Chapter 21: BBQ Party

It was another night of counting tips until my hands cramped.

Bruce clutched the 10 dollar bills in his hand and declared, "I'm going to buy a new car."

Meanwhile, Martin flipped over the tip box, letting the 1-dollar and 2-dollar bills pile up like a miniature mountain. As he counted the coins, he remarked casually, "Aren't sophisticated folks supposed to buy autographed photos?"

Bruce reminded him pointedly, "You still owe me a bunch of autographed photos!" Then he inquired, "How long can we sustain this level of income?"

After finishing the count, Martin bundled a stack of U.S. dollars with a rubber band and responded, "Tip income can be unpredictable, relying on customer flow."

Bruce probed further, "Can you keep up a strong customer flow for an extended period?"

Martin playfully altered the subject, quipping, "Hey, do you think of me as a deity?"

Bruce retorted, "Well, gods are typically elderly. Are you sure you want to be a god?"

Martin laughed, "Never mind, I'll stick to the mortal life." He organized the stacks of money, placing them in his bag and checking his gun bag, prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

Bruce also donned his coat, and the two headed home together.

As Martin settled into his car, he shouted to Bruce, "Don't forget about the party tomorrow afternoon!"

Bruce waved his acknowledgment, started the car, and drove off.

Martin's Ford remained parked, and he sat inside, tossing a piece of gum into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

Regarding Bruce's query about sustaining their income, he did have some ideas.

However, with the increasing customer flow, boss Vincent seemed content and less eager. Even if Martin proposed something, the returns might not be substantial.

Patience was required, and Martin had to be strategic when it came to "trimming the boss's hedges."

The next morning, Martin visited the Marietta Theater Company to make an appearance in front of the leader, Jerome. He casually asked Jerome, who took pride in his acting prowess, a few questions about acting techniques. This boosted Jerome's confidence in coaching newcomers, although it wasn't his primary focus.

"Captain, I can handle basic life issues," Martin assured the creditor, emphasizing that he intended to repay his outstanding debts promptly.

Jerome, who had lent Martin $200 over a year ago without mention of repayment, appreciated Martin's commitment. He said, "Next week, I'll keep my phone on, and I'll reach out to another theater production affiliated with Gray Company."

Martin responded, "Feel free to call me anytime."

Leaving Jerome's place, Martin grabbed a copy of Entertainment Weekly he had finished reading.

Back at home, Martin purchased fresh fruits and vegetables from the supermarket in preparation for the afternoon party.

The four Carter siblings pitched in to help set up the barbecue grill, and they stocked cheap beer, whiskey, and rum on the table. Elena prepared a large bowl of vegetable salad, while Lily and Hall leveled the ground in the backyard. Harris, hanging onto a speaker, was ready to be the DJ, playing music for the dance floor that Martin had designated.

Elena, concerned about attracting the attention of the Atlanta Police Department during the daytime, had asked the neighbors about the party beforehand.

Since Martin worked at the Beast House in the evenings, the party began at 2:30 in the afternoon. Monica brought over a dozen young girls from nearby communities, most of them from modest backgrounds. A few of Harris's tutoring students also attended.

The crowd was lively and noisy, and after a while, Lily and Hall joined others elsewhere.

Martin inquired, "How did you manage to invite them?"

Harris explained, "Customers. When they're happy with my tutoring, they keep hiring me, and they introduce me to new students. I charge by the hour, so I can make quite a bit of money."

Bruce, Ivan, Golden Retriever, Hart, and others arrived, each bringing some sort of gift. Ivan wasted no time and immediately started dancing energetically.

Before Bruce could say a word, he was pulled away by Monica.

Martin turned on the stereo, and as the music filled the air, drinks flowed freely among the guests. Alcohol set the mood, and the handsome guys and attractive girls danced with enthusiasm.

With so many people, the ground seemed to shake from their synchronized footsteps, and the backyard soil bore the brunt of the party.

A simple gathering could indeed turn into an exciting event.

Martin enjoyed a few drinks, danced with the crowd, and occasionally manned the grill. He had experience with outdoor self-service barbecues and had no trouble handling the cooking.

Elena, after having fun for a while, offered to help Martin with the grilling.

After the first batch of food was ready, Harris, with Hall in tow, distributed some to Harris's students.

There were many guests and not enough grills, so the barbecue process was a bit slow.

Hart teased, "Martin, you're too slow, and we're starving!"

Martin gestured toward the long table and replied, "Feel free to enjoy the beer as much as you like."

Elena chimed in, "You overestimated your grilling speed; there's not enough food."

Martin decided, "Call Rosario Grill and have them deliver some food as soon as possible."

Elena nodded and made the call.

Bruce, having extricated himself from Monica's company, joined Martin at the grill. He remarked, "You're pretty good at this barbecuing stuff. I half-expected you'd poison us."

Martin flipped the skewers of meat and replied, "Bruce , let me tell you the truth; I'm the most versatile person in Atlanta."

Bruce teased, "Yes, you're number one at boasting. Forget Atlanta; there are people across the whole state who can brag better than you."

Martin added more charcoal to the grill. "And I'm great at grilling sophisticated people too."

While Elena was on the phone, she came over and suggested, "How about we try making some cocktails?"

Martin agreed, "Sure, let them be the taste-testers."

Elena called Monica, and together they brought over various spirits, ice cubes, and mixers.

The party guests became guinea pigs for Elena's cocktails. Despite being newcomers to bartending, they all enjoyed the experimentation. The partygoers who had drunk too much left as the evening progressed, like Monica, who took Bruce with her.

By around 6 o'clock in the evening, the party was winding down. Many had overindulged, leaving the backyard in disarray.

Martin drove Elena to the club and said, "I'll take you out for some fun." He then turned to the two minors and the disabled child and instructed, "You guys clean up this mess. I'll be back, and if I find any garbage left, I'll dig a hole and bury you in it. Trust me, I can do it!"