Presto

Howie, in his magician’s fat suit, yelled at everyone to get in line.

Maurice was new to French service and white gloves. He tells you this before the main course is served. A line of tuxedos snakes out of the kitchen. You pull him into the closet to teach him the trick.

You point to the plate of salad spoons. You take two and show him.

The lower spoon rests at the base of the thumb.
The upper spoon lies parallel to it.
The index finger presses along the back of the upper spoon.
The middle finger stabilizes both handles from beneath.
The thumb provides counter-pressure.

Spoons open and close.

Presto.

Maurice watched. He raised his right hand. His middle finger was gone.

You say nothing and give him salad tongs instead.

He tells you, we need to talk about Howie and the catering business.

You fall back into the line of tuxedos.

Howie yelled them out of the kitchen. In the main room there were circular tables and guests. The bride and groom were looking at their phones.

The band played Every Little Thing She Does is Magic. Maurice used the tongs. The meat hit the plate with a thwap. The spoon delivered your meat without sounds.

You keep an eye on Maurice and the empty finger of the glove. He served the bride and groom with spoons in his left hand.

Maurice whispered one word. Howie yelled across the room.

The bride was gone. Maurice’s missing finger sat on her plate. He walked out the catering hall and Howie ran after him.

The band stopped playing. The bride’s seat was empty. Only the finger remained.

Howie returned. He leaned and murmured in the groom’s ear.

Everything went silent.

You return the spoons.

Voilà, the shift was over

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