I start walking toward the elevator, know that there are things with Leonard that I should not question. He pushes the button and the elevator arrives and we go down walk through the lobby leave the hotel go outside. It’s dark. It’s cold. The wind.
We start walking.
Five minutes later we’re at the steakhouse. We walk through a set of large, unmarked oak doors. It’s dark, the walls are wood, the carpet thick. It smells strongly of steak and cigars. I take a deep breath, we walk through a short hall to a reception stand.
There is a man in a tuxedo behind the stand he steps around and greets Leonard calls him Sir and shakes his hand. Leonard introduces the man to me and we shake hands and the man
says pleasure to meet you, Sir, which makes me laugh.
We are early, so the man leads us through the dining room to the bar. The dining room is large and open, candles on every
table, white linens and silver, patrons in suit and tie, skirt and stocking. The bar is in a separate smaller room. It is large and oak runs the length of a wall. There are stools in front of it, there are small tables and low cushioned chairs spread through the rest of the room. Leonard shakes the man’s hand and says thank you, the man bows and says my pleasure, Sir. We sit down at a table, the man leaves. Leonard reaches into the inside pocket of his suitcoat and removes two cigars. He offers one to me.
Cigar?
No thanks.
They’re Cuban.
I don’t like cigars.
I reach into my pocket, take out my cigarettes. Leonard stares at me.
How can you not like cigars?
Just don’t.
Why?
Just don’t.
Do you know how to smoke one properly?
No.
That’s why you don’t like them. You’ve never learned to enjoy them.
He hands me one of the cigars.
Time for you to go to cigar school, my son. Time for you to learn one of life’s great pleasures.
I take the cigar, look at it. I don’t want it, but know Leonard wants to teach me how to smoke it. He shows me how to cut it: find the tapered end, called the cap, cut leaving at least 1⁄8 inch of the cap remaining. He shows me how to light it: use a
match, wait for the sulfur to burn away, do not touch fire to cigar, bring it close, use the heat. He shows me how to smoke
it: do not inhale, draw in with your cheeks, hold it, enjoy the taste, exhale. I accidentally inhale a few times, and the smoke is strong and burning and it makes me cough. I don’t like the taste, it is of smoke and dirt and sweat. Leonard tells me it is
supposed to be a rich creamy taste with a medium body. I have no idea what he’s talking about.
As my friends show up they are led to our table in the bar. Leonard greets them all the same way. He stands and he says
hello, hello my name is Leonard, it is wonderful to meet you. He shakes hands with Kevin and Danny and gives them cigars. He bows to the women and pulls out their chairs. Everyone is surprised by Leonard. I did not tell them much about him, just that he was my friend from rehab. I don’t think they were expecting a cheery, friendly ridiculous man in his fifties who says things like drink it up, boy drink that cocktail the fuck up, or my oh my dear lady, your perfume is so delicious I feel like I’m going to faint.
When everyone has arrived Leonard stands and says it’s time to eat like pigs my friends, time for a fucking feast. We stand as a group and walk into the dining room and sit at a table in the center of the restaurant. There are immediately three waiters setting bottles of wine and water on the table, one of them setsa large crystal decanter filled with cola next to me. When they leave, Leonard stands again and raises his glass.
It is always a pleasure to meet strong young men and beautiful young women. I am honored by your presence at my table, honored that you have chosen to spend the evening with me. Let us all raise a toast to fine food, strong drink, delicious dessert and new friends.
Glasses are raised and the toast is made, hear hear, hear hear. As soon the glasses are back on the table, food starts arriving. There are jumbo shrimp cocktails, small bowls with lumps of crabmeat, scallops wrapped in bacon, oysters, clams and mussels. There are salads, Cobb and Caesar and iceberg drenched in Roquefort. There are bowls of lobster bisque and French onion soup. There is food everywhere, hands reaching for food everywhere, smiles and laughs around the table, other patrons are staring at our table, we don’t care.
The appetizers are taken away.We are given a moment or two of rest. I hear two of the girls talking to Leonard they ask him where he lives he says Las Vegas for part of the year, southern California for part of the year. They ask him what he does he says I’m a businessman. They ask him what type he says the type that doesn’t like to talk about work away from the office. He asks them what they do, they both work at a clothing store. He says he loves clothing, has closets full of clothing, buys clothing everywhere he goes, loves loves loves clothes. They laugh. He stands and asks them what they think of his suit, he turns in a circle to give them a complete view. They tell him they think it’s beautiful and he thanks them and he compliments them on their fine taste.
More food arrives. Family style platters of steak, lamb, chicken and lobster. Bowls of creamed spinach, sautéed mushrooms, asparagus. Plates of baked potatoes, mashed potatoes and hash browns. We eat, laugh, Leonard and I drink water and cola, my friends, now Leonard’s friends, drink wine and cocktails. If a platter bowl or plate is ever empty, it is immediately replaced. When everyone is finished, dessert is delivered: ice cream and
pie, chocolate cake and fruit. Leonard lights a cigar, the restaurant is now empty but for us. He motions for the concierge to
bring more cigars, the man brings a small humidor to the table, it contains cigars of different sizes and shapes, cigars from different countries. Leonard walks around with the humidor and selects a cigar for each individual. When he is finished, he walks them through the same steps he taught me earlier. They listen o Leonard, follow his instructions, start tentatively. They are ot tentative for long.
As we smoke, Leonard stands, motions for me to stand with him. We walk into the kitchen. He takes out a large roll of cash
from his pocket and starts handing out tips to everyone, to the chef, to the sous chef, to the pastry chef, to the busboys, to the dishwashers. We leave the kitchen go to the bar. Each of the bartenders receives a handshake filled with money. We walk to the reception desk Leonard thanks the man slides him cash tells him that I am his son and that if I ever show up here he expects that I will be treated accordingly. The man thanks Leonard and says of course, Sir, of course.
We walk back to the table. The cigars are out, the glasses empty, the dishes are being cleared. Leonard helps the women
put on their coats. He tells each of them it was an honor meeting you, he kisses each of their hands. We walk out of the restaurant and there are cars waiting for us. My friends all thank Leonard, tell him how amazing the meal was, tell him they hope to see him again soon. He is gracious to them, says it was my pleasure, you are wonderful young people it was my pleasure. He opens car doors, pays drivers, sends the cars away. The windows in the cars come down and everyone waves goodbye to him. When the cars are out of sight it is me and my
friend Leonard. He speaks.
Thought we’d walk back. It’ll help settle the food a bit.
Sounds good.
We start walking. It is colder, darker, the wind stronger.
You have nice friends, my son.
Yeah, I’m lucky.
Very polite, very interesting. The girls were all beautiful.
I’ll tell them you said so.
You have fun?
It was the best night I’ve had in years, Thank you for doing it.
We’ll do it again next time I’m in town.
We turn a corner. The hotel is in sight. I see Leonard’s white Mercedes sitting in front of the hotel. Snap is in the driver’s seat, the engine is running. I speak.
Why’s the car out there?
I need to go out for a while.
A little late, isn’t it?
Sometimes I need it to be late.
I don’t respond.We walk to the car. I nod at Snapper, he nods at me. I turn to Leonard.
Thanks again, Leonard.
No problem.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
I’ll come to your room when I wake up.
Cool.
You’ve got your key?
Yeah.
Goodnight, my son.
Thank you, Leonard.
Leonard turns, opens the car door, gets inside, closes the door.
The car pulls away I watch it go.
Thank you, Leonard.
Thank you, Leonard.
Thank you.