#colorsflat

the diner had finally started to quiet down after what felt like one of the longest shifts she'd worked all week. somewhere behind her, table four's tiny menace of a customer was still giggling to himself after successfully launching a spoonful of mashed potatoes in her direction every single time she'd walked by for the last hour. at one point she'd simply accepted her fate, laughing it off with his exhausted mother and declaring him her newest arch nemesis. now, with a faint smear of mashed potatoes she'd somehow missed near her apron pocket and tiredness settling into her shoulders, soledad grabbed her notepad and headed toward another table. she let out the softest sigh imaginable before immediately replacing it with her usual warm smile, the kind she wore even when she had very little energy left to give.

“welcome, sugar.” she greeted gently, setting a menu down in front of them. “what can i get for you today?” she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before leaning against the edge of the table ever so slightly. “we got a special on our homemade cherry pie. buy one, get one.” a soft laugh escaped her then as she motioned over her shoulder toward the kitchen. “i promise you won't regret it.” her gaze drifted toward table four for a brief second as another burst of childish laughter echoed through the diner before she shook her head with an amused smile. “and if you happen to witness mashed potatoes flying through the air at any point tonight and it lands on me…” she lowered her voice conspiratorially. “i'd appreciate it if we both agreed it never happened.”