Jimmy wasn't a native-born American and had never attended such a barbecue gathering before. He arrived much too early. Normally, if no specific time is given, the host would prepare the ingredients and grill in the afternoon, and the guests would come around evening. However, Jimmy arrived just after 1 PM, so Frank could only chat with him while continuing his preparations.
Jimmy insisted Frank go about his business, and he lay down under the parasol, soon falling asleep. Being a police officer was actually very exhausting, especially because one needed to be on high alert during duty. It was all too common for accidents to occur while on duty in the United States, leading to injuries or even death if one wasn't careful.
Once Frank noticed Jimmy was asleep, he didn't bother him anymore. He went back to the kitchen to start organizing the materials for the barbecue.
