saving the best for last

 Jared wasn't so sure he was all that happy with his mother's plan, but he couldn't complain. It was as if he'd sworn an oath to Sal that he'd abide by the rules. If he wanted help from either of them, he'd have to help out.

Soon enough he was on his way to where his mom worked. Of course, he had to wash up dishes before he left and as soon as he got there she instructed him to disinfect the shiny steel of the kitchen. He was certain it had been disinfected before she left, but he went to wipe down the counter before they even started lunch.

She was in great thought over the meatloaf recipe after she sat the dinner rolls of dough in the warming shelves. It was certainly no time to suggest anything. He was certain this was going to be the blandest food possible. They were cooking for old people.

"Don't forget to wear your mask," she said.

"Where's yours?" He was brazen enough to ask, but hoping she wouldn't get in a spat over it.

"Make me some coffee," his mother said instead.

Suddenly, Jared froze so this was what Sal was talking about. He winced trying to remember what Sal told him, 

"How much do you want?" This was a serious question. He looked at her blankly.

"A cup, why?" She looked at him with a sigh.

"Oh, nothing." He thought he remembered. A heaping tablespoon per cup. He made it in her personal coffeemaker and brought it to her.

She looked the coffee over and took a sip.

"Now go make coffee for fifty-seven people," she pointed to the big canister coffee pot.

Jared cleared his throat. "That's a lot of coffee." He didn't want to do it.

"Make it. They'll drink it," she told him. "And after that, make some iced tea."

Jared winced. "Nobody said anything about iced tea?"

"Hurry up, there's veg to cut and mac and cheese to make," she ordered. She had him running around soon enough and he hadn't even asked if any pay was involved.