"Boss, we need more help if we can continue like this," Sam called from his piano. It had turned out to be the busiest night in a long time. At first he thought he would be out of a job when the German guard closed them down until further notice, but oddly enough a week later and they were open again. As it turned out, customers were in a frenzy to get back to their favorite club after a week of its absence.
"What's that, Sam? I can't hear you." Rick shouted back from his table by the bar. He was smiling, which meant he could hear his friend, but was occupied that grasped his interest until further notice.
Rick was holding Isla's letter with a fierce grip. His fingers traced each word she wrote, as if he could feel her through her writing. He was angry at her for writing to him, but at the same time grateful he had something tangible of hers to hold.
"Boss." Sam had left his post at the piano to confront Rick and finally get his attention.
Rick was unsurprised Sam came to him, and slowly looked up. "I agree it's gotten busier, but I don't know what you want me to do." Rick responded honestly. In fact, he cared more about the letter than his own club at the moment.
"Hire someone." Sam replied flatly. "I'm just one man on the piano; I need help now that my voice can barely be heard over all the people in here." He finished.
Rick sighed and nodded, registering that he had understood him. "Yeah, sorry about that." He scanned his club and noticed that business had almost doubled in the past week than it had over the past year. "I guess I'm more popular than I thought." He joked and Sam gave a deep chuckle in response.
"All I ask is for someone else to help me perform. I'm dying down there." Sam nearly shuddered as he glanced down at his piano, and there were people around it everywhere. It was like a feeding frenzy had exploded all around them.
"Another musician huh?" Rick asked, more to himself than to Sam. He couldn't help his thoughts trail to his song As Time Goes By. Abruptly though, he shook his head to get rid of the slow and tearful song out of his head.
"Yeah…that's right. Boss, you alright? You're acting a little strange." Sam put a hand on his shoulder to comfort Rick in some way, but he just gave a small smile.
"Very." Rick clapped his hands together and stood from his table. "Ok Sam, how about this, we hold auditions to hire someone for our club?" He suggested proudly. This may distract him from Isla, and the fact that he even wrote her back. She cannot know where I am…or that I'm still here or she may come back, his conscious reminded him sternly.
"Excellent!" Sam cheered. "Someone with an amazing voice and talent!"
"I'll post an announcement tonight, and we can start tomorrow. Tomorrow's Saturday isn't it? Then by Monday we'll have someone to help you out. How's that my old friend?" Rick put a strong arm around Sam and he could see a glimmer in his eye.
"Perfect! Thanks, boss." Sam thanked him appreciatively, and looked at his piano. "Well, I had better get down there." Sam gave a small wave and walked over to his post to continue the night's entertainment.
A new entertainer…Rick thought. That ought to be interesting. He slowly climbed the stairs to return to his office to make a new flyer for auditions. He thought what the requirements should be. Hm…they should be able to sing well with Sam…be able to work late. Hell, if they're good then it doesn't matter.
He wrote on a large piece of paper with black marker and went to the stop of the stairs to make the announcement. "Ladies and gentleman," he boomed loudly from above. Immediately, all of his guests stopped what they were doing at once to look at the man behind the club. He cleared his throat, and then continued. "Since this beautiful club is getting busier by the night, we are looking for one more entertainer to help us out."
As soon as he finished, loud shouting, cheering, and talking erupted all over the room. People yelled up to him to pick them, and that they would simply die for an opportunity like this one. Some tried to fight their way to the front to get Rick's attention.
He silenced them as best as they could so he could finish his big announcement. "Ok, ok, calm down for two minutes." He waited for them to settle down again. "Thank you. So tomorrow at eight am if you think you have what it takes to work here, come on down to show us your best. You can sing, bring an instrument, whatever. If we happen to choose you, details of the job will come later. See you tomorrow." He winked and tossed the flier down to the crowd below.
They all grabbed for it and chatted excitedly about auditions tomorrow. Rick retreated back to his office to drown out some of the hollering, and stared down at the letter once more. If only you would arrive tomorrow at 8, Isla. If only…