Chapter 26 [Talon—After School Next Day]
Fresh off of another round of classes and coffee service, Lana wiped down the café's front counter purposefully. Business had buzzed between 3 and 6 on that afternoon leaving the staff and supplies little time to recover. Still the register had sang its frequent profit song much to the delight of certain bald investors everywhere.
Wow. What an afternoon! To think that we were almost put out of business by the Beanery a year ago! Her cloth swiped hard across the counter provided more sparkle on the varnished wood. Lex will be happy, I'm sure!
"Hey, Boss. Alicia Baker and Samantha Cooper wanted to talk to you. They're waiting in the corner booth," Miranda noted while motioning toward the aforementioned classmates.
"Hope everything's okay," Lana worried considering the million and one things that could happen with the fund raising plans. She set the cloth in a soapy pail and headed for the table in question. "Hi, Alicia and Samantha! How's it going? Get you anything else?"
"We're fine, Lana. Thanks!" Samantha assured her. "Got a minute?"
"Sure. Hopefully everything's okay for the fundraising?" the co-manager queried.
"Absolutely! Alicia's getting the shifts set up for our production here. Any word on Lex getting a movie?" Samantha indicated.
"Trust me, Lana. Other than the crowd going in and out, you'll never even know we're here," Alicia vowed. "We've already sold fifty tickets for the two shows and that's only on the first day! We'll advertise and get the word out somehow." She saw Reynolds enter the building and glancing around. "Look! There's Mr. Reynolds!"
The principal walked over to them. "Ladies, good evening. Pardon me but I have some good news."
"We're all ears," Lana agreed.
"Star Lanes will be available for you to host your bowling tournament. I just got off of the phone with their manager. He is quite agreeable," he noted.
"That's a relief!" Samantha expressed. "I'll call him for an appointment tomorrow afternoon. I just didn't want to drop in unannounced."
"That would be fine," he agreed. "Meantime I saw those tickets going on sale for the movie at the school box office. Very impressive indeed. Have you decided on a film yet?"
"Lex is looking into it, Mr. Reynolds. It depends upon what's available," Lana pointed out.
He frowned. "I'd check into it myself. Lex Luthor is not known for tastes other than his own."
"Now what kind of thing is that to say, Mr. Reynolds?"
Reynolds turned to see Lex leaning against a table about three feet in back of him. "Eavesdropping now, Lex?"
"When my name's the subject of discussion and the ears are burning, yeah I tend to do that," Lex retorted almost flippantly. He sauntered up to the quartet. "Don't worry. We have our movie. I had to go to the mattresses for it but I know Lana loves it."
Lana rolled her eyes. "Please don't let it be The Godfather. That movie should be banned from basic cable and won't step foot in this place."
Lex smirked. "It isn't, Lana. In fact, I was thinking of some fantasy and sci-fi to lighten things up and get people away from the duties of the real world. I managed to get the Lord of the Rings trilogy at a really great price. If you all don't mind, we can do an all day deal. People can see what they want of the three movies. We have food and bathroom breaks in between each film. It should be awesome. I'd say for fifteen dollars apiece, we can do that."
"We've already sold fifty tickets for seven apiece though, Mr. Luthor," Samantha informed him.
"So they got the better price because they jumped in early. If the theater's full, we still make money," Lex clarified. "Okay. I'll lower it to ten. Let's hope for a good crowd. Interested in coming, Mr. Reynolds?"
"I'll buy a ticket in support of your endeavor, Lex, but I'm not much of a science fiction fan I'm afraid." Reynolds stood. "I look forward to seeing what you accomplish next Saturday. Take care." He walked toward the counter.
"Wow. He's never satisfied, is he?" Alicia queried.
"Never at Excelsior and never here," Lex mused. ""Sorry I didn't let you all know sooner. I just closed the deal this afternoon." He glanced at the two girls. "I presume you're with the honor society? Lex Luthor."
"I'm Alicia Baker. She's Samantha Cooper. P…pleased," Alicia introduced them as they shook hands.
It's a pleasure," Samantha expressed. "Thanks for working with us."
"My pleasure," Lex indicated. "So what do you think?"
"Our classmates should like it," Samantha realized. "Three dollar markup shouldn't be that bad. I know! If they want to see more than one of the movies, they can pay the three dollars before the performance."
"I like how you think," Lex concurred while sipping on his coffee. "Meantime all that remains is to get the theater cleaned up."
"Clark and I are going to work on that," Lana indicated.
"Wow. You sure know how to motivate our resident farm boy, don't you?" the billionaire presumed. "All right, you get that. Maybe we should do some special that day. Meantime, Reynolds was right about the tournament. You all should get working on that. I'll see what I can do for a trophy for the winning team and all that." He stood up. "Great going, all of you. I look forward to the updates and the events themselves." With that he left.
"So that's Lex Luthor? Wow. He seems like such a great guy," Alicia presumed.
"He is. He wants to fit in. Hopefully we can hold up our end because he has. Samantha, let Clark and me know about the appointment time for the bowling. I have some other things related to next Saturday I have to figure out." Lana slid from the booth herself and stood up. "Have a great evening!" With that she rushed off toward the back and the waiting time clock.
"Everyone's like gangbusters. Let's hope we can do our thing too," Alicia hoped.
"It's like Lana said, if we all work together, we can," Samantha surmised while taking a deep breath and suppressing a nervous tremor.
As she did, a slight breeze whistled through the café for a minute lowering temperatures.
If we can deal with things that is! The honor society's president frowned anxiously and said a prayer to herself.