My first day working at Bart's Big Grill is a bit of a blur to me, at least the latter half. When I woke up to a text message from Jamie that I barely didn't dare read, but when I finally did it said: >So lovely to meet u hun -- good luck today! <3 <3 <3'<. It made my heart race to read it, but I pushed the reasons why out of my mind. I remember meeting Bart; a sweet old man who was running the grill alone now that is wife had passed and who greeted me with a big smile and showed me around. I let slip I grew up in a big family and his face lit up like a Christmas tree as he started telling me how much he loved having a large family and going through what each of his kids were up to, the sense of pride in his voice so palpable you felt you could touch it. Afterwards he told me not to worry about anything, he'd never fired anyone in his life and he wasn't gonna start now; though he did warn me that times were hard which is why he couldn't promise too many hours or more than minimum wage. I told him that was fine and I was just happy to be working; in hindsight of course I know I was being naive, but hindsight is 20/20, as they say.
Bart gave me an apron and a little hat -- the grill was a very traditional diner, though the menu was up-to-date. It appealed to me, and I could imagine myself taking my folks out for a bite here some day: A classic American diner like this was just the sort of thing they would love. I took the apron and the hat, put them on and thanked Bart. I felt weak at the knees, to tell you the truth -- the whole morning I'd felt like I was walking around in a daze. The night before kept playing through my head and I sometimes thought I could still hear Jamie's moans as she orgasmed. It was a struggle to calm myself down. 'Nothing bad has happened', I kept telling myself. Jamie was the first (and at the time only) friend I'd made in Feltville. I felt terrified of meeting her again.
Why?
I asked myself,
You're not gay.
Woah!
Where the hell did that come from?
Bart had told me that I'd start off waiting tables but he wanted me to learn the grill as soon as possible: He taught everyone the grill as a matter of course so anyone could step in if there was ever an emergency. Trevor was the guy who ran the grill most of the time and he'd come in a little later to show me, Bart told me, so I spent a few hours waiting on customers who'd come in for breakfast and all the time struggling to control my thoughts.
"Hi there, welcome to Bart's Grill, what can I get you?"
You listened to another woman come last night.
"Uh-huh, sunny side up?"
You heard her give head to some random guy. You listened to her lips smack.
"And to drink?"
It made you curious. You wish you could have heard more. Maybe even watched...
"Milk or sugar?"
It made you wet. Wetter than you've ever been before.
"Coming right up!"
It was absolute torture and let's just say more than one order got mixed up. But everyone in the kitchen was pretty patient with me and thankfully most of the guests were regulars so they understood I was new. But I really wanted to make a good impression and there were times where I felt like crying. Lunch came and went and Bart took the time to tell me I was doing fine and he'd seen much worse. He was a sweet man, and he really did treat everyone well. I owe so much to him.
