Johnny feels like pizza

Johnny pretty much eats at random
and tonight he feels like Pizza
plain jeans not too tight
plain grey t-shirt
dull-black leather jacket
plain black urban shoes
not a logo in sight
a girl once told him he was slick
the edge came off that compliment after two months and one too many hissy fits
so maybe he’s slick
but he doesn’t care
some things just don’t matter
and he doesn’t pay too much attention to his clothes
when he needs them, he buys them
he walks into a place and stops if he thinks he likes something
it’s a natural process
like eating
eating is a natural process
he’d rather starve than force himself to eat something if he wasn’t absolutely sure he wanted it
and now he wants pizza

tonight is a good pizza night
generally he likes interesting pizzas
pizzas different from the norm
salmon is one of his favourites if it’s good
artichoke hearts, eggplant, potato
plenty of herbs
mediterranean meats
not to say a good margarita isn’t welcome
simplicity can be just the thing sometimes
like clothing
but tonight Johnny isn’t drawing parallels between food and clothing
not that he hasn’t plenty of times before
perhaps he puts more thought into minimalism than he lets on
however
tonight he’s by himself for once
which provides increased culinary possibilities
after a brief thought of cooking was banished
pizza immediately came to mind

Vinnie’s has good pizza
arguably the best pizza around
not only because the wood they burnt in their ovens was actually real wood
and not only because the vegetables and meat they used was real food
but because the chefs had created the perfect delicate balances between flavours
creating the most well-rounded yet exciting pizzas in existence
or so Johnny thinks
but generally the people of the city agree
they’re an eating out kind of people
where mediocre cafes stay open if they’re cheap enough
and expensive but good restaurants are always rewarded
Vinnie’s belongs to a healthy slice of the market in-between the exclusive and the affordable
a market that previously had never seen so much success until the growth of the population hit just the right pace
while not the most technologically advanced place on earth
this city kept its stride quite well
vibrant, artistic, clever
and safe
the people here were for the most part too nice to do anything nasty

into Vinnie’s and of-course you find none other at the door but Vinnie himself
– Johnnyyyyyyy!
– Vinniiiiiiie…
Vinnie was well known to be able to tack on an ‘ie’ in the end of any name in existence
though not necessary in this case
– eyeavanew pizza, justaforyou
– see i knew it – i got home tonight and thought – tonight i must have pizza
– you a magic man Johnny – youhaveamistic powers…
and so their banter continues as always
generally people aren’t so shy that they don’t have at least a cursory conversation with the owners and waiters
some find it off-putting
but Johnny knows that the more attention you give these people, the better they take care of you
not just that though, they’re actually wonderful people
– no signora tonight?
– not tonight Vinnie, a lot of the ladies i’ve met these days don’t care for good Italian flavour you know?
– ayay – this i know. always this Hawaiian pizza… oi
– let them have their pineapples Vince, but for me, i’ll have the real thing
he finally gets to sit down at a table and decide what he wants to drink
down the back of the place he can see through the wide rectangular window to the kitchen
three dome like ovens, the Italian forno, line one side
long poles with large spatula-like heads dip in and out of the openings constantly
in the middle of the large kitchen there is a huge preparation table
where the movement of dough, toppings and sauces never stops
the men and women of the kitchen move about with genuine happiness
this is the face of the city in which Johnny lives
busy, but happy
he meets the eyes of one of the chefs who he realises he recognises

– my god! Johnny!
the chef calls out, walking out to greet him
Johnny smiles
– Carlo!
they shake hands
– how’s things, man?
Carlo asks
– good good
Carlo motions for them to sit down
they all work hard and are free to be casual with customers once in a while
– i didn’t know you were working here
– i’m not, i’m just down for the week so i decided to swing by
– you know Vinnie?
– who doesn’t know Vinnie…
and they join the general murmer of conversation in the room
Vince brings out Johnny’s pizza
the two men eat and talk about old times
– so i was in Moscow…
– really?
and this is how they play
making up stories based on their names
– last time i saw that was in Durban
– didn’t think you were the type for Africa, Johnny
– i’m not, but i gotta tell you, the food there is amazing… where there’s food
and they talk and laugh as if it’s all natural
the two of them keep track of each-other
looking out for each-other
for them being isolated would be more dangerous than the potential attention meeting up once in a while would attract

– i bring you check
Vince says as he gathers up their plates
– no i’ll come to the counter, no probs
– i better get back to the kitchen, Carlo says
at the counter Vince prints out a receipt and puts it on a coin-tray, then immediately turns to tend to something while Johnny gets his chip out
Johnny usually doesn’t even look at the listing of items, just the larger numerals of the subtotal
but in there amongst the dishes, cakes, coffees and beverages, is an entry that can’t be avoided

Mscw Dbrn coreINV $0.00

Johnny’s fingers skip over his normal chip and he takes out one that looks identical to it
puts it on the change-tray and takes the receipt
Vince, who knows the table number to punch in anyway, doesn’t notice it’s gone
– Hey Carl
Johnny calls
– you want to go for a drink?
he walks up to the kitchen window with the receipt in his hand, leans his elbows against the counter
Carlo walks over and glances at the small white piece of paper
– yeah sure. Vince! that’s all the free labour you get today
– free? nah, you take a bottle something…
– no no i’m right
– naaaah you take a bottle…
– alright alright…
Vinnie gives them a bottle of red each, not the cheap stuff
they stand around for a bit talking with him, then eventually take off

outside as they walk Carlo asks
– you keep that docket?
– yeah
– dump a tracer?
– yeah, my credit-chip
– you wired a tracer into your chip?
– my other credit-chip
– right – that’s gonna stall Vince’s system you know
– only for a minute – yeah i know, enough to be recorded
– you think he’s in on it?
– no – anyway we don’t even know what it is yet
– you scared
– about Inverse? yeah. but it sure beats working for a living
Carlo gives Johnny a toothy grin
– back in the game Durban
– Moscow, i wouldn’t miss it for the world
they walk for a moment, before Durban adds
– good to see you again
and Moscow’s grin just gets bigger