Marrisa Bonifacio
It’s been one week since I started roaming the city of Mexico in search of a job. Everyday I come back and meet Mrs. Kathrine at home. I’m tired of telling her that I’m not successful today, I need today’s story to be different.
My stomach is hurting, I didn’t eat in the morning cause I wanted to live early and now I’m very hungry, the harsh sun is beating me so hard,
I keep looking around like a psycho. Everywhere I go they keep on saying no vacant. I’m even tired, the sun is getting too much, and I need a place to stay for some time. I’m losing my breath, and hunger is dealing with me.
I kept on looking at around searching for a shade when suddenly the sweet aroma of food crossed my nose, my mouth watered and validated at once, I look beside me to see an eatery,
I didn’t know when I gulped down unknown saliva, I wanted to keep going my way since I don’t even have any money in me, but No…. I look down at my baby bump, my baby is starving I don’t care if I have money or not I’m taking this risk
I turned to the direction of the eatery and started walking toward it.
I was already standing at the entrance of the eatery contemplating whether to go back or not,
“Should I go back?” I asked myself
“You already started this, finish it for your baby’s sake for your baby,” My subconscious told me
“But isn’t it risky to walk into an eatery with nothing….?”
“Your baby is worth the risk” My subconscious replied, taking that as a go ahead, without further contemplating, I walk into the eatery and took a seat at a corner
I look around the whole place, digesting the sweet aroma of food that’s in the air and waiting for a waiter to come serve me
“Hello mam, what do we serve you?” I heard a voice and look up to see a young lady maybe my age, she dressed like a waitress obviously she’s one of them
“Uh hmmm…what did you say?” I asked nervously since I didn’t get her the first time,
“Eww….” She did a disgusting sound before rolling her eyes at me
“What do you care for…..?” She asked looking angry
“Mhmm, rice chicken that’s what I want”
“Hmm, rich chicken?” She asked sarcastically
“Are you sure you can afford that?”
“What do you mean?” I asked not liking her guts, She draw closer to my ear and whispered,
“I’ll use your face to wipe this whole place when you fall to pay” My eyes widened in fear
She pulled back and glared at me dangerously before leaving.
“Whoops….” I puff out the air I didn’t know I was holding, I look back and shook my head that lady looks wicked
I watched a couple walk in and out of the eatery, some were leaving while some were arriving.
I was still admiring the eatery when I heard a loud thud on my table, I look up in fright and saw the waitress glaring at me and fuming
I look at the table to see a hot plate of rice chicken waiting for me to decor, I gulp down saliva as my mouth salivates
I picked up the spoon and without warning, I dig into the plate of rice and start to decor it, every other thing disappeared as my only focus was to fill my stomach and quench the hunger in it
A few minutes later, I was done with the food. I look up and was shocked to see the waitress still standing and glaring daggers at me
“You eat like a starved animal” She spat out,
I folded my fist on the table and closed my eyes fighting the urge to deal with this lady, it’s clear she’s one hell of a bitch.
“Do you enjoy looking down on people”
“It’s clear you don’t have money, don’t waste my time or you follow me there’s a lot of plates that need to be washed” She lashed not minding the presence of people, I sighed and look down at my stomach, without saying any other thing I stood up
“Go show me the plate”
“Gosh you suck” She hissed before walking away while I followed behind, we passed through many corners before we came to the section where used plates are dumped
“This is too much…!” I nearly screamed,
“Hahaha….” She laughs sarcastically
“Well you should have thought about that before finishing one full plate of rice chicken, does this place look like a charity home to you…?”
“But…..”
“You better finish this plate or you won’t be going home today”
I sighed looking at the heap of plates and since I don’t have any other choice, slowly I bent down and started washing the plate
“Don’t even think of running away, rubbish” She hissed walking out
I started washing the plate that were filled and scattered the whole place, minutes later I was already sweaty, yet the plate is not near to finishing
One hour later, I already managed to wash half of the plate, I’m exhausted, I walk to one of the small chairs and sat down resting for the ones I washed, suddenly the door burst open and the waiter walked in
“Can I leave please I’m already tired” I pleaded
“Well you should have thought about that before you finish a plate of rice without paying, do you think we don’t buy that food with money…!?”
“I’m sorry please I already washed half of the plate and besides I’m pregnant my stomach is hurting”
“Do I look like the person that got you pregnant? What’s my business with you being pregnant!?”
“Please I’m tired allow me to go”
“The eatery will be closing in two hours, you better be fast or I lock you in here, I don’t care”
She walks out slamming the door shut.
I sighed my tummy was hurting. I’ve been bending for hours, my waist hurts as well.
“I didn’t know life was going to be this hard, it’s getting tougher…” I cried inwardly, but then I felt something wet my cheeks, that’s when I knew I was crying on the outside as well.
I stood up from the chair and walked back to the plate, deciding to finish it this time. I need to go home. I do not want to be locked here.
One hour later I was done with the whole plate, I walk to the door and made to open it when I found out it was locked, my heart skipped immediately
“Has she left?”
“Did she lock me in here and leave ?”
A lot of thought was going in my head, I started knocking and banging on the door,
“Open the door….!” I kept on screaming when suddenly the i heard ruling of keys, I stepped back and the door open
“Why are you screaming? Are you done with the plates?” She asked harshly and pushed me aside, she walked in and checked the plates too. make sure they are all washed, when she’s sure they are all clean she turned to me
“You can leave next time you don’t go about ordering food when you’re broke”
“Please show me the way, I’m not familiar with this place,” I asked calmly not to upset her,
She roll her eyes before walking past me bumping her against mine, I followed her quietly till we came out to the section where ate my food
“Leave….” She glared at me,
I untie the apron which I use to wash the plate and hand it over to her
“Can I tell you something?” I asked her
“And what is that…?”
” Mind the way you treat people you never can tell who will meet you at your lowest tomorrow”
“And what does that mean?” She fumed balling her fist
“Goodbye” I smiled and without looking back I left the eatery.
It was already dark, another bad day for me. I was tired. I don’t even have a bus fare which means I’m trekking home.
I was walking as the cold breeze blew on my skin, I wrap my hand around my arms, shielding myself from cold
I was walking past a bar when suddenly my eye caught something on the notice board, “Bar attendant needed”
Rare of hope flashes through my mind, I rush into the bar, but then I noticed the whole place looks empty, I look around and I sighted a guy cleaning the table
“Does this mean they are closed?”
“Gosh, it better not be,” I said to myself,
I walk closer to the guy
“Excuse me”
He looks up and stares at me from head to toe before asking
“Are you here for any services?”
“No actually, I want to see the boss I mean the owner of the bar”
“I’m sorry we’re closed for the day and the boss is about to leave”
“Please….. just one minute please” I pleaded almost going on my knees, he looked at me and sigh
“Fine come with me”
“Thank you, thank you so much” I smile, dusting my clothes and rushing after him.
He stopped before a door and knock
“Who’s there?” A ladies voice asked
“Ma someone is here to see you” The guy replied
“You didn’t tell the person were closed”
“Sorry ma, it’s urgent”
After some seconds we got nothing, I was starting to lose hope when I heard
“Let her in”
The guy pulled the door open and I entered, a lady was sitting in her CEO seat, packing up the stuff on the table
“Good evening ma” I greeted gaining her attention
“How can I help you,” She asked
“I…. I saw the vacancy outside so….”
“There’s no vacancy” She interrupted even before I can finish speaking
“Please man I can be a bartender”
“And what do you know about wines?” She asked giving her full attention
“Nothing ma but….”
“Have you worked in a bar before?”
“Hmmmmm” I heaved deeply before answering
“No mam”
“Then the job is not for you”
“Please ma I promise to learn I need a job ma please I’m pregnant I need this job”
“More reasons why I can’t employ you”
“Excuse me ma?”
“You’re pregnant and not fit to work”
I can’t take more rejections, slowly I lowered my knees to the ground, with my hand claps together
“Give me a try mam I promise you won’t regret it”
She was silent for a while, I was praying inwardly for her to give me a chance
“Young lady leave my office”
“Ma…..”
“Now…..!’
I fought the tears that blurred my sight, At this moment I want to curse myself for my ill luck, but then I have a baby, I shouldn’t give up
I stood up from the ground and dusted my knees, I look at the lady who stood looking at the door, I turned slowly and started leaving, I held onto the doorknob and was about to twist it open
“Wait….” I heard her say, I turned immediately with my eyelashes paired widely
“Tomorrow seven in the morning, let’s see what you got”
“Ahhhh……thank you……!!” I screamed jumping up in excitement.