Cold Feet

Chapter 19

VIOLA

Things happen faster than I expected in this small town. Amber put in a word with her supervisor before she left and I’m called in for an interview while she’s away.

The supervisor also happens to be the owner of Danzer’s. Charlie. I remember him from when I was a teenager. He’s older now of course and much calmer too but still strict and he’s still got all his wits about him. He doesn’t remember me but then I never really mixed with his son who I understand is now working on cruise ships somewhere in Asia.

“Amber had a lot of good things to say about you. I guess that’s enough to get a job here. I trust her and a friend of hers is a friend of mine. I will of course need your social security number and identity to run a check.”

“Of course,” I nod.

“Have you ever waitressed before?” Charlie asks.

“No, sir,” I reply.

“Well, you can come in and do a shift or two. It’s pretty easy to learn. It’s a bitch on the feet though so make sure you wear the most comfortable shoes you can. Sneakers work best. It’s not hard but it isn’t for everyone.”

I have no plans to do anything else so I ask if I can start learning right away.

“Sure. You can follow Lori around here. Just watch and listen and you’ll be okay. Of course, you have to wear Danzer’s uniform so if you’ll give me your measurements here,” Charlie says as he taps a memo pad, “I’ll order to uniforms for you as soon as I can. You have to pay for them though.”

“Well, maybe I can use Amber’s if she decides to leave,” I tell Charlie. “I think I’m about her size anyway.”

“Oh yeah, that makes sense,” Charlie nods. “Okay then. If she stays, I’ll order new uniforms for you next week.”

I get acquainted with Lori who is old enough to be my mother. She knows the job inside out and just about all the clients too.

“Don’t let these customers get to you okay?” she says as I follow her around. “Some of them can be abrasive but if you take it with a pinch of salt and give them back as good as it gets in a polite way, mind you, everyone will be happy.”

“Okay,” I say listening eagerly. I follow her like a puppy dog and smile politely and nod at clients when Lori introduces me and takes the orders. A few clients venture to make remarks or tease me but Lori puts them all in their place.

“Danzer’s is expanding,” one client says to his mate across the table. “They takin’ on new staff.”

‘Nice staff,” his mate replies giving me the eye before he winks.

“Don’t get too excited,” Lori says. “She’s writin’ an article on how waitresses and waiters keep the truck routes of America alive.”

“Wow, that’s somethin’,” the customer smiles. “About someone created some more awareness ‘bout the truck routes of America. She can interview me any time she wants.”

I’m taken aback when he speaks about me as if I’m not there or can’t answer for myself.

“I think she’s done all the truckers interviews. She’s looking at it from the waiters and waitress’s perspective now,” Lori says as she pockets her order book. “Besides, even if she’s just interviewin’ I

don’t think your missus would want to hear you’re being interviewed by a lovely lady like her.”

“Oh, you’re jus’ full of it, ain’t ya,” the client calls as we walk back to the serving counter. Lori waves over her shoulder.

When we reach the serving counter, Lori pulls out the order pad, rips off the order and passes it through to the kitchen.

“Just be friendly to them. No matter what they say. Never encourage them. Always put them off with jokes and smart remarks but don’t lead them on or tease them. These guys are regulars and they’re well behaved in here but we don’t know them beyond these walls so it’s best to keep it professional. Okay?”

“Got it,” I nod and smile at Lori.

I learn fast from Lori. It really is easy and Charlie wasn’t lying when he said the job was a killer on the feet.

“It’ll get better,” Lori says. “Your feet will toughen up and before you know it you won’t feel it anymore. You’ll be ‘waitress fit’ as we say.”

The day passes fast and I go home when Lori’s shift ends. I decide to do a double shift of following staff the next day so I can get a feel for the night shift clients who are apparently different to the day shift clients. I have dinner at Danzer’s. It’s one of the perks of being an employee. I’m grateful I don’t need to cook when I get home because I’m really beat. I take a quick bath and I’m in bed and fast asleep before I’ve been home an hour.

I’m back at the diner the next day and Amber walks in for the night shift, all smiles.

I give her a big hug. “How did it go?”

“Great. I got the job!” she practically shrieks jumping up and down.

“That’s great!” I exclaim with genuine joy for her even as my heart sinks knowing that I’ll be alone here now. I also long for Los Angeles even though I’ve just arrived. I don’t let my feelings show though. This is Amber’s moment and I don’t want to take away her joy. I’m truly happy for her.

All the waitresses for the night shift congratulate Amber before the shift starts. She says I can gladly have her uniform when she leaves which will be next week. She has managed to get a job as the personal assistant to the CEO of an information technology company.

She seems to have aced the interview. She tells me he was looking for someone fresh and hungry for growth, not someone who came with preconceived and molded ideas regarding the job. I find it a strange ask for the job but I’m happy for her anyway. I wish her all the best. I spend the evening following Amber around and learn how she handles the clients on the night shift.

Her approach is opposite to that of Lori’s and I ask her about it between clients.

“Lori said don’t tease and get too close to clients but that’s exactly what you do.”

Amber smiles. “Listen. You do what you have to, to get good tips and keep them coming back. You can bet your ass if you don’t, there’s someone at the truck stop before or after this one that will. Lori’s sweet and I love her a bunch but let’s be honest, the truckers prefer some eye candy to lighten up their trip, and we are it. Don’t get me wrong. There is a line that you shouldn’t cross like offering them a ride or accepting a ride from them or agreeing to meet them after work. But as long as they can fantasize, they’re okay.”

I nod as I take in what Amber tells me. I know I can be like Amber. God knows I’ve done it enough in the past at weddings. The number of dirty, drunk men that hit on me was something that came with the job. I handled it then and I can handle it now.

I agree to see Lori off when she leaves and she promises me she’ll give me her uniforms then.

We have a few drinks when the shift is done and then I give her a ride home before heading home myself. I’ll shadow her on her shifts

until she leaves because I don’t have a uniform but it gives me more of a chance to prepare for the job.

It looks easy but it’s not. The easy part is doing it. The hard part is what comes with it that isn’t in the job description…