This is going to be a moment in which I write like NaNoWriMo and aim for... 2500 words.
Ray is helping me and is going to start the timer in 2 minutes, for 20 minutes.
I'm oddly excited.
Let's see the results!
Kayleigh stood on the sidewalk, taking a long puff of her clove. The day was gruelling, her thoughts had been very disjointed all day and she couldn't seem to focus. The sizable stain on her waitress apron showed exactly how true that was.
She sighed. If only she could go home now, but the money was definitely needed. Rent was coming up and she knew that her landlord would have her head if she asked for an extension again. At least it was the first break. Only 6 more hours to go, she thought.
Kayleigh had never really held any sort of job for a long amount of time to get a good history. Her work was adequate, her bosses loved how she was always on time, but she never seemed to apply herself in anything. Waitressing had just been a good idea at the time. If I can do that, I can do it anywhere, was her main thought. Since she loved to travel more than anything else, and couldn't seem to stay still for more than 6 months at a time, it was definitely a good way to go. She'd done everything of the most basic jobs. Cashiering at major companies, cashiering at the more laid back sort of places like coffee shops and small used bookstores, cleaning houses for more money than she'd ever thought possible and even working as a cocktail waitress for a few weeks.
She was a jack of all trades in the catering-to-people business. Too bad it just made her want to slit her wrists when the people around her got too demanding.
'Kayleigh! What on earth are you doing out there! You're table is getting antsy and I'm not going back there!' screamed Anne, the short, tanned woman with a curling lip. Anne owned the place and it showed in her wrinkled face, worn eyes and dark hair streaked with silver.
Kayleigh sighed once again and dropped her clove on the ground and stomped it out. The smell was repugnant but the taste on her lips always got her. Which is why she'd gotten hooked on them in the first place. Damn Kevin she thought as she walked back into work.
The customers at table 4 were definitely irritated when she walked up to ask if there was anything else they needed. Glaring at her, the gentleman politely demanded the check which she retrieved in record time. Making a quick, but hopefully seeming sincere thank you, she beelined for behind the counter to get the glass of water for table 8 who had just sat down. GLancing around the bar, she noticed the gentleman throw a $20 at the check and leave with his party. She rolled her eyes since she knew it was more than 18 dollars for their meal, and the lack of tip wasn't putting her in a better mood.
Taking the glass of water to the man sitting at table 8 brightened her up considerably. He was a regular named Clancy, an elderly gentleman who always ordered the chicken fried steak and had kind eyes. Dropping the drink on the table, she winked.
'The usual, Clancy?' she smiled.
'Oh you know me, dear, that chicken fried steak gets me every time!' he gave a crooked smile in return. 'Have you been keeping out of trouble?'
When she had first been hired on, Clancy had been sitting at the table as she'd walked in looking like a drowned rat from all the rain. As she had politely asked to speak to the manager, he'd leaned over from his seat at the bar and whispered, 'Might want to keep a smile on for the old bird, she loves friendly people. And if you can smile for her, you can smile for anybody.' Looking a bit puzzled for a moment, Kayleigh gave a quick smile and tried to make her appearance a bit more professional as the manager and owner, Anne, came up. For a moment, Kayleigh felt the jab of panic as she tried to figure out how she would ever get a job. She really needed the money. And Anne was definitely someone who did not look amused at her drenched figure.
'How do you do?' Kayleigh almost stuttered, but managed to catch it in time. Anne just hurumphed and waited for her to go on.
'I'm Kayleigh McCormick, and I was wondering if there was any hope of employment at this fine establishment? I know I really don't look the part right now, but well, with the rain...' Kayleigh trailed off, half motioning to the window in which the rain was coming down unrelentingly.
Anne gave her a hard look in which Kayleigh tried to smile at.
'McCormick, huh? Like the brand of spices?' Anne glared at her.
Kayleigh blinked. She hadn't really thought of that. Trust this old manager to figure out something to throw her off kilter. She smiled, forcing her teeth to show, and gave a small giggle.
'Yeah.. I suppose so. I hadn't really thought of that.' Kayleigh tried to maintain the smile as long as she could, and she could see Clancy in the corner of her eye snorting into his coffee. Anne turned on him in a flash.
'Think it's funny do you? Want me to put some extra peppers in your eggs tomorrow, see if you like that. Poor girl, couldn't help how she was named...' Anne trailed off and started bustling around behind the bar, pulling out salt and pepper shakers to be refilled. Kayleigh just stood absolutely still, not sure if this was a rejection or not. Clancy just grinned.
'M'dear, you know I wouldn't ever do a thing like that. And McCormick is a lovely name. Good brand of seasonings too. Wouldn't hurt to add even a little bit more spice to this place, now would it Annie-girl?' he smiled cheekily at the hardened woman. Anne gave Kayleigh another assessing look and nodded.
'Your shift starts tomorrow at 6 am. Try not to get too wet if it rains. And for goodness sake, keep your hair back. If you ever get anything into a customers plate, I'll hang you from your elbows,' Anne said.
Kayleigh nodded furiously, said her thanks.
Cut short because that's when my timer went.
Well, that was fun. Around 1000 words. I wasn't setting a very realistic goal, but it was a fun exercise.
-niamh, the writer learning to speed.