TELMO ALVEAR: An Early Shift, as a
Favor
At
25, Telmo Alvear, who immigrated from Ecuador as a
teenager, was assembling the pieces of a good life. His
son, Steven, had just turned 1. His wife, Blanca, was
studying computerized accounting at a Midtown technical
college.
And a month ago, he quit a busboy job to become a
waiter at Windows on the World, for much higher tips. He
liked serving fancy meals and was beginning to learn
about wine.
Off duty, Telmo was usually at home with his family in
Queens, watching soccer on television or cooking dinners
of seafood or pasta for relatives and friends. On weekend
afternoons, he joined his team at Flushing Meadows-Corona
Park for some hard-hitting volleyball. When he and his
friends went dancing with their wives and girlfriends, he
would make a point of dancing with as many of the women
as he could.
Telmo was assigned to the night shift at Windows on
the World. But on Monday, another waiter told him he
could not make the breakfast shift, and Telmo agreed to
cover for him. The friend promised to return the favor
soon.
.