NEXT DAY . . .
Denise's susprise visit last night was just about the most awkward thing ever. My question is, why did she still have a key? I remember it getting thrown at my face when we broke up that day . . . and my second question is . . . what does she mean? . . why would I regret my decision? . . I don't regret anything.
Denise and I are not meant to be . . I know . . she knows . . what the heck does she want from me? . . she did me wrong . . god, she did me SO WRONG . . I have no love left for her . . not one bit. It's written in the stars . . . Denise and I are not a match. . and we never will be. She hurt me too much . . . . I will certainly never regret my decision. She better not hold her breath if she thinks I'm gonna come back to her . . .
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New day, new adventure. I'm at school, going through the student's homework and hopefully soon I'll be leaving here. I can't wait to go to the restaurant. Destiny's smile sure lights up a room. About half an hour later I pack my briefcase and put on my coat . . . but it looks like I can't leave yet . . . one of my students, Brenda Baker, just walked up to my desk.
"What are you doing back here, Brenda? did you forget something?"
"No . . I have a favor to ask, Mr.Jackson. . ."
"Ok . . . what is it?"
"Umm . . could you please call my home and tell my mom that I have to stay late?"
"But you don't have to stay late . . why do you want me to tell her that?"
"Because . . . well . . I can't go home right now . . ."
"Why not? . . ."
"Because . . . because I just can't . . . please, Mr.Jackson . . ."
"Brenda . . . can you please tell me what's going on? I sense a little trouble in your little world . . please feel free to sit down . . I'm listening to you"
"I can't tell you, Mr.Jackson . . . I really can't . . . "
A single tear suddenly rolls down her left cheek. I'm stopping in my stracks. I take off my coat again and put it on my desk. I sit back down and ask Brenda to please tell me what's going on at home. There must be something going on . . . why doesn't she wanna go home?
"Brenda . . . please tell me what's going on, I'm interested . . and I'm here to help"
She starts crying . . . I take a deep breath, putting my hand on her shoulder. I can't let her walk out of here without knowing what's going on. I wanna help her . . . the best I can. We're sitting here in silence . . the only sound I hear is her sobbing. About 4 minutes later she breaks the silence. . slowly and quietly she starts talking about her issue at home. .
"It's Steve . . . my mom's new boyfriend . . . he's . . not very nice . ."
"Brenda . . I need to know why . . please tell me everything . . ok?"
"He . . . Steve is very violent . . . he's . . he's a monster when he's drunk . . . he beats my mom constantly . . . and sometimes when I'm in bad luck, he beats me too. . . ."
My heart breaks instantly. I take her in my arms, trying to come up with something to do that could help her. I can't let this girl go back home . . this is a difficult situation I never had to deal with before . . with none of my students . . . this is my first class, my first run at being a teacher . . and I gotta admit that I'm a little overwhelmed right now. I wanna do the right thing . . . . I need to help her.
"Brenda . . first of all we have to call the police . . . ."
"NOOO!! . . Mr.Jackson please . . . I can't do that . . Steve will get so upset . . ."
"No he won't because he will be behind bars! . . . Brenda, we have to get this Steve guy out of your house . . your mom and you can't live in danger like that. . do you understand? . . every human being has a right to live in a safe environment . . . you're not safe in there . . and I'm very, VERY happy that you told me this, ok? . . I can help you . . and I will . . . alright? there's no need for you to cry. . you're safe"
"I'm scared, Mr.Jackson . . . I'm so scared for my mom . ."
"I'm gonna call the police now . . . is that ok? are you gonna let me do that?"
"I . . I guess . . ."
"Alright . . I'm gonna do that now . . everything will be fine, Brenda"
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~ Destiny's point of view ~
Working the late shift . . once agan. Someone please shoot me. I've cleaned tables and emptied full ashtrays for the last 2 hours now . . . I'm not even gonna look at a wash cloth for the next half hour. Why can't Mrs.Stine just hire more people?! . . Why is it that I have to run and do everything around here while she is in her office doing her nails and drinking her expensive champange?! . . it's just not fair!
"Hey sweetheart . . .how about a hot cup of coffee for me?"
I turn around and look at the customer that just sat down on the table behind me. I give him a forced smile and tell him that his coffee is on its way.
"Make it hot, alright? . . just like your hot little body . . ."
I stop and turn around. "Pardon?. . . what did you just say?"
"Nothing, sweetheart . . . just bring my coffee, will ya?"
I suck it up and go make his coffee. Moments like these make me regret working as a waitress. It's the horny ass guys hoping for a little flirting and grabbing . . . well, dude . . not with me! . . I'm sick of guys like him, I'm sick of being started at like that. I don't mind guys checking me out but this guys is crossing the line. The way he stares at my legs is just . . . ugh . . . I'm about to puke. . . .
"Here is your coffee, sir . . . ."
"Wait, wait, wait . . young lady . . . what's your name?"
"That's a secret I like to keep to myself" I say, again, wiith a forced smile.
"Ohhh . . I love secrets . . I love girls and their secrets . . makes it all so much more interesting. You're really beautiful . . . I can't keep my eyes off of you . . . ."
"Too bad . . I gotta go . . . ."
"Naa . . come on . . stay here . . entertain me for a little bit . . ."
"Entertain you? . ."
"Yea . . . tell me something . . . spin around . . let me see that cute skirt from all angles, will ya?"
"OK, that's it!!!" I yell, "I'm not a hooker, I'm a waitress in this restaurant and I want you to treat me with respect! do you understand me?! . . I'm treating you with respect and I expect the same thing from you!!"
Mr.Stine comes walking up to me, asking me why I'm raising my voice like that.
"Mrs.Stine . . this customer was rude to me . . . I didn't mean to raise my voice like that, I just felt like I had to defend myself"
"Defend yourself?" She asks, "What did he do to you, Destiny?"
"He . . he . . . umm . ."
"I just told her how good she looks in that outfit" The old guy adds, "I really love how wonderful you all are dressed here . . that's all I said . . I guess she took it the wrong way . . I was just being nice . . I know how girls love compliments like that . . but I guess this lovely waitress doesn't . . . I apologize from the heart and I will keep my distance and my mouth shut from now on"
Mrs.Stine apologizes to the old man for my ''bad behavior'' and literally pushes me into her office, forcing me to sit down. How could this man lie like that?! . . he did not compliment me at all, he came on to me!! if I turned around in front of him he would've grabbed my ass! . . . and of course Mrs.Stine doesn't believe a word I say . . . . like always.
"I can't believe you, Destiny!! . . Mrs.Leonard is a good paying customer! how dare you make such a scene?!!"
"I didn't make a scene at all! this man came on to me! he made me feel uncomfortable with his staring and with what he said! . . he wasn't honest with you . . he didn't compliment me, he called me names and said words that made me feel violated . . . ."
"Oh . . you gotta be kidding me!!! . . Destiny . . you're better than this! stop acting like a little baby!! you're a grown woman! . . if you can't take compliments like that then maybe this job just isn't for you!!! now get back to work!"
She storms out of her office, leaving me sitting here all by myself like an idiot. I feel like abig lump . . I'm angry and sad at the same time . . I wanna break a wall and cry . . . I can't wait to get home tonight. I've had enough for today. . . . I reluctantly make my way back out to the restaurant . . . . . and suddenly. . . all my anger disappears instantly. . . Michael is here . . . . he just walked in and sat down . . . . thank you, lord! thank you for adding some sugar to this madness. . . .
I walk up to his table with a bright smile on my face. I hope it's not too bright though . .I don't wanna seem like a creep. . I could really use some sweetness right now . . . and Michael has a ton of it on his face and in his voice . . . . too much sugar actually . . . enough to make me feel a little better.
"Hi Michael . . nice to see you here, what can I get you?"
"I'd like something to eat . . . but nothing heavy please . . maybe a salad with some chicken on the side? . . and a coffee, please"
"Coming right up"
I rush to the kitchen and put the order on the board for the cooks to see. I rush back and pretend to clean the table next to his. Can I get enough of his sugar face? . . nope. I wanna sit down next to him and talk . . . . but I'm a little hestitant . . . I don't want him to think that i'm desperate . . . I know this is crazy but that's just how I feel . . .
"Wanna sit down for a minute?" He asks.
Without a word and with no hesitation I sit down, faster than the wind.
"Sure . . I got a minute :)"
Just now, for the first time ever, I smell his gorgeous, intoxicating aroma. Lord help me . . he smells so darn good. I wish I could sit here and take in his scent until the sun comes back up tomorrow morning . . and then we could go take a walk on a beautiful green frield with trees and flowers surrounding us . . and maybe then I could let him take my hand and we could . . . maybe we could go take a long walk on the beach as well . . . and then we could grab some drinks and rest in the cold sand and . . . .
"Destiny? . . hello? . . are you still here?" He asks, ending my daydream.
"Excuse me, Michael . . I was lost in my thoughts . . what did you say?"
"I asked if . . if my food is ready . . because . . I'm very hungry, hehe"
"OH MY GOD . . I'm so sorry! of course, I'll get your food right away!"
I jump up and run to the kitchen. Michael's salad and chicken is standing there on the counter, ready for me to get it. This is so embarrassing. I totally lost myself sitting next to him . . . that never happened to me before. I toally lost the ground under my feet for a few seconds . . . . I put the plate in front of him and wait for him to take the first bite. He puts some pepper over his salad and then finally takes the first bite. I lick my lips unaware that he's actually looking at me, smiling brightly in my direction.
"You want some?" He asks. I quickly shake my head and smile.
"No, no, no . . thank you . . please enjoy your dinner :)"
"Sweetheart!" . . . Mr.Leonard yells from his table. I roll my eyes and force myself to look in his direction. How I hate having to go over there right now but I have to . . . Mrs.Stine has her eyes everywhere. I just gotta suck it up and pray that this man will leave soon . . . . I walk over to him. He smiles at me. . .
"Hi sweetheart . . . I would like to have one of your delicious cupcakes"
"We don't offer cupcakes at this time of the night . . . but we have cake and tarts and a variety of great fruit salads available . . . if you're interested"
"Fruit salad? . . that sounds amazing . . . I'll have that . . . and make sure it's sweet just like you"
I force a smile in his direction and nod. "Coming right up, Sir"
I bring him his stupid fruit salad and turn around quickly before he gets to say another stupid thing. He of course stops me from walking away and asks the most inappropriate question ever. .
"What time are you done working tonight, sweetheart?"
"Sir . . please stop calling me that . . . and I'm sorry, I don't wanna tell you that"
"Why not? . . . I can drive you home . . . a beautiful young woman like you shouldn't be on her own at a time like this when it's dark outside . . . let me drive you home, it's my pleasure"
"No . . . thank you!!"
I walk back to Michael's table and sit down. He takes a sip from his coffee.
"Is everything ok?" He asks sweetly.
I shake my head, looking at the old, disgusting guy. "No . . actually nothing's ok right now . . this old guy over there keeps hitting on me . . I feel disgusted, you have no idea . . I told him to stop but he doesn't listen. . . I'm not kidding. I just want him to leave me alone. . ."
"Let me take care of that" Michael says, getting up.
I look at him. "Huh? . . what? . . Michael, what are you doing?"
"I'm going over there and let him know a thing or two!"
"What? . . Michael, no you don't have to . . you really don't!"
Michael takes my hand and pulls me up to the table where the old guy is sitting, eating his stupid fruit salad with his stupid mouth and stupid . . spoon. What is Michael doing? . . I can't believe he's doing this . . . what is he gonna say to the man? . . I have no clue what's about to happen here . . .
"Excuse me, sir . . . I just came over here to let you know that I don't like the way you're talking to my girlfriend . . I'm asking you to quit the act because I don't appreciate it!"
"Don't worry, son . . . I gotcha" The old guy says, turning away from us, facing the wall. Wow . . I can't believe he stood up for me like that . . . . I'm speechless . . . my heart is doing flips and my hands are trembling. That was just about the sweetest thing any guy has ever done for me. Michael walks me back to his table with a huge smile on his face.
"I'm sure he'll leave you alone now"
"Michael I . . . wow . . . thank you for doing that . . but you really didn't have to"
"I felt like I had to . . . you looked upset . . men shouldn't drool over women like that . . it's called having respect . . . and this man obviously doesn't even know the meaning of the word . . . please don't feel obligated to thank me for something like that . . . if he makes you any more trouble, be sure to let me know, alright?"
"DESTINY!!!!"
Mrs.Stine interrups our conversation.
"DESTINY! . . what are you doing sitting here?! . . there are customers waiting for you to take their order! there is no room for private conversations when you're at work, do you understand? . . now say goodbye to your friend here and get your pretty face back to work, alright?"
"Yes, Mrs.Stine!" I get up and fix my skirt. "What time are you getting off work?" Michael asks. I smile shyly looking down. . this question sounds great coming from HiM . .
~ to be continued ~