Cold Feet novel 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.”