Mandarin Yellow by Steven M. Roth

Author:Steven M. Roth [Roth, Steven M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Telemachus Press, LLC
Published: 2009-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

SOCRATES’ CELL PHONE rang as he and his father arrived back at the Westin Grand lobby. He looked at the readout screen, turned to his father, and said, “It’s Jade. Should I take it or let it go to voice mail? It’s up to you. Either way’s okay.”

“Take it,” his father said as he stepped away.

The call surprised and pleased Socrates. Jade rarely called him during the work day.

Jade suggested that she take Socrates and his parents out to dinner that evening using her university department’s use it or lose it junior-faculty goodwill expense-account to make up for their recent disjointed dinner together.

Socrates put Jade on hold and passed the dinner invitation on to his father who now was standing alongside him.

His father shook his head. “Thank that Jade for us,” he said, “for your mother and me. That’s sweet of her, but you young people should have some time alone, even when your mother and me are in town. Besides,” he said, “I need to talk to your mother about my problem. We won’t be hungry after that.” Socrates didn’t try to talk his father out of his position.

JADE AND SOCRATES decided they would go to their old standby, the Tastee Diner in Bethesda, Maryland, for a quiet, uncomplicated meal. Jade offered to drive to put some mileage on her car and so Socrates wouldn’t have to rent one.

They drove north from the District through Rock Creek Park, then west along East-West Highway to Wisconsin Avenue. They turned north again on Wisconsin and immediately crossed into Maryland. They drove another half mile until they arrived at the diner on Woodmont Avenue.

They settled into an authentic 1940s-era high-back wooden booth and faced one another across a Formica top table that was edged with shiny stainless steel trim, and bolted to the wall. Their seats were rock hard, highly lacquered wooden benches covered with red vinyl masquerading as leather.

Socrates dug into his jeans pocket and pulled out a pile of quarters he’d brought with him specifically for this meal. They reviewed the familiar musical selections available on the tiny juke box mounted on the wall alongside their booth, then jointly selected ten Hit Parade songs from among the 1950s and 1960s-era 45 rpm records. That completed, they turned their attention to the tabloid-newspaper-size laminated menus sitting on the table between them.

They passed a few silent minutes as they intensely read the familiar offerings listed on the menus. Then they dropped the menus back onto the table between them and ordered the same food they always ordered at Tastee, two cheeseburgers with extra pickles, tomato, mustard, and raw onions, with one side of hash browned potatoes covered with brown gravy to share.

Jade reached across the table. She took Socrates’ hand, and said, “Are you all right, Darling? You seem miles away.”

“Sorry,” Socrates said. “I’m fine. Just a little preoccupied with all that’s going on.”

Jade looked puzzled. “What’s going on that I don’t know about?”

Socrates walked Jade through the drink he’d had with his father and the state of his investigation so far for her father.

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