Ya, Sure

Valentina stood in the entrance to Palace Pizza. The breeze rippled her flower print dress. She brushed dark hair from her face. Awestruck, Dan’s and Seth’s mouths fell open. Patrick pointed at them, mocking, until he turned and saw her. He consciously suppressed the urge to approach her in adoration.

She entered, passed the order counter and walked directly to the juke box. There, she pulled a roll of quarters from her purse, deposited one into the slot and pressed C-14.

In a moment, the song, ‘Ya, Sure,’ began to play. A ballad of lost love, it had cheesy lyrics, greasy instrumentals and syrupy vocals.

The song was the sole release by the no-hit wonder, the Temperamental Swedes. It got moderate airplay when released a few years back. Not from Sweden, they intended to capitalize on the ‘Minneapolis sound’ after Prince’s rise to stardom. They hoped the Swedish connection would provide gravitas.

Dan, the manager, wrapped up his daily briefing. Everyone already knew his routine pep talk.

“Let’s make the best pizza our customers ever had. Everyone set?”

Pizza chef, Patrick, and Seth, the server/bar tender, nodded. From the back of the kitchen, Mauricio the dishwasher, stopped chopping onions, “All set! Bins of salad… chilling in the cooler.”

“Toppings are sliced, diced, chopped and spiced.” They chuckled at Patrick’s standard delivery.

Dan reached out and they joined hands team style.

He said, “It’s pizza time!”

In unison, the others roared, “Hoo-yahh!” broke their grip and moved to their stations. They’d been doing their team yell since serving together on the local Army base. After getting discharged, they pooled resources and opened Palace Pizza. The four of them worked, as always, a cohesive unit.

Several parties had already set up camp at long tables in the spacious dining room. Regulars, many from the base, often came twice weekly. Most knew the staff by name. When ‘Ya Sure’ began for a third time, several customers pounded on the tables.

Dan looked at Patrick. “Think it’s stuck…”

Valentina ordered a glass of water. She danced between the juke box, the bar and back.

Dan started the evening with a mix of Sinatra, Dean Martin and Billie Holiday. He was always willing to drop a few quarters in to juice the mood.  Oldies, standards, surf music and rock-a-billie filled out the selections. At a quarter per song, the music played all night.

Valentina co-opted him. Her favorite, ‘Ya, Sure,’ finished and immediately began again.

“You said you’d always love me.

               Ya, sure. Ya, sure…

You’d never stomp on my heart.

               Ya, sure. Ya, sure…

Be together forever

               Ya, sure…

Said we’d never be apart.

               Yaaa, sure…

Yaaa sure. You only told me lies.

What goes on behind those lyin’ eyes?

               Ya sure…

But it was all just a joke.

Ya, sure. Ya sure…

Didn’t care a bit for me.

Ya, sure. Ya sure…

Took away my dignity,

               Ya, sure…

Would you kindly set me free?

               Yaaa, sure…”

Red checkered cloths covered each table. Framed posters of Venice gondolas and opera stars set the mood.

Palace Pizza’s most popular pizza was the ‘Coliseum.’ A single Coliseum fed a large party. It took two people to deliver one to the table. A sign stated, ‘For the ultimate Coliseum experience, kindly give the staff 24 hours’ notice.’

The evening started with three advance orders for Coliseums. The guys were busy.

In her own world, Valentina stood by the machine and swayed to the gentle rhythms of ‘Ya, Sure.’ Customers greeted its final chords with a smattering of applause. Valentina inserted another quarter and pushed C-14. Groans arose when it played again.

Patrick shoved a pizza into the oven and set the timer. Hearing the song repeat, he shook his head.

He asked Dan, “Is the jukebox stuck?”

“No. It’s her…”

Dan indicated Valentina.

“Hmmmm…” Patrick moved toward her. “I’ll talk to her.” Dan took his arm.

Patrick said, “It has to stop. She’s killing business…”

“Tend the kitchen. I’ll handle it.”     

More customers came to the counter.

Dan held his hand up to Patrick. “I’ll take this first.”         

The song ended and began again. After a brief discussion, the customers cancelled their order and left.

Seth joined them. “Did she rob a gumball machine?”

Patrick said, “She brought a roll of quarters.”

“Are you kidding?”

Dan rejoined them. “At least she’s spending money. What did she order?”

“Nothing. Water.”

Dan said, “Oh, no…“

Dan took another order. When they heard ‘Ya Sure’ repeat again, they changed their order to go.

He approached Valentina. She slipped a quarter into the slot and pushed C-14 before he could stop her. The unmistakable strains of ‘Ya, Sure,’ began again.

Customers started packing up to leave.

He confronted Valentina. “Miss… What are you doing?”

She held a quarter up and placed it in the slot. Again, she pushed C-14 before he could intervene.

“You have to stop.”

Smiling, Valentina swayed to the music.

“This is a restaurant. A place of business. You need to spend money… can’t hang out.”

She held up another quarter. Dan blocked her from depositing it.

“You’re driving customers away. And… Dancing isn’t legal here. I’ll call the police.”

Valentina shrugged. As he dialed his phone, she put another quarter into the slot.

He retreated to the kitchen where he found Seth singing and moving to the song.

Dan said, “Great voice, Seth. But it’s not ‘Yeah, sure.’ It’s, ‘Yah, sure.’”

He stopped. “I didn’t know you spoke Swedish.”

“I don’t. Open your ears.”

Nodding to the song, Seth listened for a moment and resumed singing.

Dan said, “She’s lonely. No mystery there. I could recommend a good therapist.”

Seth said, “I’m more her type than you.”

“Right. You’re who she needs. She’ll be here every night.”

Patrick offered, “She’s beautiful. But her taste…”

Seth said, “Such a passionate people…”

Dan asked, “Who?”

“The Swedes.”

Timed with the song, Patrick and Dan sang, “Ya, sure.”

They surveyed the empty dining room.

Dan said, “This is our rush. Where is everyone?”

Patrick said, “Allow me.”

He walked up to Valentina. He held up a quarter.

“Do you mind? I’ve wanted to hear a song all night.”

She stepped aside. ‘Ya, Sure’ ended. Patrick deposited the coin and pushed buttons at random.

He said, “You ever get a song stuck in your head and no matter what you do…?”

“Ear worms.”

‘Ya, Sure’ started again. Stunned, Patrick stared at the machine.

Valentina said, “C-14. Right?”

“I didn’t mean to play that one.”

“Ear worms. It’s alright. I like it.”

Patrick tried recovering. “Right. You like good music?” She nodded. “I know a club. We could hear live music. Good stuff. I get off at nine.”

Back in the kitchen, Mauricio came up to Dan. “Slow night… No dishes…”

“Yeah. Mainly go orders.”

“Who keeps playing that cheesy song?”

Dan nodded toward Valentina, still talking with Patrick.

Mauricio balked. “Val? That’s my crazy cousin.”

“You know her?”

“Yeah! She’s nuts.”

“She’s killing business. Can you do something?”

“Sure… I’ll try. Never know with her.”

He approached her and waved.

“Hey, Val!”

Seeing Mauricio, she screamed and ran into his embrace.

“You work here?”

Mauricio nodded and they laughed and hugged again.”

At that moment, a tall guy dressed in Army fatigues entered. He scanned the dining room. Seeing Valentina with Patrick and Mauricio, he strode up to her.

“Found you.”

Mauricio and Patrick withdrew.

She turned away from him.

Standing behind her, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

Mauricio moved between the couple and the juke box as they swayed to the music.

The guy asked her, “You play this?”

“You have to ask?”

“Can I have this dance?”

She broke away. He followed her.

The song ended. Patrick kicked the plug from the wall. Silence reigned. In the kitchen, Dan and Seth celebrated, jumping up and down.

Seth said, “Want a beer?”

Dan said, “We’re still open. We’re working, Seth.”

“Come on… There’s no one here. We can celebrate.”

Dan smiled and Seth ran to the bar.

Valentina sat and stared at the floor. He danced alone in the silence. Everyone heard the tune in their heads.

He said, “C’mon, babe… Let’s get out of here. Hungry?” She nodded. “I’ll buy you a real dinner.”

Taking his arm, she stood. As they moved to the exit, a family of five entered. Dan greeted them. The husband spoke to Dan while the two brothers ran to the juke box.

Seth handed beers to Patrick and Mauricio. They clinked glasses and drank. When Dan had taken the order, Seth gave him a glass.

“Do we have a new theme song?”

They laughed and drank.

One of the kids yelled, “We want music! What’s wrong with the juke box?”

Patrick and Mauricio put on sad faces.

“Yeah, I don’t know… sorry.”

“We called for service. It just stopped for no reason.”

The older brother looked defiant. “Yeah… sure…”

The father waved them over and they adjourned to a table.

The guys gathered in the kitchen and clinked glasses.

“Back in business!”