The Things We Do for Love

NINE

LAUREN SHOWED UP FOR WORK FIFTEEN MINUTES early. She wore her best pair of black jeans and a white cotton blouse that shed gotten Mrs. Mauk to iron for her.

She knocked on the door and waited for an answer. When none came, she cautiously opened the door and peered inside.

The restaurant was dark. Tables sat in shadows. "Hello?" She closed the door behind her.

A woman came around the corner, moving fast, her hands coiled in the stained white apron that covered her clothing. She saw Lauren and stopped.

Lauren felt like a bug trapped in a childs hand. That was how this woman stared at her, narrow-eyed and frowning. Old-fashioned eyeglasses made her eyes appear huge.

"You are the new girl?"

She nodded, feeling a slow blush creep up her cheeks. "Im Lauren Ribido. " She stepped forward, held her hand out. They shook hands. The womans grip was stronger than Lauren had expected.

"I am Maria DeSaria. Is this your first job?"

"No. Ive been working for years. When I was little-- fifth and sixth grade--I picked strawberries and raspberries at the Magruder farm. Ive been working at Rite Aid since it opened last summer. "

"Berries? I thought that was mostly migrant workers. "

"It is. Mostly. The pay was okay for a kid. "

Maria tilted her head to one side, frowning as she studied Lauren. "Are you a troubled girl? Runaway, drugs? That sort of thing?"

"No. I have a 3. 9 grade point at Fircrest Academy. Ive never been in any kind of trouble. "

"Fircrest. Hmm. Are you Catholic?"

"Yes," Lauren answered with a nervous frown. It was a dangerous thing to admit these days. So much trouble in the church. She forced herself to stand perfectly straight. No fidgeting.

"Well. Thats good, even if you do have red hair. "

Lauren had no idea what to say to that, so she remained silent.

"Have you waitressed before?" Maria asked at last.

"Yes. "

"So when I tell you to set up the tables and wipe down the menus, you know what I mean. "

"Yes, maam. "

"The silverware is in that chest," Maria said. "Not that its real silver," she added quickly.

"Okay. "

They stared at each other. Lauren felt like that bug again.

"Well. Get started," Maria said.

Lauren ran for the chest and pulled open the top drawer. Silverware rattled at the ferocity of the movement. She winced, knowing that already shed done something wrong.

She glanced worriedly back at Maria, who stood there, frowning, watching Lauren fumble through the drawer.

It was not going to be easy to please that woman, Lauren thought. Not easy at all.

BY THE END OF HER SHIFT LAUREN KNEW TWO THINGS: She needed to wear tennis shoes to work, and earning enough money for back rent and a decent dress wasnt going to happen at DeSarias.