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“Right this way,” said Cap as he ushered the Mayor and Patrick into his stand.
Cap’s took up a double plot on the south side of the block with a basic street fair set-up. Serving tables in the front and a portable griddle, fryer and refrigerator running off a generator in the back, next to the sidewalk. The staff was already busy serving the dozen or so folks waiting in line.
“Ant, Ant, come here.”
Antoinette Capogiana, or Ant as most everyone called her, was Cap’s only daughter. She stepped away from the front of the line where she was taking orders and walked over to her father.
“I want you to say hello to the Mayor. Mayor this is my daughter Ant.”
“Hi,” she said.
“Well, hi yourself little lady.” He offered her his hand. She could hardly get hers around his pudgy fingers and fat palm. “Ant? That’s your name?”
“It’s a nickname.”
“It’s because she can lift twice her weight and she eats like she’s got two stomachs - like an ant,” joked her father.
“Never gets old Dad, does it?”
“Ant is home from school for the first time in… I don’t even kn ow how long.”
“I was home for Christmas.”
“Yeah, but I mean home for more than just a couple of days.”
“That’s fantastic. This is Patrick, my new Deputy Mayor. I just stole him away from our neighbors down south.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Patrick as he reached out and shook Cap’s hand. “Hi,” he said, smiling at Ant.
“Now, what was that about a taste?”
“Right, right, of course. Nikki. Nikki come here.”
Nikki was Ant’s cousin. She had been living with them for the last few years. She walked over. Never once taking her eyes off the new Deputy Mayor.
“Nikki, bring the Mayor whatever he wants.”
“Sure,” said Nikki as she simultaneously flipped her hair, stuck out her chest and smiled at Patrick. “What would you like?”
“Oh, a cheesesteak, definitely.”
“Anything on it?”
“Of course! Let’s see…” Here the Mayor paused. He brought his fat hand to his chubby chin, furrowed his brow and appeared to really give it some deep thought. “Meat, a lot but not too much, and cheese…”
“We only have Cheez Whiz.”
“That’s fine. And onions. Make it “wit” onions, lots of onions.”
“Is that it?”
“Ketchup. I know! I know!” he said, waving his hand. “It’s not classic but I do love my ketchup.”
“Sure. That it?”
“Did I say extra cheese?”
“No you didn’t.”
