Intro: This is a 'fever dream' sort of story based on a funny sign I remember reading about. Enjoy!
Peter sighed, got up from his bus seat as it came into the stop in the high street, swayed drunkenly down the aisle as it slowed abruptly and finally stumbled down the steps onto the side-walk outside. Today was the day he'd set aside to find some part time work during his summer semester from college. Peter was a stocky Asian student of average height with a rounded oval face and short jet black hair. He had gone for a smart casual look today, with boot cut jeans and a store brand T-shirt, since he considered this to be the best attire to search for casual work. Technically, Peter was his English name, his real name being Mingze, though nobody seemed to be able to pronounce that without considerable effort and 'Peter' was just easier.
He glanced down the road as he strode toward the town centre praying he would get lucky and find a job today. He was quite low on funds at the moment having partied hard during his first year. He didn't want to think what his parents would say if he had to beg them for money already. The sight of a bustling town centre got his hopes up, surely there would be plenty of shopkeepers who needed an extra pair of hands during the summer in this market town that was popular with tourists and locals alike.
His pace slowed as he spied a Chinese restaurant with a notice in the window. Could it be a 'help wanted' poster? He ambled closer and squinted at the sign for a better look.
"Dishwasher needed to clean dishes and two waitresses"
Peter chuckled at the bad grammar. Clearly English was a second language to the owners. Well, a job was a job and he needed the money, he should follow up all potential opportunities. Pausing for the briefest moment, he strode decisively into the restaurant.
Inside, he noticed the place was fairly busy with about half the tables full. A couple of waitresses scurried between the tables serving diners and taking orders. They wore traditional red silk Cheongsam dresses with a gold pattern over and had dark hair tied up in tight buns. They had lithe, trim figures, were he thought late teens to early twenties and looked hot, he'd love an opportunity to chat them up, should the chance arise. He noticed one look enquiringly in his direction, walking over.
"Hey, I'm here about the position" he said confidently.
"Oh, You want to speak to the owners" she said in a slight accent he couldn't quite place. She pointed to an elderly couple sitting at the back in a service area. She smiled at him slightly, before moving back to the dining area to continue serving customers.
Peter strode toward the couple. Before he could open his mouth the old lady spoke
"You want job, huh?"
She had a stern abrupt demeanour along with a strong Chinese accent. She was quite short and wore a flowing floral pattern dress. The old man next to her merely smiled in a friendly manner. He had a long white beard and bald head, and was dressed in traditional suit with red dress shirt and dark trousers.
"Er, yes" Peter replied.
"Right, what is yo' name?" the old woman asked.
"Peter"
"OK, Peter san, we aww'ways put new pee-pol on a try-awr shif'. Is tha' OK with you?"
Peter grimaced inwardly, he didn't want to risk working for hours without certainty of pay, though really needed the work.
"OK, can do."
"Right, go in there", the old lady pointed to a door at the back of the restaurant behind the service area.
Peter walked in feeling a little reluctant. Inside he was greeted by the sight of a large room tiled on floors and walls with no windows. Taking up most of it was a massive metal basin the size of a double bed which rose to just below his chest, abutting ledges against the walls on either side and tiled at the front. Walking up to it, he noticed a large rigid metal structure hanging over the side, and realised with a start it was a humongous tap arching itself over the basin. Peering into the basin for a closer look he noticed a plug hole and accompanying sink plug in it the size of a dustbin lid. He realised with bemusement he was looking at the largest sink he'd ever seen in his life. 'What on earth could they wash here?' he thought to himself. Over the left side of the sink he noticed a tiled ledge with standing width, with a sponge the length of his forearm on it as well as a plastic container as tall as he was with thin nozzle protruding from the top. Confused for a second, he quickly realised he was looking at a dish-soap dispenser. He also saw out of the corner of his eye a few tiled steps leading up to the ledge from the floor. On the right hand side of the sink was a larger ledge, for what purpose he couldn't surmise. He was feeling very confused now.
"Ey, what you doing Peter san?" the old lady admonished him as she walked into the room.
"No s'racking! Go get yo'sef ready!"
She pointed at a few pegs on the wall at the far left, upon one of which hung an apron and gloves. Peter quickly put them on and headed back to the sink, when he noticed the waitresses from earlier wander in and stand near the pegs. 'What could they be doing here?' he wondered, shouldn't they be with customers?