The loud ringing of my alarm fills the room. I stick my hand out and try to find my phone. I get up and push my hair out of my face and turn off the alarm.
I check my phone and see a bunch of missed calls from Alara.
I stretch and get up. I start getting ready for the day. After I'm dressed up I go downstairs.
Mimi is still asleep, so I'm careful not to wake her.
I grab my car keys and phone and put them in my purse.
I quietly open the door and leave. I put the address into my GPS and get into my car. I start the engine and drive off.
It's not long before I reach the restaurant. I park in the parking lot and walk in.
A girl with a black hijab and brown eyes is standing at the counter. She's wearing a plain white blouse and tight black trousers.
'Hey, I'm here for my first shift.' I say.
'You must be Dilara.' She says. 'I'm Amira.' She extends her hand and shakes it. You can see her smiley piercing when she talks.
'Come to the back and I'll give you your uniform.' She says. 'Antonio take over.' A guy with and eyebrow slit and corn rolls takes Amira's spot.
We walk to the back of the huge restaurant and into a room with lockers.
'Here's your key so you can leave your stuff here.' She hands me a key with the numbers 27 engraved on it.
I open up my locker and put my purse inside of it.
'Here's your uniform.' She hands me a white blouse and black pencil skirt. She gives me my name badge.
'Go change in the toilets and you can get started straight away.' Amira says.
'Thank you.' I say.
'No problem.' She replies.
I go into the toilet and get dressed. I put my hair into a low bun and take out two pieces in the front.
I get out and put my other clothes in my locker.
I straighten out the front of my skirt and walk out. I walk past the kitchen and the smell of delicious food hits me.
'Sbrigati, ora abbiamo bisogno del cibo!' A man yells.
Translation: Hurry up we need the food now!
I walk back to the front and Amira hands me a notepad and pen.
'You and Antonio will be waiting on the tables.' She says.
I walk over to a table where a middle aged couple are sitting.
'Hey what can I get for you?' I ask. I write down their table number.
'Could we have one Ravioli and a Lasagna.' The man says.
'Anything else?' I ask as I write it down.
'Some red wine and two biscotti gelatos.' The woman adds. I write it down.
'Coming right up.' I say. I walk away to the back and hand it through the window to the kitchen.
'For table five!' I yell.
'This is for table twelve.' The man hands me a tray of food.
I take it and carry it to table twelve. A young couple with a baby boy sit there.
'Let me know if I can get anything else for you.' I say.
'Thank you.' The woman says.
I turn around and bump into someone. I look up and see Adriano.
'You've got to be kidding me.' I mutter.
'Dilara what are you doing here?' Terzo asks from next to him.
'Omg Dilara is here!' Alora exclaims. Her purple hair is in pigtails.
'I literally can't escape you guys.' I mutter.
I walk around Adriano and walk towards another table.
'If you're going to apologise could you not follow me to work.' I snap turning round to him.
'Follow you?' Zoya asks.
'Dilara my family owns this place.' Adriano laughs.
My jaw drops. I need to watch my tongue he could get me fired.
'Now are you going to serve us?' He asks raising an eyebrow.
'Of course.' I say through gritted teeth.
I lead them to a table and they all sit down.
'Alessandro will be joining us soon.' Lorenzo says.
'What can I get for you?' I ask.
'I'll have a Spaghetti Carbonara.' Adriano says. I write it down.
'Alora and I will take a lasagna.' Lorenzo says.
'A Panna Cota gelato for me.' Terzo says.
'Some of the spaghetti please.' Zoya adds. I write it all down.
'Coming up.' I say.
I walk away and hand the paper to the chef through the window.
'Table Twenty.' I say. He nods and shouts orders to everyone else.
I take a plate labelled for table fifteen and take it to them.
'Table twenty's food is ready!' The chef yells ringing the bell.
I walk over and grab two of the many trays belonging to them.
I place the lasagnas down and the spaghetti and go back for the other trays. Everyone is busy talking in Italian in hushed tones.
I place the gelato in front of Terzo.
'Here's a tip Tesoro.' Adriano says, handing me a hundred dollar bill.
Translation: Treasure
'Thank you.' I say tucking it into the pocket of my apron.
I walk back to Amira at the front.
'Let me write down your number, so I can let you know when you're working.' She says.
I rip a piece of paper out of my notepad and write down my number. I hand it to her and she tucks it into her pocket.
***********
'I'll let you know when you're working again.' Amira says.
'Ok, I'll see you later.' I say. I grab my things from my locker and walk out to my car.
I put my stuff in the passenger seat and drive home.
'Where did you go?' Mimi asks when I walk through the door.
'Started my new job.' I reply, taking my shoes off.
'I don't understand you.' She says shaking her head 'your mum sends you thousands of dollars a month and you still want to work.'
'I'm not going to use her pity money.' I snap. 'You should get a job too, get your ass off that couch.' I throw a pillow at her.
'You still need to tell me what happened last night.' She says.
'Did you get my food?' I ask.
'Your Taco Bell is in the microwave.' She says.
'I'll be down in a second!' I yell as I run up the stairs.
I take off my work uniform and change back into my comfy clothes.
I put on my black fluffy slippers and take out my hair.
I run down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mimi follows me.
'Ok now spill.' She says as I take my food out of the oven.
I sit down at the table and unwrap my burrito supreme. I look up at her and tell her what happened.