A beeper went off. For a second, the girl stared at me. The beeper was still going off. “That’s the quality control beeper,” she explained. “I’ll go get Mike. He talks to people about working. Excuse me.” She turned around. I smiled in a secret way. I thought, They will suspect nothing. I look as calm and normal as can be. Mike was the manager. He wore blue, and everyone else wore green. He seemed very friendly and held out his hand. I shook it. He said, “I’m Mike. Nice to meet you. You’re Anthony?” I said, “Yes. It’s nice to meet you, too.” He said, “Let’s sit down. Would you like a shake?” We walked out into the dining area. He said, “Now to talk, would you prefer a booth or a free-standing table?” I shrugged. I said, “Booth, I guess.” He grinned. “Good!” he said. “That will be fine!” We sat down at a booth. I carefully put my hands on my lap. Over my head was a cardboard mobile of Kermit O’Dermott, an elf who talked to hamburgers. The sun was coming through the windows and searing the tile floor and the plastic vines and rhododendrons.
