Getting ready for the 4th

 The Fourth was coming, and Koda wasn't sure he was up for it. He was working full-time now, as well as a full-time Dad.

"Well, you could at least help with taking orders," Slater said about the matter. This was smoked meats season, and as usual, they could spend all night getting food ready for the neighborhood.

"Me?" Koda practically shrank from being in charge of customer service. 

"Well, you know, just check in on regulars," he sent him a list from his phone. "We've heard from most of them, but not everyone is tech savvy and we just want them to know they can still order brisket and chicken."

Koda sighed. He got a ding on his phone and saw the list was small. He guessed he could do it.

"If you take the baby, you might sell more," Slater smirked. He was still on duty at the meat department in the grocery store where he worked. Slater told Koda that his dad was going to help out, too. 

"Maybe you guys should just open up a barbecue place," Koda squinted, thinking he knew Slater only did the holidays with his dad. They might get angry with each other if they went into business.

"You know, it was Omaha who started it."

 Slater was second in command and actually in charge this year. Omaha got hurt in a motorcycle accident and had a lot of metal in his leg, and he wasn't quite up to taking on the block party. Besides, many just liked to order meat and have it delivered by the morning of the 4th or the day before.

"I wish I could stay up with you guys," Koda said about the matter.

"We found some youngsters who think it might be fun," Slater chuckled.

"God, it always kept me dragging for the rest of the week," Koda sighed, thinking about the beer during the barbecue. He let it go at that and was on his way to see if he could find who was on the list.

As luck would have it, he didn't have far to go. It was a block or two away from where Slater would do the grill and smoke. Thankfully, the lady was happy to see him. "Oh, I forgot all about this. Can I still get my order in?" She mentioned her daughter had a boyfriend now, so she might need more than a smoked chicken. She asked for smoked sausage and brisket.

Koda texted in the order to Slater. It was good to hear how impressed she was with the barbecue last year. "Who knows, maybe we'll get down to the party this year." She smiled, her husband was coming home from being on the road for the last few months.