The Blessing by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow

Author:Kacy Barnett-Gramckow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gram-Co-Ink
Published: 2020-10-29T16:00:00+00:00

HARRY SHIVERED, TUGGING his winter coat closer as he wove his way through the crowd on the icy, snow-packed sidewalk. At least the walk from his chilly rented room to The Pearl for his evening’s work got his blood flowing and lifted his gloomy mood. Cold as he was, he had to appreciate the frigid weather. As the weather warmed, the city’s stench would waft higher than the loftiest new buildings, and he didn’t want to think about playing music in a hot, crowded restaurant.

It was almost enough to make a man regret the coming spring.

He stepped inside the restaurant, wiped his boots on the mat and headed straight for the stoves in the back kitchen to warm up. In the kitchen the head cook, Davy Wilkins—his black knit cap clinging to his silvering head—was dumping chopped onions into a kettle large enough to hold the East River. Harry pinched his nose. “What’re you killing tonight, Davy?”

“Keep your mouth shut and it won’t be you,” Davy answered, but he grinned as he reached for a mountain of potatoes. “Here you are working at The Pearl and you haven’t yet tasted our famous oyster stew.”

“Give me the pearls, keep the oysters,” Harry quipped. He leaned against the stove, looked around, and grinned at Milly Benjamin, The Pearl’s prettiest kitchen worker, seated with three other girls in the corner, all four tasked with cleaning shellfish for most of the evening. What a shame that such a fine girl as Milly was forced to shuck oysters and listen to Davy all evening. But she seemed to enjoy the work. Seeing Harry, Milly smiled, showing dimples in her pink cheeks and laugh-lines around her warm brown eyes.

Her voice almost musical, she called to him, “Harry, wait. Look at what we found in this morning’s paper. Davy wasn’t about to tell you.” Milly slipped her blade into the bowl in her lap, tugged off one of her gloves, reached into her apron’s pocket and fished out a newspaper clipping. “You’re getting to be almost as famous as our stew.”

She handed him the clipping and then donned her glove and picked up her knife again. Harry eyed the small article’s headline and grinned. “A gem discovered at The Pearl.” He whistled between his teeth. “I like this fella’s writing already.”

Davy groused as he poured broth into his kettle, “Shut up and read. Some of us are working here.”

The Pearl restaurant, noted for its excellent food, now offers another reason for its discerning patrons to stop in more often to enjoy its warming meals and lively atmosphere. Accomplished pianist Harry Somerville has been bringing in crowds with his energetic renditions of musical favorites both old and new to be savored by diners as they enjoy The Pearl’s rightfully acclaimed oyster stew, seafood dishes, and fresh-baked desserts.

Mr. Somerville’s masterful interpretations of Sousa, Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as the classics, are not to be missed. This writer recommends you give The Pearl a try.

Heat flooded Harry’s face. When was the last time he’d blushed? His family would be laughing at him while they celebrated.

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