One
Gillian
God this sucks.Why am I doing this again?
Oh, yeah.To prove I can make it on my own.Because apparently I’m a stubborn idiot.
That oppressively hot and sticky Friday evening, Gillian Godwin currently knelt as she picked up broken pieces of the glass sundae cup the bratty human toddler had flung to the floor.
A full sundae cup she’d just brought the kid after he’d wasted five minutes of her time changing his mind between hot chocolate and strawberry toppings.
One of the other waitresses, a clueless human, hurried over with a dustpan and a wad of paper towels.
“Here, let me help, hon,” Lottie said as she knelt next to Gillian.
“Thanks,” Gillian muttered, trying not to shoot a murderous glare at the parents.
At least the father looked slightly mortified.“Can we help you clean that up?”he tentatively asked.
“No, it’s okay,” Gillian tightly said.“We’ve got it.”
“I WANT ANOTHER ONE!”the brat screeched.
“Stop!”the mother hissed at him.It must have been a rare event because the kid looked shocked and shut up.“You arenotgetting another one!You shouldnothave thrown that one on the floor.In fact, when we get home, you’re going straight to bed.Now apologize!”
Even the father looked wide-eyed with shock.
Okay, maybe they don’t suck as much as I thought.
“Sorry,” the brat mumbled.
“I’mreallysorry about this,” the woman said
“It’s okay.”Gillian forced a smile.“Been a long, hot day for everyone.”
It sure had.July in Spokane, and they’d hit a balmy 110 degrees that afternoon, and it was muggy as hell.Several of their customers had been snippy that day, likely cranky due to the unusual heat spell.This time of year they should be in the mid-80s, tops, without all this humidity.
“No, it’s not okay,” the mother said.“And please make sure it’s on our tab.”
Well, maybe this long-assed day was looking up after all.
When Gillian tabbed them out and collected the check presenter after they left, she was pleasantly shocked to find even though the parents had paid the bill with a credit card they left her a $50 tip.
Cash.
Well, that’s more like it.
She pocketed the money and returned to the back to check on another order.When she passed Lottie, her friend gave her a knowing nod and she wondered if the other waitress had somehow persuaded the couple to pony up a guilt tip.The older woman had worked at the restaurant for over twenty years and everyone in Spokane seemed to know her.She was like a mom to the staff and long-time customers.
The rest of the evening petered out earlier than average, and after Gillian helped catch up with a few tasks she went to the owner, Phil.
“Mind if I cut out early?I’ve got a test Monday morning I want to study for.”
“Go ahead.We’ve got it.When’s graduation?”
“Hopefully in two semesters, as long as I don’t flub anything.”
“My nephew graduated from Gonzaga a couple of years ago.Said it was a good school.”
