May The Best Man Win (Part Two)

Today didn't get off to the best of starts. I was on the early shift, which is always a bad start anyway. I'm not really a morning person, so for annoying customers to be out and about at that time isn't what I want. I won't bore you with the details, but we have two types of trolleys. Small and large. Genius, isn't it? So when all the small trolleys got sent away yesterday to be cleaned, there was outrage. Most of the elders prefer a smaller trolley. They don't eat that much and can't push that much. But all I got today was something like this...

'Excuse me.'

'Yes?'

'Do you have any small trolleys?'

'No, they've all gone to be cleaned...'

'Oh...'

Cue the lost face of devastation.

'Oh, well, I’ll just get a big trolley. It won't kill me, will it?'

They waddle off with a chuckle and I walk away thinking sometimes I wish it would.

My mind was on other things, to be fair. Yesterday, Alex told Steve and I that he's choosing his best man. Suddenly I felt like I was waiting for some kind results. Playing the waiting game. My mind was flipping from 'Hey, relax. It's no big deal. It's being a best man.' to 'It's being a best man! You get to make a speech with a suit on. When are you going to have that opportunity again?' There was occasional doubt in my mind, but I can't speak for Steve.

'Bought my suit already.' He said smugly.

'Nice.'

'He'll have to make me the best man now.'

'Why?'

'Because I've bought a suit.'

'So?'

'A fancy one.'

Shit. He's bought a fancy suit. If Alex finds out he's bought a fancy suit I'm done for.

'How fancy?'

'It's grey.'

Not that fancy.

'Bit of a tail on it.'

Shit.

'Has it got a little bit of hanky stuff in the top pocket?' I asked.

Steve grinned.

'What do you think?'

'Shit.'

This was still not over. It was common knowledge that I got on with Alex more than Steve. Fran liked me, something that Steve can't say. I know that Alex's favourite sandwich is jam, his favourite colour is blue but sometimes green, depending on the seasons. And that he only buys wallets that have that little spare change flap in them. I now regret telling Steve all that because he just called me a gay boy.

I went for my breakfast at ten, brilliantly timed to when Alex was clocking in, so I met him at the bottom of the stairs.

'Alex.'

'Morning.'

'Alex. Alex. Alex.'

I was trying to be casual. Breezy. Friendly. I just sounded drunk.

'How are you doing, bro?'

'Bro?'

'Brother. Mate.'

'Oh, OK. Bit tired.'

'Yeah...'

My eyes were wide and I seemed to be nodding quite frantically. Now I sounded drunk and looked like I was on drugs.

'How's is it outside?' He asked, bleeping his card against the machine on the wall.

'Yeah, sound. Super sound!' I almost shouted, aiming the double thumbs at him.

When was the last time I gave a thumbs up to anyone? I can't remember. I was getting desperate.

'Listen, if Steve mentions anything about a suit, just ignore him.'

'A suit?'

'Yeah, says it's fancy.'

'Is it grey?'

Shit.

'It might be.'

I sat at the table closest to the window, peering down at the car park, anxiously ripping bread off my sausage sandwich. They were chatting, but from a distance it just looked like idle chit-chat. The weather, probably, or the latest XBOX game. Why can't I be interested in games like Alex? Then we could chat about them. I played five minutes of one of those war games, where you shoot everything you see. I got terrified and ended up facing the wrong way in a trench, throwing grenades at myself. The sausage sandwich was soon necked and I was back on the car park.

'That was quick, Dylan.'

'Wasn't hungry. So, what are we talking about?' I asked, slapping my hands together.

'Cod.'

Shit. I don't know my fish.

'It's a great game.' Alex added.

Hang on...cod...ah...Call Of Duty.

'Yeah, it's brilliant.' I smiled.

'Didn't know you played that stuff, Dylan?'

'Me? Oh yeah, love it. Guns and that...'

I thought I was doing OK, even though Steve and Alex were looking at me funny, so swiftly changed the subject.

'Anyway, Alex. You picked a best man yet?'

'Certainly have.' He grinned.

Me and Steve looked at each other. I looked at Steve as if Alex had already asked him, and Steve looked at me as if Alex had asked me.

'Have you...told him?' I asked.

'Yeah.'

Shit. Shitting shit shitter.

'Shit.' Steve spat at us.

'What?' Alex asked him.

'I told you I've bought a suit and everything! It's fancy, really really fancy.'

'Oh...sorry.'

Had Alex already asked me? I've been so nervous and tense I could have forgotten.

'I'm still going for Jake.'

Jake? Jake? Who the hell is Jake?'

'Jake?' Steve and I asked in unison.

'Yeah, he's my friend from college.'

'A friend?' I asked.

'From college?' Steve asked.

'Yeah.' Alex shrugged.

'Has he got a fancy suit?'

'No. But he's getting one.'

'Oh, Jake's getting one, is he?'

I'd be happy for this Jake person, but I got this couple together, surely that's more substantial than a

two year friendship and common room college bollocks.

'Does he know your favourite sandwich?' I asked.

'I'm sorry?'

'Or colour? Or even the wallet thing?'

'The...wallet thing?'

'Yeah, with the little flap thing...with the...oh forget it!'

I stormed off. Steve followed me, shouting about his fancy suit. I guess the best man won, a skinny little student called Jake. Well done Jake.