Page 10 of Peach Tree Family

Chapter 3

As they walked through Peach Tree, Seth was looking for Help Wanted signs but didn't see any yet. He knew Theo must be doing the same thing.

Ace was sightseeing, calling out different things he saw. He nudged Theo and pointed toward a boy he spotted just ahead of them. He was a few years older than Ace with a book bag on one shoulder. He was with a girl who was maybe a little younger than Seth and Theo.

"He's going to school," Ace said. He meant to whisper but his whispering was pretty loud.

"Yes, he is," the girl confirmed turning to eye each of them. "He's off to school with a bunch of his friends. There they are. Hurry it up." She pushed the boy and he went to join a girl and a boy the same age.

"You know if anyone around here is hiring?" Seth asked the girl.

"Right here," she said. She pointed her thumb at the Peach Tree Café, which was right on the corner then she practically dragged Seth through the door yelling, "Hey, Rico. I found Magda's replacement." As she shouted, heads turned and Seth was so embarrassed.

"Pipe down, Hannah," a good-looking young guy with dark hair and hazel eyes told her. He then looked at Seth. "It's only temporary, a few weeks maybe. You still want to apply?"

"What apply?" Hannah scoffed. "Mrs. Del Rio will take one look and he'll be hired."

"You're not wrong," the guy told her grudgingly. "But she's not here and I go by the book."

Hannah scoffed again.

The guy introduced himself as Enrico Del Rio and motioned Seth to an empty table in the back. "Go have a seat and we'll get you an application."

Seth looked behind him to see where Theo and Ace had got to. Ace was holding the café door open, but Theo was not coming in.

"It smells good in there," Ace said.

"We can't afford to eat out, remember," Theo told him.

"I'm Hannah, by the way. You two with him?" the girl asked and Ace nodded, but Theo didn't. "You better come in. Your friend is going to need moral support while Rico here grills him."

"Hey," Rico said then followed it up with a sigh. "But once again you're not wrong." He then turned to Ace. "This guy might need you to vouch for him. Can you give him a good reference? Is he a good guy?"

Ace was ready to vouch for him. "Seth is a good guy."

"All I needed to hear," Rico said. Seth introduced them and Rico led them all to the table. "Have a seat. I'll get the application for you to fill out."

"You should apply too, Theo," Seth said and Rico heard him.

"Two applications coming up."

He left them alone and then Hannah brought over the applications before she went to man the counter. Seth looked around and noticed that the walls had pictures of showgirls all over them.

"It smells too good in here, Theo," Ace said and Theo frowned. He must have felt bad that they couldn't afford to eat there.

The smell of food was waking up Seth's hunger too and not gently, it was giving it a good smacking around. If Theo hadn't given him food, he wouldn't have the presence of mind to read the application much less fill it out.

They were both looking over the papers when Rico brought over a stack of dollar pancakes for Ace and a glass of milk. "I already poured the maple syrup," Rico said. "In my experience kids cannot be trusted with a pitcher of syrup."

Ace looked at Theo helplessly.

"It's OK. We can manage it," Theo said with a smile though he didn't order it.

"It's on the house. We don't make people pay for food they didn't even order," Rico said then he walked away.

"Theo, is it charity?" Ace asked. He looked like he wouldn't be able to eat the pancakes if Theo told him it was.

"No. Rico is just being nice and we'll leave a good tip. A really good tip," Theo assured him.

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