Year 1 to Year 2
Part 3: In the end
Manny, Glottis, Lupe and Fernandez, the whole staff of the All-Day Cafe sat down on a row of chairs resevered especially for them. They all looked in the air to see a large balloon ship.
After everybody settled down, Maximino introduced himself.
"I, as most of you know, am Maximino. This is my BalloonShip, and I dedicate it to my girl, Olivia."
There was a large cheer and many people stood up. It was then that Manny saw Nick smiling, smiling that evil smile that was regularly seen on Nick's face, and when he smiled like that, something bad was going to happen.
Nick looked at his watch and waited. Manny looked at his watch. 11:59 p.m.
Manny looked at the balloon. He waited and waited and then...
12:00
The balloon exploded in an enourmous fireball of red, yellow and orange. Then things went hectic. There was supposed to be a big race after the christening, and the cats were let loose in the fright. They ran around the race track as the BalloonShip descended into the race track. Many people fled, but the race cats kept on racing. And that was their downfall.
One cat, Maximino's favourite acctualy, was ahead of the pack, and the BalloonShip crashed right into him, killing the cat instantly.
After the Ballon had been extinguished, Manny did the best he could to catch up with Nick, and found him in the High Rollers Lounge. Manny went up to him.
"You blew up the Balloon, didn't you!" roared Manny.
"So what if I did, you can't prove a thing. You see, if I planted to bomb on the Balloon, the evidence would have gone with the Balloon; the whole thing burned up. We can go to court, but as you know, I'm the best lawer in the land of the dead."
Manny left the Lounge. He knew Nick had done it, but he didn't have any proof.Manny knew he had done it to get Olivia, especially after he said 'my girl'. But Manny couldn't prove a thing.
A few days later, Fernandez cracked. Manny saw him packing his suitcase and everything. Manny bumbed into Fernandez a while later.
"Manny," Fernandez cried. "I'm leaving. This place is turning into a crime town. Manny, you take over the All-Day. I'm off to tell Carla. Adios amigo."
Fernandez ran out of the room and out of the All-Day. Forever.
And Manny was in charge.
This began a series of changes. Firstly, the name of the place had to change. Manny decided that The All-Day Cafe didn't have as much 'charm' as 'Calavera Cafe'.
Secondly, the whole place had to change. And that was going to be hard.
***
Manny first began construction for a whole new floor. Underground. Manny hired some workers to do this. After a month the whole new downstairs was finished, and Manny had to put everything in.
There were two rooms in the new downstairs. Manny planned the first section of the downstairs to be a bar/meal room. The second room, which was through a door at the back of the first room, was to be a casino. Manny soon finished that after another month.
Soon, Manny converted Fernandez' office into Manny's private room, where Manny stayed and slept. Manny also bought neon letters to spell CALAVERA CAFE down the side of the cactus like tower where Manny's room was.
Thirdly, Manny was to decide what jobs his fellow workers were to do. He decided Lupe to greet people as they came in, take there coats and to take messages for Glottis or Manny.
Glottis was to prepare meals, and, when he felt like it, play the piano (something else Glottis was extremely good at). Manny thought he had it made.
For months Manny kept the Cafe in good shape, until the day of the dead.
"Lupe," Manny said as he came in from the night. "I'm just going to my room."
"Okay," Lupe replied.
Manny climbed the stairs to his room and went out on the balcony. While smoking a cigerette, looked out at Rubacava.
A while later, Lupe came up to see Manny.
"There's someone downstairs who wants to see you," Lupe said.
"You know I don't like to mingle with the customers," Manny replied.
"I think you might do this time," Lupe said. "She looks your type."
Lupe walked into Manny's room and down the flight of stairs.