Case of the Exploding Ketchup Day 4;
I arrived at work a little later than usual but still with enough time before my scheduled start to oversee what the situation was in the back-of-house. Heading towards the coffee station to pour myself a cuppa I glanced around to see who was in attendance. Shannah, who I could not help notice had some brand new blonde streaks added to her head of ravishing hair, was running up and down the floor taking orders and assuring patrons they were not being ignored. Funny how a few drinks lends people paranoid imaginings.
Wheeler was tending bar which was a surprise as today was supposed to be a day off for the guy. Such as it was I could venture to guess that someone had called in sick and needed to be replaced. With Ike in the kitchen and myself hopping on Dishpit duty, we had a solid crew for the night and not for long the farthest thing from my mind was the curious Case of the Exploding Ketchup.
I sipped my cuppa and exchanged greetings with Ike, "Yo Ike whats is like?"
"Ketchup catastrophe again, had 3 bottles 'plode so far."
Remembering back to Jamie's derring-do the night before I was frankly stunned. Three bottles before I even clocked in, which meant part of the mess was good and old and ready for me clean up.
As if Ike was reading my mind, "they had the new guy cleaning it under the Don's nose... I hope the kid comes in tomorrow still."
I knew what he was implying. Anytime someone cleaned something with the Don overseeing one was surely in for an ordeal. Owners can be tricky customers sometimes.
I managed to clock in and saw to it that the dishes waiting for me were promptly dealt with. After half an hour or so I went back for a second cuppa when I heard Wheeler protesting mightily, "Cheesus I cant deal with this! Ketchup all over my bar this is ridiculous I am giving the Don a fist where sun dont shine."
This was an empty threat but directed at Shannah and Ike quite menacingly.
"Im going to refuse to serve Ketchup I dont care what anybody says," and with this proclamation he threw a half empty exploded Ketchup bottle across the Coffee Station, with the accompanying red menace being deployed liberally about.
I summoned some courage as he wiped his tie, "hey man no reason to make a mess."
"Desmond if want to keep your job, go back to doing dishes after you clean this up!"
With that Wheeler was back behind the bar blaming profusely the Don in front of whoever would listen.
Shannah as if sensing my apoplectic rage which was brewing came to my aid with disposable generic towels in hand.
"Dont worry Desmond, this on top of getting called in, you cant blame Wheeler."
"Bullshit, doesnt need to make more of a mess, its okay I got this," I said as I snatched the disposable generic paper towels from her and cleaned up the messed I was ordered too. In the hierarchy of restaurants the Bartender outranks any Dishwasher by several degrees.
Exasperated, Shannah twirled around and left in a whirl. Within several minutes more dishes would be made and I would be called into action. Before this and after cleaning up the Coffee Station I bounced an idea off of Ike concerning the Exploding Ketchup.
"Ike is that the fourth bottle today?"
"Yep and not only that Ketchup got into the ice bin and all over a few taps. Fuggin mess everywhere," he mentioned as he deftly used a spatula to turn over cooking meat.
What made me say this I do not know but Accidence and Clairvoyance created within me something that was later to be seen as quite dubious...
"I bet four more bottles explode today."
Ike looked at me for an instant with alarm and worry which faded quickly into incredulity.
"Knock wood bro. Just hope it doesnt happen again, we dont need Ketchup to clean up and the drunks to boot."
Little did I know as the hours went on I would be proven to be nearly a Fortune Teller.
Ike came back to the Dishpit an hour or so before the Kitchen was closed to snag some clean pots and fresh Stainless Steel cleaner.
"Desmond 3 more bottles in the last hour..."
"One more to go," I smirked.
"Lets hope not."
At this time we both heard a shriek and ran from the Kitchen taking a left into the right dining hall. At once we knew the source of the bewildered cry. Shannah had her face covered in Ketchup mixed with tears. My fourth bottle had worked its terrible magic.
Throwing the now open and exploded Ketchup bottle across the booth, Shannah created quite the extra mess in Desperation and set aside her dinner for the night.
Quite erroneously Ike ventured to ask a needless question, "Are you Okay?"
Shannah shot him a venomous glare which hit straight to his soul. Amidst the tears and Ketchup she was reminiscent of that climatic scene from the movie Carrie.
Rushing to the bathroom she tried her best not to drip Ketchup along the way.
As I turned to Ike his look was such that he was deciding whether or not to assign a verdict to the situation.
"Desmond how did you know..."
It was less of a question and more of a thought, but I knew the implications.
"Was just a guess Ike..."
It was then after I knew I had become the primary suspect in the Case of the Exploding Ketchup. Anyone who would know precisely the amount of bottles that were to explode was either responsible for the explosions or had a foresight unparallelled to most. Little did most of my coworkers know that I was a Dishwasher more talented than most Dishwashers, a Deity in my own right. This would serve me well in the coming days as the spotlight would soon find its way to me.
Leaving for the night I found my coworkers talking in hushed whispers which didnt strike me as odd until the following day had begun.