Night 60: Tequila, Shaved Ice
The Late Night Diner is a part of Rhodes Island's canteen. That goes without saying – to whom had anyone ever heard of a diner in the boiler room?
As the name implies, it opens around midnight. There are only a handful of customers at a time.
Operators off their night shift could take an order and bring back to their quarters. Night owls could sit dining-in while leeching off the Diner's wi-fi. The Doctor would come for instant noodles from time to time.
Drinks are in the cooler. Anyone burdened by their own thoughts could take one and chug it down, anytime.
Menu? No such thing exists. What the Chef prepares is what you get. It all depends on his mood of the day.
Welcome to the Rhodes Island Late Night Diner. In here, you might even meet a familiar face or two.
"Look here, now I shall put the card back into the deck under your full supervision. I have no idea which one you chose..." Ernesto, or operator Tequila, shuffled the poker deck in his hand a few times, then worked gracefully at it with his fingers fluttering like butterflies. The cards turned and switched in-between his fingers, decorated backsides and white faces danced interchanging, till all cards were fanned out on the table and facing backwards towards the viewer - except one. Tequila pushed the singled card out, and smirked to his bewildered viewer - his friend. "This one right? How about it?"
"Ernesto! My good man, how did you do it? Please teach me!" His companion, in excitement, grabbed his hands and checked up and down. "The girls in Medical will be all over it! Quickly now, tell me what kind of Arts you used? Or you had some kind of hidden camera in your palm?"
Tequila gathered the cards and put them back into his pocket. He pointed to the sign at the front counter. "Easy. A simple bowl of fruit shaved ice, and I'll teach you all about the trick."
Shaved ice bowl was among the new items introduced by the Chef to quell the heat for the operators. For this, he had installed a large freezer just to store chunks of ice. Those with good appetite and good teeth would usually order a large bowl with all kinds of fresh fruit and condensed milk. While ladies who liked to watch their sugar intake would often order a small serving with low-carb grapefruit, and crunch the ice shavings along with the sour juice and pulp.
Meanwhile the Chef had been wrestling with the ice shaving machine the whole night. Ever since the summer came, there were less and less operators came for barbeque, soup noodles or sandwiches. Everyone's preference had quickly shifted towards cold treats that didn't sell for much yet took quite some effort to make - things like iced fruit yogurt or shaved ice bowls. The machine provided by Closure was unreliable as usual. With a push of a button it buzzed and wailed like an old burdenbeast with a broken leg, loud enough for the entire canteen to hear. This mixed with the ice sprinkles flew out of the cover created a mess in the kitchen. The walls were always dripping wet. It was wise for the Chef to add a cover for the plug over the wall socket. Otherwise the power system of the land ship would have been shorted quite a few times over for a simple bowl of shaved ice.
Crystal clear ice shavings filled up a large bowl. The Chef placed on top chunks of chopped mango, kiwi, banana, strawberries and cherries, then covered it with more shaved ice till a small mound formed. The fruit pieces shined through the ice, creating a kaleidoscope of colors on the surface. The Chef poured thick cherry syrup on the top of the mound, then placed a single small peppermint leaf atop, and a bowl of rose red shaved ice was made. He placed it before Tequila, and just as the latter was about to dig in with his spoon, a soft, tender voice called from behind.
"Big brother!"
Tequila turned in a sudden. He saw a young girl stood by his chair. The smirk on his face froze for an instant, then slowly shifted into a kind and caring smile. "Rafaela? It's late. Why are you here? Hungry? How about a sandwich?"
"It was so hot in my room." La Pluma stomped her foot. "I want shaved ice."
"It's bad for your stomach to eat shaved ice this late. Do you want fruit yogurt?" Tequila turned his chair around, and gently placed his hand on his sister's arm. "Here. My card. Choose whatever fruit you like."
"No." La Pluma shook her head hard. "I want shaved ice. With chocolate. Nothing else."
Tequila looked rather awkward. He scratched the back of his head. An embarrassing smile crept upon his face as his eyes darted between his sister and his friend. "Be a dear, Rafaela." He said sternly, though there was not a single stern expression on his face. "It's too late in the evening. Let's get shaved ice tomorrow afternoon together, ok?"
His sister pouted, then turned around with hands behind her back. She stood stiff like a board, and dragged her voice. "Nuh-uh!"
"Please, Rafaela, please behave." Tequila was at a loss. He rarely was. "You are making a scene." Yet La Pluma didn't care for his brother's plea. She stood still like a pole. Though as far as others concerned, it was simply a small dispute between two siblings. Yet most would always blame the older brother who incurred the anger of the lovely little sister.
"You can have mine, Rafaela. It's cherry, with lots of fruit." Tequila had felt the gaze of crowd on him. He stood up then sat down, tried to speak yet could not find the right words. Finally he took his bowl and presented it before his sister. "I haven't had a single bite yet. You can have it all, alright?"
Even so, La Pluma was not convinced. Tequila cast a pleading eye towards his friend on the other side of the table. His friend, in turn, pointed towards the pouting girl, and mouthed.
"DO. IT. FOR. HER!"
Tequila shrugged with resignation. He hesitated with a frown for quite a while, till after some convincing from his friend, he finally sighed and waved to the Chef. "Ey Boss, large shaved ice, with mixed nuts and chocolate sauce. Thanks!"
The shaved ice bowl with dark brown chocolate sauce was quickly placed on the table. It was covered in grounded mixed nuts. There was also a chocolate finger biscuit on top. Tequila stood up, cupped the bowl in his hand, and keeled down before his sister. "Oh my lovely Rafaela, please accept this bowl of chocolate shaved ice with nuts. Your brother sincerely wishes that you are no longer mad at him. Here you go~"
La Pluma's eyes jumped between the shaved ice and his brother's smiling face. A few seconds later her icy expression finally melted down. She took the bowl from Tequila's hands, and muttered. "You idiot!..."
"Alright alright, stop pouting now." Tequila dug a spoonful of shaved ice from his bowl and passed it to her mouth. "You always do this when you want me to treat you with shaved ice. Looks like it still works."
La Pluma opened her mouth and caught the spoon. The fruity ice flakes crunched in her mouth. Many years ago, when they still lived in Bolivia, shaved ice was a rare treat. Back then Ernesto would buy her a small bowl of shaved ice with allowances he saved up for nearly a month. There would only be a few chunks of roasted almonds, and only a sprinkle of chocolate sauce on top. Rafeala would give the first spoonful to Ernesto, then eat the rest with small bites. She would start with the almonds, and when the nuts were gone she would just hold the ice shavings in her mouth till they melted into chocolate-flavoured water. It was then she would swallow it.
Later they went to Dorssoles, and even later still they came to Rhodes Island. Shaved ice became cheaper than before, the two of them could buy a large bowl for each and exchange with each other. Yet Rafeala still missed the expensive small bowls with only a little dressing on them she had in the camps. She missed the feeling.
Explosions sounded just outside the residential area. The two sat atop the tall apartment, just at the edge of the topside. They watched as the smoke plums rose towards the clouds, with their little legs dangling, and icy treats inside their mouths. In the crystalline shards of the shaved ice, there was the smoke, the crimson sunset and fires of Bolivia.