Mandy
“Hey Mandy, I’ve got a table of hot guys for you,” DeeDee giggles at me and I smile outwardly though inside I’m groaning.
I know DeeDee means well, but the hot guys she’s referring to is that massive group of meatheads that just walked through the front doors.
There goes my night.
I’m tired. I’d rather not take on such a large table, even if it’s an automatic fifteen percent gratuity tacked on their bill. I’ve been on my feet for five hours now and I need a break.
I’m still new to this waitressing thing. I’ve only been working here for a week, and it’s hard work. Harder than I ever expected it to be. But Grace, my friend and the other waitress working with me tonight, just took her break and I know she’s calling her parents, checking up on her daughter. So I’m the lucky gal getting stuck with their table.
I do a quick headcount and I count twelve. Sheesh, is there a body building convention or something? Then I get Deedee to help me push together some tables.
“I think that one in the black shirt likes me,” DeeDee giggles as she helps me set out the tableware.
I turn my head towards the group, narrowing my eyes across the restaurant and trying to figure out which one she is talking about. Half of the guys are wearing black shirts over their bulging muscles, it could be any one of them.
“Do you think I should slip him my number?” DeeDee asks, pushing in the last chair.
I shrug my shoulders and say, “Sure? Why not? If you think he’s cute go for it.”
DeeDee is still young and pretty, and able to have fun. She has yet to be tarnished by the sexist jerks that exist in this world. I don’t want to poison her with my own bitterness towards males as a whole. She’ll eventually figure it out for herself.
Me, I figured it out when I was out in California. I decided to move out to Hollywood to pursue an acting career after graduating high school. I was the darling of Trenton, Homecoming Queen, and voted most likely to succeed when I left home. When I left, with stars in my eyes and hope swelling my heart, it felt like it was all but impossible for me to fail.
Well, succeed I did. I succeeded at blowing every opportunity given to me. Blew every open call and audition I showed up for. I stuck it out for five years in Hollywood. Five years of auditions and being judged. Five years of putting myself out there, giving it my all, living off of the savings my mom and dad set up for me, only to be dismissed with the snap of the fingers and told they would be in touch.
They were never in touch. Even when I was convinced I had done so well they just had to call…
And now here I am, waiting tables for less than three dollars an hour and trying to figure out what to do with my life.
“You think you can handle them on your own?” DeeDee asks me as we walk back to the drink station to grab some more cutlery. “I can grab Grace to help you.”
“No.” I shake my head at DeeDee, even though it certainly would be nice to have an extra pair of hands. “I can handle it, no problem.”
It will just take me four or five trips to bring them their drinks, then another four or five trips to bring them their food. As big as those guys are, they’ll probably order one of everything we serve on the menu.
But I don’t want to pull Grace off of her break, especially with all the stuff going on with her little girl. Grace’s daughter, Hope, hasn’t been feeling well lately. And I know Grace has been worried about her so I don’t want to pull her off of her break unless I absolutely have to.
“You sure?” DeeDee asks me, chewing on her bottom lip and looking as unsure as I feel.
I plaster on my best smile and wink at her. “I got this. If you really want to help you can help me distract that guy that looks like he’s in charge. Is he the one you were talking about? The one in the black shirt?”
DeeDee shoots a sly glance towards the group of guys then nods her head. She’s got that twinkle in her eye, and I decide I’ll put her youthful enthusiasm and good looks to good use.
“Why don’t you help me by flirting a little? Keep him distracted and I’ll split some of the tip with you. Think you can do that?”
DeeDee nods her head a little too eagerly at me, and I bet she’d flirt with the guy even if I didn’t ask her to.
“Just don’t make it too easy for him, okay? You don’t want to look too eager. Guys like a girl they have to work for.”
“Really?” DeeDee asks, batting her lashes at me as if it’s a new concept for her.
“Yes, really, DeeDee,” I tell her before sending her back over to the table. “Sometimes the harder you play the better.”
I watch DeeDee strut her way back to the group to seat them, and I have to wonder if she even listened to a word I told her. She’s so obvious in the way she sways her hips I can’t help but find it anything but impossibly cute. But the guys seem to be going for it, especially the one in front with the Mohawk and the cocky strut. He just can’t seem to keep his eyes off her. I even watch him swivel in his chair, watching her as she runs back to me.
Now that’s she’s seated them, I have to serve them.