go.  As we were walkin, he offered me a drink from his Pepsi bottle he'd been carrying with him. "I think it's got some brandy in there from last night."
I took a swig of it, and my face tensed up immediately. "DAMN SON, YOU THINK?" He burst out laughing and slightly confused. He then took a sip for himself. "Hoooooooo!" He let our a hoot with his breath, "Yeah, I didn't realize it was like that." I took it from him and got another swig, "I think we'll be alright."

I walked him to the bus stop, a nearby gentleman laughing at us drinking the Clearly-not-Pepsi. "Where you headed to?" He asked.  I pointed up the hill, "About a 45 minute walk that way."  His eyes got big, "Do you know how late it is? By yourself?" He looked at his phone, "Come on."
"But wait isn't the bus coming?"
"I can always catch another one, they run all night. I can at least walk you halfway." And he made bank on that.  He walked me across downtown, up the bridge over I 5 and into the outskirts of Capitol Hill.  "Text me when you get home so I know you made it alright? It's gettin cold out here." I told him I would and we exchanged a quick hug before we went opposite ways.

Work was always fun, I looked forward to Tuesdays, and I had a friend.  I might have only worked there once a week in the end with schedules getting cut, but I kept that job because they really were like a little family, lookin out for each other and supporting one another.

One day he came in, determined he was gonna open a place with a friend and started brain storming ideas for a menu.  I got out a piece of paper and started writing his ideas and threw in some and jotting down what he wanted the place to be.  A Dreamer.

In a rush emergency, I'd text Romeo and told him Monday would be my last day at work, that I was headed back home across the states. He asked what days I was free.  That Friday after, I went in for my paycheck.  Romeo was there, cookin up a storm, and gave me a stern look, "Nope." He said, "Not leavin. You can't." I gave him a hug, "I got to man. It'll be alright. I'll see you again and maybe you'll come see me in Mississippi!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. What you gettin into tonight?"
"Just work. Then going out after work I think, My last Friday in town and all."
"That's what's up! Shoot me a text!"
"Okay, you closing tonight?"
He just shook his head, rollin his eyes.
"Alright, well how about you text me when you get off? Is that better?"
"Yeah yeah, I got you. I'll see you later."
I gave him another half hug, then walked out with my last paycheck.



Are you back home yet? I have news......

I'll never forget that message.  I didn't understand. I got to One Eye as quickly as I could.  
I stood there, staring at Flo, one of my favourite bartenders to work with.  "Is it true?" I asked, almost in a whisper.
He nodded, pulled me to the side and explained what had happened that night.  I just stood there. Staring at him.  "But. I I don't get it." My face perplexed. Moments of silence, and our other cook came over. By the look on my face, he knew I'd just found out.  Both of them, eyes stinging red, trying to be strong.

"Y'all want a shot?" Flo asked, getting out the glasses already. "I'd do Boubon, but Romeo knows I don't like that shit.  So we'll do tequila."  We smiled a little. It was so true. The owner came around the corner as Flo was doing this, "Just don't look, I'm about to do something illegal. Look away," The owner stat at the bar, "Pour me one too."

"We lifted our glasses together, "To Romeo," and drank together.  The owners wife came out shortly, eyes not holding back anything.  Little shoulder pats, hugs, and arm rubs were exchanged with all of us for comfort.  All agreeing what a great guy.  All smiling about what a goofy coworker and friend he was.  A few more moments and the group dispersed, talking of setting up a fund for the family.  I walked out, having to start my last shift at my other job.  My head low and my thoughts in the air.

For as long as my memory goes on, I won't ever forget the friend I made in Seattle.  Where everyone was in such a hustle and bustle with their busy city lives, I'll always remember the one who took time for me.  


Cheers to you Jerome, may God be with all your loved ones as we grieve and cherish the memories we all have of you.