#elementaryovercoffee

This past Thursday at my food service job, and I have to say that it was a little bittersweet. I had been exhausted and so ready to be done with that place. However, I felt that I was just starting to find my way. I was becoming better and faster at my role, and I was finally connecting with my coworkers. I had laughed and smiled so much more than any other day.

Another reason for the day being bittersweet was due to this woman I met, Y. Y was a new employee, and it was her first day. How coincidental for us to meet on my last day and her first?! Y was such a sweet woman. I am extremely happy that I got the pleasure to meet her. She is an older woman, who I’d place in her forties or fifties. Y shared a bit much for just meeting me, but I think it was due to our instant connection. Also, I could understand the concerns she shared with me because of being a new employee. Most of what she shared was how grateful she was to get the job which I completely understood. It’s hard out here and mostly everyone is struggling to make ends meet - myself included. Either way, I made time to check on Y during our shift and showed her how to do some things. 

I’d write more on her, but I’m not trying to put her business all out there. But Ugh she’s such a sweet woman. I hope everything works out for her, and that my old coworkers treat her right. She even brought doughnuts for everyone on her first day! It was such a nice gesture. At the end of her shift, (she clocked out at 1am while I would clock out at 4am) we exchanged numbers and I got her an uber to make sure she got home safely. The last bus of the night was long gone, and she was fairly new to uber/lyft. We hugged and wished each other well as she left. I hope, wish and pray that everything works out for her. For both of us.

__

The above quote came from one of my shift supervisors (3). I thought it was hilarious.

Saturday was one of my greatest shifts ever. I was super fast (at least for me). I was multitasking and taking multiple orders while washing dishes.

Did I mention that the Pick-up Window (PUW) person has to wash the dishes. And if you close for the night you have to wash the entire day’s dishes. Just you. By yourself.

My arms are constantly wet up to my shoulders.

I knew I was doing well and wanted to keep the momentum going, and then one of my shift supervisors (2) confirmed it, and I lost the momentum.

This isn’t true. This one lady came through the drive through and had a long, confusing order that she kept changing. We repeated back to her and she said it was right, but then she was change it again. -Oh the joys of the PUW!-

Monday, I covered a shift for another coworker. I don’t like him very much but oh well, I could use the extra cash. He offered his shift to me because he saw that I was only working two days this week. I told him that I was working so few days because I was actually quitting.

Monday was also the day that this chain brought back this highly sought after item and the day was pure hell. The lines were crazy in the store and in the drive-thru. I heard “do y’all have the ___” too many times.

Though this one guy came through the PUW and made me laugh. “Do y’all have the _ yet?” “Yes sir, we do.” “Oh my god yes! I’m so excited! Can I get a #9 then with extra BBQ sauce? And can I get that in a large?” “(Laughs) Yes sir. Would you like those spicy or regular?” “Spicy! And can I get an extra six count? I’m feeling like a fatty today.”

I’m feeling a little weird about Thursday being my last day. I just started to connect with my coworkers, and was getting faster and my duties. It’s a shame that I have to quit. 

If the place back home paid more than just half of what I currently get, I’d probably transfer. But oh well. On to better opportunities.

WHooooOOOoooooOOOooo TWO. MORE. DAYS!

I’m tired, so here are some highlights:

Older gentleman tells me that I should check my paycheck to see if 4% more taxes were taken out.

I actually interacted and laughed with some coworkers.

Patrons are nasty, but there are some workers who slack on their jobs, so the people who take over after them have to do twice the work. The “I don’t get paid enough for this” mentality is prevalent, and sometimes justified. Still sucks though.

Realizing that restaurants aren’t always necessarily dirty because a worker didn’t clean it. Patrons are disgusting and don’t clean up after themselves. A lot of patrons have the “they get paid to do this so, I’m helping them do their job.” You’re not. You’re making my job harder, and no I can’t leave on time, and miss the last bus home, and if I’m broke and can’t afford Uber, I’m stranded. So thank you for assisting me with my job I guess.

Day after day my spirit left a little, and I smiled at customers less and less. I’m starting to think this jobs sucks.

————

Saturday: Bad; it was busy and I had no time to do any of my other duties outside of taking orders. One of my shift managers was rude to me.

Sunday: Worse; meal rushes were even worse than the day before. Same shift manager is rude to me again.

Monday: Worst; meal rush was ?!?!?! Is this the best/cheapest place around here?! Dear god. Please eat somewhere else. I couldn’t do anything. By the time I finished cleaning the dining room and bathroom I missed the last bus home. Because of that I decided I might as well stay four more hours until close. That made a 7 hour shift turn into an 11 hour shift. Not sure if I felt that kinda pain before. My feet still hurt the next day.

Oh yeah! Usually older people are nice to me, compliment me and want to say nice things to my manager about me. But not the ****** that came in today. He was super slow ordering and totally oblivious to the long line he was creating. (Although why some people refuse to use the kiosk instead of waiting I don’t know.) He finished, I start working with the kid behind him when the old man jumps back in line and orders something else. I acknowledge him while still trying to help the kid, but the old man feels ignored and goes off. A coworker tried to help but he gets mad at her too. A shift manager (that I like) steps in to explain that I’m new. The old guy threatens to call corporate and wants my name along with the coworker who tried to help. He says he won’t call unless he gets some free bacon jalapeño fries. This whole incident just messed me up for the rest of the day.

Are they making Rush Hour 4?

—

I’m so tired. I’ve been tired before - but oh my goodness. Oh my lord. Oh my damn. They going ham. Haha, let me stop. But my my my, I don’t think I’ve been this tired before. I’ve probably worked more on my feet in the last two weeks than the last two years. My feet, legs and back hurt so bad. My body isn’t ready, it’s tired. My legs hurt so much, it’s keeping me awake. I can’t even rest. It makes me so sad. However, I’m so grateful to be working.

I felt like I had been getting adjusted and finding a rhythm the past few days, but not today. The store manager was there, and while he’s a great person to work under - I still want to make a good impression.

Well, that’s not exactly what happened. Of course there is the lunch rush and I kept getting backed up and needed others’ help. That’s what they’re there for, but it seems like others can handle my position better. (Of course they can because they have more experience.) Either way, I got it together eventually, especially after my break. I was running ragged. Every time I tried to do something, something else would need my attention. I couldn’t take orders, fill orders and keep the dining room clean and stocked all at the same time. It really felt like I was failing. Perhaps it’s still the pressure of being new, out of my comfort zone or not knowing what’s going on.

Background:

I am black.

Usually soft spoken

Tired

I smile and am polite when I’m at work.

-I attribute this to being new, and that working in food service hasn’t made me feel dead inside yet.

————

On to the story:

(A black man wearing a torn dashiki walks up to register.)

Me: (Politely) Welcome. How can I help you? (Smiles)

Man: Are you white?

Me: (Smile fades.) Huh?

Man: Are you white?

Me: No? (Checks to see if I still have dark skin with warm undertones.)

Man: Are you sure? (Looks at nametag) You have a real white sounding name. And your voice...

Me: (Internally: WTF? I’m too tired for this. Is this a joke? I just want to go home. Am I white though? Just take his order and get him outta here.)

Me: I know at least three other black women with my name. It’s common.

Man: Are you sure? (Reaches across counter and boops my nose.)

Me: ... (Screaming internally.)

Man: You look mad.

Me: I’m just tired. Also, I’ve literally never gotten that before.

It’s not that bad. Being on your feet for several hours isn’t great, but otherwise it’s okay.

I’m glad I get to interact with people, even if they are a little off. I rarely interacted with others at my last job.

I’m really angry at the person who left their feces all over the stall that I had to clean up. You could have tried to clean... I’m just going to assume, that you were unable to and we’re having a bad day and we’re embarrassed enough. But that mess was disgusting...

Free meals! I should try an actual combo instead of always getting a xyz.

Today’s coworkers were more tolerable.

I’m older than my manager.

Coworker helped me coordinate my duties so I wouldn’t miss the last bus and be stranded in the middle of the night. Thank you guy!

Body is too sore from standing, and I’m having trouble falling asleep.

“You look like you’re ready to go home.” “Yes! Buts it’s mostly because I’m new and overwhelmed.”

Vanilla seem to be more popular than chocolate.

Much time has passed. I’m lazy and busy, but never as busy as I would like. Let’s catch up:

I no longer work at the school I previously taught at

I don’t work at a school at all now.

I miss my kids terribly.

The second year was SO much better than the first.

I really made some positive connections with the kids I had.

Did I mention that I LOVE those kids.

I cried for thirty minutes hugging my “son” on the last day of school. Ugh

I miss him even though he doesn’t text me or keep in touch.

I hope he’s doing well. I hope they are all doing well.

^^This was well over a year ago.

I still keep in contact with a handful and that makes me happy.

I promised three of them that I’d fly into attend their 8th grade graduation next year. I don’t make promises, but they forced me.