Chapter 5
Two days later (Monday)
“Don’t forget your lunch!” said Grandma yelling after Pitch, who seems to be rushing out the door at the start of the morning. Pitch almost always forgets his lunch when he is in a hurry and his grandmother never fails to remind him.
“Ok, Grandma” said Pitch attempting to speak with French bread in his mouth. He runs back inside the small house to grab his lunch and then give his grandmother a quick hug. “Bye, Grandma”
“Bye Bye Pitchy!” Grandmother waves at him.
“Oh no. No. No. I’m going to be late. I shouldn’t have woken up late this morning,” says Pitch under his breath, while running to catch the transit bus to work. Pitch stayed up late the previous night reading the third installment of the Harry Potter series. He was reading at his favorite part where Harry won his quidditch match against the Slytherins. “I should’ve just waited to read it today at work, now I’m almost done with the book.” Pitch wonders what he will do at work after he finishes up reading the third book. Mondays are usually slow. It’s almost as if people decide not to eat ice cream on Mondays because it’s bad luck or something.
After Pitch got off the bus, he hurries to Baskin Robbins, an ice cream shop where he works six hours a day, five days a week. That’s thirty hours a week. Not very many hours, but he makes up the next ten to twelve hours a week at the book store on some of the evenings in order for him to have a full time work schedule. He needs all the hours he can get to support himself and his grandmother.
“Hey there, Pitch. Made it just in time. What gives? You’re usually in early.” says Christy, Pitch’s manager.
“Sorry boss lady. I woke up kind of late,” says Pitch putting his backpack down and getting his cash register ready. Christy is probably the most chill boss in the world. She doesn’t get upset easily, but always manage to keep people in check, so she’s cool with Pitch along with everyone else calling her “boss lady” or different nicknames like “lady mafia” or “big boss”. She can get pretty big headed sometimes though.
“Uh huh. That’s boss lady for ya. Haha. It’s cool. It’s bad luck on Mondays anyway,” says Christy and they both laugh. “At least you’re not always late like Jake over there,” says Christy, signaling her head towards Jake preparing the ice cream.
Jake looks up when he hears his name. “Aww come on, boss. I’ve been on time for the past three work days. Can’t you give me some credit?”
“Credit? Wow, I didn’t notice you have been on time. Maybe you were known to be late all the time that I don’t expect you to be on time,” says Christy, giving Pitch a wink and they both laugh. “I’m just kidding Jake”
“Sure boss. Just watch, I’ll be on time” Jake smiles, knowing the boss is just joking. Christy loves to make jokes and make everyone feel happy at work. Christy’s phone rings. She excuses herself and enters the kitchen. She came back out moments later with a worried expression.
“Sorry guys, but I got to leave right now. My son is sick. I got to pick him up from school and then find him a baby sitter. I might not be back though. Is that cool?”
Pitch and Jake looks at each other in agreement and turn to Christy. Though Pitch just started working for Baskin Robbins three weeks ago, he is already comfortable in his work environment.
“Of course it’s cool. We’ve been working by ourselves before. So we’re used to it. Don’t worry big boss. We got this,” says Jake in a reassuring manner. Pitch nods and said “Don’t worry about us. We hope your son feels better soon.”
“Thanks, gentlemen. I knew I can count on the both of you.” Christy smiles, grab her belongings, and hurries to her car out front.
Pitch and Jake enjoys the rest of the morning and the afternoon watching comedies on TV when there are no customers. When they are customers, they work diligently. Pitch and Jake are known to the local senior community for their bright smiles and gentlemen manners, so they often attract many senior customers. An old lady wearing a conical rice hat with a strap made of silk enters the store. “Oh hello Pitch. Hello Jake. How are yall fine young men doing?” says the old lady as she tips her hat back, revealing her dark and wrinkled face.
“We’re doing good, Mrs. Song. How are you?,” says both Pitch and Jake.
“You’re looking fine yourself also, Mrs. Song,” says Pitch, smiling. Mrs. Song gives a soft giggle. Jake whispers to him “Kiss ass” and Pitch nudge him with his elbow, causing Jake to squeal. “So how’s the sale going?” Pitch asks Mrs. Song. She sells fried bananas and tofu in a street vendor nearby. When she has time, she goes to visit Pitch and Jake with at least four fried bananas for them to eat.
“Going good. No fried bananas left for you young men today, but I sure would like some ice cream. It’s hot outside,” said Mrs. Song.
“Really? It’s only 2PM,” said Jake. Pitch nods in agreement.
“I know.” Mrs. Song starts to grin. “There are these two nice young gentlemen who bought all my fried bananas, along with all my tofu. Today is just my lucky day. Oh and they didn’t even want their change, so I have all this money left over.”
Pitch knew Mrs. Song work hard to sell all her food, so he decides to pay for her instead.
“Oh, Pitch. You don’t have to.”
“Nope, it’s on me. Besides, Jake and I have been eating your fried bananas for free. I’m glad you get to sell all your food today,” said Pitch giving her the biggest smile.
“Plus, you made a bonus today from all the change that the guys left you. Consider our ice cream to you as a bonus gift,” says Jake, handing Mrs. Song her favorite ice cream cone; mint chocolate chip.
“You boys are so kind. I hope both of you find nice girlfriends for yourselves.”
Jake chimes in “I already have a girlfriend and I’m planning to ask her to marry me soon.”
Pitch and Mrs. Song looks at him in astonishment. Pitch didn’t expect Jake to marry so soon. Pitch thought it is too early to marry at 26, but congratulates him anyway, along with Mrs. Song. After Mrs. Song bid them farewell, a young woman with pigtails, who look to be in her late teens, enters the store. She has on a school uniform with her backpack hanging on one shoulder.
“Hi Pitch!” said the young woman, while taking a seat nearby and then staring at Pitch with all smiles.
“Hi, Mint. How are you doing today?” said Pitch, smiling back and then attending to one of the customers who just entered the store.
“Hey Mint. Forgot about me?” said Jake, noticing how very attentive she is towards Pitch.
“Oh hey Jake,” said Mint, still staring at Pitch working.
“Figures,” said Jake under his breath and starts to attend the remaining customers. When the customers all left, Jake whispers to Pitch, who is reading his Harry Potter book. “Dude, can’t you tell that Mint likes you? She hasn’t stop staring at you since she came in.”
“Really?” Trying not to be conspicuous, Pitch turns to look over at Mint to see if it’s true, but Mint seems busy studying.
“Naw, I don’t think so. She’s studying. See?”
“Yeah. She’s studying now, but when you don’t look her way, she stares at you like she’s never seen a Thai man before. Seriously, dude. She’s been doing this for the past week and she hasn’t bought one thing from us. She is here for you, man. How can you not know?” said Jake, trying to lower his voice as he speaks.
Pitch puts his book down. Jake has been trying to hook him up with random girls ever since he told him that he has never had a girlfriend. It’s not that Pitch doesn’t like girls. He just couldn’t care to notice them when his mind is solely focus on school, work, or his grandmother. On top of that, he has bills to take care of by himself. Pitch also didn’t want his grandmother to work hard in the hot sun like Mrs. Song. “I don’t know, but I doubt it. She’s just a college freshman using our free wi-fi service to do her homework. How does that make her like me? I just work here.”
Jake looks at him with a face that reads “WTF?”
“Come on. What?” Pitch is annoyed by how Jake gawks at him, all wide- eyed.
“You must be really stupid around women. Now I know why you never have a girlfriend.”
Pitch is taken aback by what Jake just said. “What? I’m not stupid. I just…I just…”Pitch couldn’t finish his sentence. It’s true that Pitch has trouble approaching women or even just carrying a conversation with them, but he believes he couldn’t be stupid around women like Jake said.
“You just don’t know when girls like you.” Jake finishes it for him and says “Wow, I guess having a college degree doesn’t mean you’re smart with women, huh?”
“I know for sure she’s not interested in me. Well, I’m not interested in her anyway.”
Jake doesn’t seem surprise by his answer and rolls his eyes. “You say that for every girl I try to hook you up with. Mint is actually a pretty cute girl… Now I’m starting to think you’re gay.”
“I’m not gay and pardon me for choosing not to hit on a customer.” Pitch sighs from frustration. He’s been accused of liking men before.
“Dude, its okay if you’re gay. Just don’t hit on me. I have a fiancé already,” said Jake, trying to hold back his laugh so Mint won’t hear him.
“Psh. Fiancé? You haven’t asked her to marry you yet. Plus, you two only went out for a couple of months. Don’t worry. If I were gay, I’d choose a better looking guy than you and one that’s on time.”
Jake couldn’t believe his ears. Not caring if Mint hears him, he said aloud, “Well then excuse me for trying to help you get a girl. I should be looking for guys instead. I AM going to ask her to marry me. So what if we only knew each other for two months? I’m in love with her and I know she feels the same way. You wouldn’t know what love is because you never had a girlfriend…or a boyfriend, whatever your orientation is. ”
Pitch’s ears went bright red and his nostrils start to flare, making his face look like a bull ready to attack. Then Mint walks up to the counter and Pitch tries to hide his anger with a forced smile. “Would you like something?”
“Pitch?” said Mint, looking upset at Pitch in the eyes.
“Yes?” said Pitch, wondering why the long face.
“Is it true what Jake said?”
Pitch’s eyes widen in horror and think to himself “No! No one is suppose to know I never been with a girl. Now she’s going to think I’m a loser. Thanks Jake for keeping a secret.” Pitch is bad at lying, so he couldn’t deny his inexperience with women.
Pitch lowers his voice and said, “Mint, please don’t tell anyone.”
Mint begins to form tears in her eyes, causing Pitch to puzzle over her reaction.
“I can’t believe you like men!”
“What? NOOO!”