Radio Romance

Chapter 2: Record Scratch

       After lunch, Charlie took me on a tour around the hotel. She explained what jobs I would have and what I would need to do for each one. The main job I had was manning the check in desk. However, Charlie explained that I would be expected to cook dinner on occasion, which was a shared job everyone took turns on since we don't have a professional chef at the hotel. She asked if I would be okay with cooking dinner that night and I agreed.

      I looked through the kitchen at the groceries we had in the fridge and pantry. I found basic pots and pans and other cooking utensils, some boxed noodles, Parmesan cheese, canned tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, parsley, crackers, bread, carrots, chips, lettuce, and a few other food items. I decided to make pasta, or spaghetti, for dinner. I pulled out the ingredients and laid them out on the counter. I put the main pot on the stove after I filled it with water, then turned on the heat.

   While I waited for it to come to a boil I decided to look for something to use to put some music on. I remembered seeing a gramophone styled record player with a shelf of records in the dining room next door. I went in and flipped through the records till one caught my eye. It was one of the singles my mom would put on when she used to cook dinner.

She loved 1920's movies and music, especially jazz and swing music. I couldn't help but smile as I carefully pulled out the record, only touching the edges. I gently laid it on the turn table and moved the little lever so that the needle would touch the record. As it started to spin I twisted the volume knob still it was loud enough for me to hear in the kitchen.

I stayed and hummed to it for a second and sang along quietly knowing I still had a few more minutes before the water would be at a boil.

Oh, ain't she sweet?
Well, see her walking down that street
Yes, I ask you very confidentially
Ain't she sweet?

  I stood up and closed my eyes as I hummed and I headed for the door when suddenly...

    -thump-

   I hit something. I opened my eyes as I was taken aback. It was a chest....a mans chest dressed in a red tailcoat. My eyes trailed up to meet a pair of piercingly glowing red eyes behind a monocle. A large sharp toothy smile plastered across his face, he was oddly attractive but very intimidating. I took a few steps back, a bit startled. A radio crackling chuckle escaped his lips.

    "Hahaha apologies my dear, I couldn't help but hear your choice of music. Magnificent choice!" He said, his grin unwavering. I took a deep breath to calm myself and smiled.

    "Thanks heh..that's alright, just startled me a bit that's all. I'm (Y/N). Nice to meet you Mr.-?"

   "Alastor, pleasure to meet you dear. Charlie mentioned we had a new member of the hotel staff." He said, switching the hand his staff was held in. I nodded.

    "Yep, that's me. Just started this morning, I'm in charge of-..OH SHIT" I exclaimed booking it into the kitchen, the pot had almost boiled over but I caught it just in time. I sighed in relief.

    "So my dear, what's cooking?" I heard in a radio voice. I whipped around and there he was, right behind me. I didn't know if he teleported but man he's sneaky!

    "Pasta, will you be joining us sir?" I asked. His eye twitched a bit.

    "Please, call me Alastor. No need for formalities. And yes I will, if you're cooking, count me in!" He exclaimed. I blushed as I slipped the now buttered and garlic seasoned bread into the oven. I started on the sauce as the noodles in the other pot boiled.

    "Need a hand?" Alastor asked.

    "Sure, if you don't mind Al." I said. His grin widened at the word Al. And he took the fresh tomatoes and went right to work dicing them. I hummed to the music as it arose from the dining room once more. Al chuckled hearing it.

    "How endearing." He said to himself.

   "Hmm?" I said.

     "Hahaha oh nothing, I do believe your bread is done dear." He said.

    "Oh! Thanks Al!" I said pulling it out and setting it on the rack to cool.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     I mixed in a bit of red wine  with the sauce and once it finished cooking I switched the stove off, moved it over with the drained noodles and grabbed a ladle and some plates.

    "I'll go let everyone know dinner is ready." I said. Alastor chuckled"

    "Haha no need my dear. Allow me" he said. Before I could even lift a finger he vanished.

     I shrugged and went to set the table. I shut off the music and started laying out the plates and silverware. I grabbed wine glasses and water glasses and the bottle of wine I used in the sauce and poured a glass for each person and put one at each spot. When I went back to the kitchen to grab a serving utensil for the noodles I heard them all enter the dining room. I walked back in and Charlie smiled at me warmly.

   "Smells great, (Y/N)!" She said. I smiled at her compliment.

   "Thanks! Everyone take what you want, dig in I guess." I said grabbing my own plate and serving up some noodles with a generous topping of sauce. I grabbed a piece of garlic bread and took a seat at the table. Angel sat between me and Husker. Charlie sat with Vaggie across the table. Niffty sat beside Charlie, directly across from me.

    "Mind if I sit here (Y/N)?" Alastor asked standing by the head of the table which was an empty spot. I shook my head.

    "Nope not at all, you don't have dysentery do you?" I joked. He chuckled and shook his head as he sat beside me.

Everyone ate in silence for a bit. Then of all people, Husker piped up.

"You put booze in this?" He asked.

"Yeah, it was my moms recipe, she taught me how to use alcohol in certain dishes. The only ones I can remember though are this one and the rum cake." I smiled. Husker's frown softened.

"Hmmph...I like it. We should have ya cook more often kid." He said with a slight grumble. I felt myself light up a bit.

"Mhm, super yummy!" Niffty exclaimed. Everyone nodded and hummed in agreement.

"Thanks, glad you all like it."