Back to Basics Part 2

Chapter 225-1

Back to Basics

Part 2

 

The only good thing that happened that night was Eli and I had the best sex with our wives in a very long time. We are talking day since it was just us and no one else. It gave us exactly what we needed as we fell asleep with our wives in our arms. It was also the best night sleep that any of us have had in a very long time, as we cursed when the alarm clock went off telling it was time to start our day.

Tony said because of yesterday’s advents we would have honor guards around us until the threat was naturalized, and if principle Higgins didn’t like it, or our teachers. It was what it was. They weren’t the ones with a price on their heads or in danger of being kidnapped so Mr. Tate’s friends could take and use us for ransom.

I was ok with that being a slow a day, with a very light load. Like always I made sure I had all my homework ready too turn in for the day and got into the limo, handing Landan my bag with my clean uniform for work. Eli and Greg did likewise as Mom and Dad told us to have a good day. Landan was like our bus driver as he stopped at each of the cabins and trailers that each of my friends lived as our honor guard followed us from behind. We had a total of ten guards that would break up into pairs and follow us throughout the day, all them with walkies talky holster to their belts.

Today Jared and I were using our manual wheelchairs so all we had to do was fold them up once inside the classroom and sit at our desk. We were told to make it look good as we did most of the walking on our own, only used them as a crutch. The plan was by Monday we wouldn’t need them anymore. Tony and Jenny wouldn’t be using their disguise and would fade into our honor guards, leaving us to turn in their books and their homework.

Giving the excuses that Tony and Jenny had taken the GED and Tony has been hired as a Tec guy at some big computer company like Microsoft, and Jenny was busy moving them to be close to their new job. We knew it would work because students come and go all the time. I knew that from experience.

In truth they would be following Dad around as he visited with Mr. Tate, Stringum wanted to make a huge impression as they traveled by helicopter, as he picked Dad, Stringum and the High Bishop up at home from the private helicopter pad near our cabin. Then landed it out on the lawn near the seminary building so if Mr. Tate wanted to hand pick his new guys he could as they would be flown to the nearest private army base that housed most of our task force in training… or made it look like they were in training. Tony would be the one protecting the money so Mr. Tate could see that it was real and sign a contract with their agreement signed and notarized by the bank manager.

Our job was simple, go to school and keep our noses clean letting the grown-ups do whatever grown-ups do, then report to work right after school. Again we drove passed the properties where Kirk used to live. Noticing the brickwork was all up and now there was a two car garage on each of the homes. They didn’t have much of a yard in the front or the back as they were putting up a wood fence separating the yards.

There were large piles of isolation in bags and drywall and several spools electrical cable. We were told they were all ahead of scheduled and were just waiting for the inspector to go through each of the homes so they could start putting the homes back together. Every house had the same basic design a large basement and main house and upper floor. Bedrooms on each floor including the basement They really looked nice from the outside which was all we could see mostly except seeing nothing but frame and boards through the windows and the opened door.

Kirk and Darren were in awe on how big they were and how fast they went up. I asked him if had any regrets, knowing his mother and they had chosen to sell their brand new house instead of moving into it. He said using his fingers a little bit. Yet he liked the idea of moving in with me because no one could touch them, and he didn’t have to worry where his next meal was going to come from. Too boy’s like us that was the most important. We watched as the helicopters flew above us as they set down in the schoolyard. I saw Mr. Higgins and Mr. Tate shake their hands as they covered their heads to keep the wind blowing and ruining their nicely combed hair.

Our honor guard placed us in the middle watching the student clear a pathway for us as we quickly went to our lockers then divided themselves up as they followed each of us to our classes. It had been all over the news what had happened, which put us in the spotlight as the news described what had taken place. That 5 five of the most riches families were targeted and in attempts of the satanic church kidnapping us. The pictures of the two men that were responsible had been linked to the press. Telling people they are dangerous and to call the hot tip line if they know the whereabouts’ of the two men. 

Stringum wanted them to know and make them understand they we were watching them. Knowing the moment they saw their pictures all over the news and in the papers, they would either lay low or do something stupid and try it again. Our names were all over the news, well our fake ones were. Stringum had me call my grandmother in advance so she wouldn’t worry about me and she could get message to my mother, since I wasn’t allowed to contact her in any way, as we lied to her that everything was fine when it wasn’t and I was never in any real danger, when the truth was I was.

With it, all over the news we became instantly popular as swarms of student’s either talked about us or wanted our autograph because we were famous now that our names were mentioned on the news and in the papers. However, our pictures weren’t for obvious reasons. I knew if my father heard about it he would be angry because those men didn’t succeed in kidnapping me or killing me. My mother and my Grandmother, on the other hand, would be beside themselves if hadn’t called them before the news broke out.

Like I said it was a light day as the time quickly went by as another school day had come and gone as we were dropped off to go to work as promised even though the only reason we were working today so we could get off early on Friday for the school dance. Stringum said that there was no reason we should cancel our plans even though it was unlikely we would be spending this weekend at Mr. Tate’s estate.

Like him, everything went to hell in a hand-basket. Mack greeted us at the backdoor as he was just checking off the dairy delivery the boys gasped seeing the large order of milk products and plus another of can goods and fresh and frozen products as well as large meat order. He told the boys to hurry up and change because they had a very busy day. He didn’t apologize instead he put Eli in charge of the delivery and keeping the kitchen clean, and took Kirk, Greg, and Ricky.

Leaving Kirk's three friends with Martin and Eli, he had a long list of prep work for the other four. All he said was with the other housing project in full swing they needed more food to make up for it.  I saw Kirk's shoulder sags as he saw his list as he placed his knives that I had given him got right to work.

Mack put Greg and Ricky with his wife doubling as kitchen stewards to deep clean the kitchen and make salads when she was ready for them. Eli and Martin were in charge of putting the order away clean the storeroom and the big coolers, as well as the dishes and dining area. Yet because they had three extra helpers they put Randy, Mark, and Erik in the dish room and the dining area then Eli and Martin put the deliveries away letting Greg and Ricky help them until Mack’s wife was ready for them.

My duty was to finish the chili, and the cream soups, He wanted one clam chowder and one cheese and broccoli soup. Ten gallons of each using both table top kettles. Which would require me to make them both taste the same; it seemed like pure torture and he knew it, he was just trying to find out if I could follow a recipe and duplicates it.

Yet he also had two more surprises today. He wanted me to cook 10 large roast-beefs that would be used, for french dip sandwiches tomorrow for lunch tomorrow; not only for our new housing project but for the big working crew here. The chili was for tonight for the main crew here building the cabins. 

The cream soups were for the housing development for tonight as the Bakery Chef was busy baking bread bowls like crazy for both of them, needing all the main ovens. I would be allowed space using the 4 ground ovens which double as stove tops and flat grills. I could cook 2 roasts per pan leaving me one oven I would have to share with Bakery Chef. I would have seasoned them monitored them every hour until they were finished cooking and separating the drippings into a pan so it can be used as dipping gravy called au-jus for the sandwiches and the meat after it was sliced in the morning and reheated.

They wanted something fast and easy, so tonight they could deep clean all the things they would do on Friday night, so we could all have the night off. Stringum was taking us all out to dinner and afterward dancing for those that wanted to go to the school dance and those that wanted to at the place he was taking us too.

Bishop Bradbury was sponsoring a church social next Tuesday night at church house by providing a steak dinner with all the trimmings and entertainment for losing the bet if the houses wouldn’t be built to the bare bones in two days. It was one house, but they did it by doing all five at the same time. His kitchen crew had also been invited because they helped with preparing the meals for those that worked on the houses. Stringum wanted to thank the crew for doing an awesome job providing three square meals to both crews.

Mack asked me what I was going to do first after he had given me duties after informing the second surprise, which was being in charge of the entire kitchen and its crew. I said, looking at my list said. “The chili, because it needs the time too cook and be ready in time for dinner; then the roasts than the soups.”

He said that was a good plan, I am not taking in consideration that ground stoves need to be hot and ready, and I could start my rue at the same time, and turn on the kittles as well. That by the time the ovens were ready I’d have my butter melted for my rue and my meat ready to go into the ovens. Then I wouldn’t be stressed about time, waiting for everything to heat up. I nodded and made mental note than did exactly that. He was right by the time I had started the chili to heat and boil and my ovens were hot waiting for me so I didn’t have to wait for anything.

He asked me as I started. If I had made my way around the kitchen checking to make sure everyone had something to do. Telling me that today I needed to learn delegation. He would help me if he needed to, but he had tons of paperwork to do in the office; with Chef Phillips in meetings, with his food distributors and doing payroll.

Reminding me that cooking was just one part of being a Chef. The other part was making sure the kitchen was running, or everything would come to a grinding stop and nothing would get done on time. He asked if I had gone over the complete menu for tonight with each station asking them if they had everything they needed and the correct counts.

I also needed to make sure that my dining room was actually being cleaned and the dish room wasn’t slacking even if he had put someone in charge. I still needed to make sure the job he was doing was actually being done. Not standing around with his hands in his pocket, unless I was the one that had to do his damn job for him. If that was the case everyone that I was responsible for would slack off and I would be the one responsible if nothing got done and screaming customers wanting to know why the food wasn’t ready, and why they sitting in a pig sty.

He handed me the menu for the day and said. “Rule number one. When you walk in the door for your shift you grab the menu, you look at the list of all things that needed to be done during your shift. Then you check to make sure you have the people to do it. Then make a battle plan to get it all done. Once you have done that you cook and you check everyone’s work making sure it's being done to your standards; if not you fix it then or be held accountable for sub-par work.

“Cooking is an art where most of the time you are waiting for things to cook. Where only requires a quick whisk, checking taste and temperature. If you have your team doing what they are supposed to be doing; it makes your life easier. They work for you, you don’t work for them. That is what a crew is for. One chief and everyone else are your Indians. You earn their respect by setting the tone that you trust them to do their jobs without you having to babysit them. It only takes one time for them disrespect you because you let them get away with it. Now get to work.”

I said, "yes chef " and he smiled as he watched me turn on all my equipment. Then made a quick tour around the kitchen making sure everything was being done. I asked Greg and Kirk to bring me the things I needed to set up my work station. Starting with roasting pans and the meat for them as well as chili meat I had cooked off yesterday and butter.

I told Greg I needed so many cans of canned tomatoes and sauce opened and ready. Asking them if they know how to use an industrial can opener made for number 10 cans. They both shook their heads no and I asked Chef Mack’s wife if she could have her prep cook show them. She nodded and I left her to it. And made my way over to Kirk making sure he was on top of his prep work.

Then went into the dish room and the dining area checking to make sure the restrooms were clean. I knocked on the door of the ladies before going in and announcing myself. I cringed when I saw that neither of them had been done and out paper towels and toilet paper.

I yelled for Martin as he came running I told him to make sure that these were done ASAP. He said. “Yes, Chef.” When he did I felt a little tingly inside, and little embarrassed because I hadn’t earned it. I gave him a nodded and told him to make sure his little dish room mice did it not for him because he was in charge of them and the dish room. Eli was in charge of making sure the delivery’s got put away and the kitchen remained clean at all times. Greg and Ricky were doubling as prep cooks and kitchen stewards. Where they would be using a knife, but doing the heavy labor.

Once I had checked with the bakery finding out they needed the sugar bin filled and the floor bin filled. I asked how soon I could use one rack for one of my roasting pans. I made my way back telling Eli what that bakery needed. Giving me nodded.

I was about to walkway when Chef Mack brought me back because neither the Bakery Chef, Eli, Greg, and Kirk or his wife gave me the respect I deserved. Once again I felt embarrassed about it because I wasn’t a Chef or Head Chef. I was a pre-cook wanting to be a Chef. But Chef Mack put me in charge of running the entire kitchen and everyone in the kitchen knew it.

He yelled at me and called me on the carpet asking me if I was going to allow them to treat me like a little brown mouse. He picked at my gray Chef Jacket said. “I don’t so see a little brown mouse. I see Chef I had put in charge to run my kitchen. Either make them respect you or get into that locker room and change your jacket to a lonely little brown mouse.”

I said “Yes Chef,” and cringed as I bullied my friends into giving me respect. Chef Mack leaned in and said. “I didn’t hear you?”

Eli quickly said. “Yes, Chef "to me louder and so did Kirk, Greg, and Ricky. Chef Mack didn’t leave my side as he waited for me to get my respect from the Bakery Chef including his wife. I felt lower than dirt when they did so because I still considered my self as a brown mouse.

Once I had gotten my respect I went back to my work preparing the roasts  using the spice rub I was told to use and put them in the oven and started my cream sauces, but because I made that one mistake of not getting my respect I was behind as my butter was setting by the kettle doing nothing. It was me that caused that problem, and it was me that had to wait. Chef Mack pulled me aside and asked how I felt now that I let them walk over me, and put me behind in my own work. I said. “Stupid and embarrassed because I hadn’t earned their respect.”

He said. “Good, maybe next time you won’t let them walk over you, which is why you work in their shoes first. They know you have done their job many times to the point you could step in and do it without them. You worked in the dish room most of your life, you worked hard doing vegetable prep and can use a knife with skills that had taken you time to learn them.

“You worked as a kitchen steward and prep-cook. Each station you have learned how it works. Well except the Bakery which we cover next week, A Chef is well rounded in each of the areas. Like I said cooking is only part of it. The rest is being a leader and learning to delegate.

“You may think your still a little brown mouse, but ask yourself. Can Martin or any of those boys use a knife, make sauces, and prepare meat for 300 to 1000 people. I don’t think so, not until they have learned to do it. It doesn’t come overnight and you know that. It took years to learn how to use a knife, you went school and learned how to do it, you learned how to make each of sauces, and the soups, and how too cook meat. They haven’t and you have… earning the respect you worked hard for, which is why you make the big bucks.

“Which is why you must earn that white chef jacket, if I simply gave it to you when you haven’t proved yourself that your not a brown little mouse. The crew would walk all over you and they would have every right to do it. Now put on your big boy pants and do the job I have asked you to do. We eat in three hours. I think you can do it, Stringum thinks you can do it, and that man has a lot of respect for you. Even Chef Phillips believes you can do it. You just need to believe that you can do it too.

“It’s not easy to walk into a new kitchen anywhere in the world and say I am the Head Chef you now work for me, not the other way around. They should respect you believing that you had earned that job, if not you have no business of taking the job in the first place. Your friends are your friends when you are home and not working. They are not your friends when are here at work. There is a difference in responsibility that separates them from you.

“Trust me someday when one of your best friends come up to you ask you to give them a job. Then soon after you will have to make a choice when they don’t do their job, they are late all the time or they don’t show up when they are supposed too. Leaving you to do their work for them, as they apologize saying cover for me because we're friends. Your boss is breathing down your neck because you are now doing their job plus yours and nothing is getting done right.

“You will be asked to make a choice. Fire them or he will fire you because he didn’t hire you to do your friend's job, he hired you to do your job. It is a sad truth. I have fired my friends many times. Chef Phillips has also had to make that choice. Every leader I know has had to make that choice. Friends some times fail you when you are counting on them. It’s the same with family. I fired my wife three times, but she knows I love her, and it’s the same with my friends. I know you feel funny about asking them to respect you, but that soon goes away when you give them something to remind them why you’re the boss.”

Mack asked Eli and Greg to come over and they did so. He asked Kirk to come over as well. He said. “Can you boys tell me the basic steps and the ingredients on how to make a cream sauce?”

Eli said. “Milk and butter, salt and pepper,” Kirk and Greg said the same thing. Chef Mack asked me and I gave him the basic steps and the ingredients.

He said. “That’s why you’re the Chef; “You must know the steps and the basic ingredients by heart. Now then Kirk can you tell me what are the steps in putting an order away, and why?” Kirk was able to do some of the steps but didn’t know why they were done that way. He asked Greg and Eli to explain it.

Once they had he said. “That’s why they are kitchen stewards and you’re not Kirk. The only reason you are not is because you can handle a knife and they can’t.” Everyone must start at the bottom, and learn each of the stations so they can train someone to do that job so you won’t have to and get a promotion.

“It’s only fair that Nate here is earned the respect of one of my Chefs because he has the training and the skills needed to do the job. He is your boss when he is working; he can still be friends with you in the kitchen… but make no mistake that he is the boss because he has earned that position. Now get to work.” Everyone gave him a yes Chef and carried on with each of their tasks.