#Chapter1
“Can I have some more barbeque sauce?” The woman barked at me from the booth by the window at the end of the restaurant.
“Absolutely.” I replied sweetly as I went to get her what she wanted.
I hated working in a restaurant. Don’t get me wrong, I love working in customer service but being a waitress wasn’t working for me. People treated me like crap and I had to smile through all of it. Not fun at all. But it helps me pay for school and that’s what’s important. Unlike some others, I didn’t come from a background that allowed me the luxury of staying on campus and receiving student loans.
I would’ve had to live with my mother but since she was extremely ill with cancer, she had to live in an assisted living facility. It broke my heart when I came to the realization I couldn’t take care of her in the way that she needed. I offered to quit school so that I could spend more time with her but she refused to let me.
She said, “Roxanne have you lost your mind? Don’t stop school. I’ll be fine.”
But she isn’t fine. My sister and I visit her at least four times a week. I’m twenty-one and my sister is twenty-six. She has a child and a husband and for that, she wasn’t able to take care of our mother in the way that she needed either.
I hated being broke. Between work, school and my internship I didn’t get any sleep. Honestly, I had a wonderful childhood with the exception of being poor. My mom took great care of my older sister and me. My father was never around and that did bother me a little but overall I don’t really have any major hang-ups about. In my opinion, you can’t miss what you’ve never had. Every now and then I think about it but a lot of people grow up without dads and they're fine. I happen to be one of them.
“You’re moving kind of slow.” Georgia said to me when I prepped a small cup of barbeque sauce.
“Double shifts will do that to you.” I said before I passed by her and went back out to the floor.
Georgia is my bitchy supervisor. She’s never happy with anything…ever. I feel sorry for the man she’s married to. I’m convinced she has his balls in a vice grip. I could never understand how men could put up with cantankerous women. My mom raised me to be sweet and she taught me that you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar.
“Here you go.” I smiled as I sat the barbeque sauce down gently on the table, “I’ve also brought you extra napkins.”
“Thank you dear.” she smiled at me.
“You’re very welcome. I’m about to go on break for thirty minutes. If you need anything, Madison will serve you.” I needed to vent a little. I was exhausted and I still had a few more hours to go.
“Are you ready for your break?” I asked my friend Jaime.
“Yep.” she grinned. We walked out of the restaurant and went to her car. “I know we should eat but I want ice cream.”
“Fuck food, let’s go to Pink Berry.”
“Oooh, I love the way you think.” she grinned.
Hanging out with Jaime always lifted my spirits. I joke and say that she’s my other self because she feels like an extension of me. We clicked as soon as we met; we became instant friends. She’s probably one of the few reasons that I stay at the job.
“So how are you doing? You’re not looking too hot. I’m not used to seeing your hair in a ponytail.”
“I’m exhausted.” I pouted, “And Georgia is getting on my nerves.”
“It’s alright, love. This is all a means to end. Next year you’ll graduate and look back at all of this differently. You’re a hustler, baby! I’m proud of you. You’re getting it all done and you’re doing a great job. I know things can feel overwhelming but you were built for this.”
I inhaled deeply before exhaling slowly and steadily, “Thanks. Sometimes it just all feels like too much.”
Jaime is Filipino and about a size eight. She swears that she’s fat, but I don’t think so.
“How are things going with your mom?” She asked.
“About the same, I’m going to see her in the morning. Me and my sister are going to meet there.”
“Tell your mom I said hi.”
“You know that you could always tell her yourself.”
“I could, if Georgia didn’t ask me to work in the morning to cover her shift.”
I rolled my eyes, “I can’t stand her. You need to be the damned manager because you pretty much do her job anyway.”
“I know but for now, I just have to play it cool. I don’t want to be manager of that place. I need to focus on getting my real estate license and make some real money.”
“I hear ya.”
“Speaking of money. Does your girl Jessica not want to make any money? She hasn’t been into work in a few weeks. You know that Georgia plans on firing her soon.”
“Jessica doesn’t care. She’s met some rich older guy and he’s taking care of her very well. She’s been spending her days shopping, going to fancy restaurants and having fun. I wish I had that luxury.”