Not our Pizza anymore

Everything seemed to spiral out of control from the moment Caesar left.

We had fired Caesar that morning, and by night the restaurant was packed, our busiest night by far. It seemed as though the whole town was there, eager to see whether the rumors about our “pizza drama” were true. The tables and line of people were abuzz, all muttering the same thing; “where’s Caesar?”
I felt that we owed our customers an explanation.” We can’t just ignore that it happened!” I protested for the umpteenth time. “We owe them an explanation. They won’t understand if we don’t explain!” Cassius had no time to respond, because Mark Antony was making his way over to us.
“Brutus” he said, ignoring Cassius completely. “I just wanted to tell you that…” at this he awkwardly stuck his hand out. “I support your decision. I was hoping that, even though I seemed to support only Caesar- I am on your side. I was hoping I could stay here- you know, to work.”

I can’t pretend I wasn’t shocked. I had anticipated that Cassius and I would have to persuade Mark to stay, and here he was, telling us that even though we betrayed his hero, he was on our side. I don’t know why I wasn’t suspicious.
“Of course you can Mark.” I held out my hand and we shook. He then turned to an incredulous looking Cassius, and held out his hand. Cassius hesitated, and then shook it hard, as if trying to demonstrate that he was still the tougher man.

Cassius and I began to discuss whether or not we should explain to our customers what happened. It didn’t register then, but Mark seemed to have a smirk on his face as he made a suggestion. “I could tell them.” Cassius caught my eye, and seemed to warn me with his look that this was a very bad idea. Mark tried to catch my eye too, but his look seemed to state the opposite, I was completely torn. As always, it was me who was stuck in the middle, and so fearful of losing either of their support, I made a compromise.
“Alright here’s what is going to happen. I’ll go out there and tell them my side of the story, they’ll realize we did the right thing, and everyone will be satisfied.” I gave Cassius a meaningful look. “Mark you can go out after me and honor Caesar or whatever it is you want to do. Understand?” Although both of them looked unhappy with this solution, I ignored their pleas and walked out to make my speech.

“Okay, hi everyone.” I never have liked public speaking. “I think I owe you an explanation,” and I launched into my story. I told them of Caesars plot to make a chain, and how I only cared that the pizza was the best. They seemed to really understand what I was saying, and I heard a couple announce their support for me. I finished, satisfied that I had done my job, and let Mark Antony take the stage.

I didn’t realize at the time what I had done. I didn’t connect Mark Antony’s smirk and his willingness to betray his best friend so easily into a plot against Cassius and I. It wasn’t until I saw people protesting Caesar’s absence from Pizza. B.C in front of the awning I used to be so proud of that I comprehended my mistake in trusting Caesar’s little assistant.

It’s always after its too late that one is able to regret what one has done. I recall with anguish how I had my dream of pizza fulfilled, just for a small amount of time. Of course I can’t help recalling that I also had that passion taken away from me, something I’ve never been able to escape. I’ve walked past where pizza B.C used to be and seen a new blue awning with the name “Antony’s Pizza.”

The farther that I’ve tried to get from that awning and that pizzeria, the more I seem to see it in every town; the chain “Antony’s Pizza.”