Free Meal

Tuesday

Chicken cordon bleu

Loaded baked potato

Watermelon Feta salad with mint

Lemon Mousse

“The coroner should be here any time now for Ms. Jane,” says Maria, as she spears a cubed piece of watermelon with her fork.

“Oh, why can’t they wait until after lunch to come get her. She’s already been dead a while now,” Jen volunteers around the chicken cordon bleu in her mouth.

Maria rolls her eyes at Jen’s lack of table manners. They were the housekeepers at Vista Knoll Manor Estates, “an upscale community for the active senior”. The last stop. They’ve worked together for over three years, and though they come from different backgrounds, they complement each other well.

“I’m just glad Ms. Jane is in no more pain, chica. You know? Stomach cancer.” Maria quickly crosses herself.

“They always go through a lot of linen at the end, “Jen observes mournfully, and wipes her eyes.

Maria looks at her friend and co-worker. “Oh Jen, Ms. Jane is in a better place now. She is with God now. Don’t cry. You always cry.”

“I can’t help it! Doing their laundry and watching them  die. This job is so hard sometimes.”

“I know, Jen” Maria pats her friend’s hand, and they continue to eat in silence.

Wednesday

Meatloaf

Mac n Cheese

Tomato bisque

Cobb salad

Chocolate cake

“You’ve been quiet all day,” says Maria as she pours Ranch dressing on her salad

“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry, Maria,” says Jen as she takes a sip of her lemon tea.

Maria stirs her Mac n Cheese around on her plate and looks at her friend. “What’s wrong with you, chica?”

“I didn’t sleep good last night. My hands are hurting, couldn’t get comfortable,” She pauses, puts her head down, “Lance and I are having problems, again. I think he is still seeing her.”

Maria doesn’t say anything, but notices Jen only eats the cake.

Thursday

Honey glazed salmon

Buttery asparagus

Corn chowder

Cesar salad with homemade dressing

Strawberry sorbet

Jen called in sick. Maria ate alone in the break room, thinking Jen would have loved the salmon.

Friday

BBQ chicken

Rice pilaf

Chicken noodle

Chef salad

Brownies

“I heard the director on the phone while I was clocking out for lunch. She might be taking a new job at a different facility up north. I wonder if that has anything to do with that rumor, we heard about her and the maintenance manager. I believe it, Maria. I saw the way she looked at him” Jen laughs as she tears chicken meat from the bone.

Maria laughs, but turns serious as she asks “Did you hear what Ms. Carol’s daughter said? She is so rude, chica, like we were standing right there. We don’t get paid enough for that. Maybe our new director will give us a raise.”

They both laugh at the unlikeliness.

Saturday

Cheeseburgers

Tater tots

Vegetable soup

Orange jello

“I thought they were going to start giving us Saturdays off,” muses Jen as she squirts ketchup on her tots.

“Yeah, right, chica,” She scoops some corn up in a spoon, and says, “They’re too cheap to hire part time help for us.”

Sunday Brunch

Ham Cheese & Spinach Puffs

     Or

French Toast Casserole

Seasonal fruit

“I have to take the kids to the mall after work,” Maria pokes at her puff.

“That sucks,” Jen takes a drink of her orange juice.

They eat in silence, too tired to talk.

Monday

Tuna Melt

French fries

Gumbo

Pea salad

Cookies

“I didn’t expect the director to resign like that. I knew that rumor was true. I heard the maintenance director put his 2-week notice. I swear, it’s like a soap opera around here”, Jen tells Maria as she takes a bite from her tuna melt. “This tuna melt is decent”.

“That’s so nasty.”

“What is?” Jen stops chewing,

“The maintenance director is married, and this pea salad is too runny.”  

Tuesday

Taco bar with all the fixings

Spanish rice

Chicken tortilla soup

Flan

“I hate when the owners and bank people show up,” complains Maria as she rearranges her avocado slices on her taco.

“I hate that we have to wear our name tags when they are here. I mean, everyone knows us,” Jen, frowning and splooshes her horchata around to mix it up.

“I don’t think it is a coincidence they’re here right after the director quits,” speculates Maria, dabbing the corners of her mouth.

Wednesday

Stuffed cabbage

Tomato bisque

Neapolitan ice cream

Maria and Jen has a day off. Maria sleeps while her kids are at school. Jen fights with Lance. They both wonder what’s happening at work.

Thursday

Resident Appreciation Pizza Party!

Romero’s Gelato ice cream truck

The housekeepers are allowed to eat lunch with the residence and receive free gelato from management with a paid hour lunch.

Friday

Teriyaki beef stir fry

  With jasmine rice

Mango pudding

“I can’t believe the director embezzled that much money! I mean, I believe it, but wow! Her and her married lover. I feel like I’m in a bad movie,” Jen gushes in between shoveling bites of stir fry into her mouth. “I love Raymond’s stir fry. I wonder if he marinates the meat overnight. I’ll have to ask him next week.”

“I know, chica. It was weird seeing the detectives take all those files and stuff. The residents can’t stop talking about it either. They are talking about bringing in their own lawyers and accountants. Their kids are talking about moving them out. I don’t blame them. This is crazy. I can’t believe she’d do that to them.”

“Yeah, me either. It’s sad. This is bigger than the time Suzette and Tom ran off and eloped against their kids’ wishes. Remember that?” Jen reaches for the mango pudding “Or that time the police brought Martin and Harold back. Drunken disorderly conduct at their age. Never a dull moment around here, huh?”

Saturday

Spaghetti with Meatballs

Cesar salad

Minestrone soup

Ice cream buffet

Jen unwraps her bologna and cheese sandwich. Maria reheats last night’s leftovers in the microwave.

“I don’t understand how they can take our free lunch away. How does that save them money?” Jen asks as she peels the crust off the bread.

“I don’t understand budget cuts and bankruptcies, chica. But maybe it’s time to look for another job.”