flavor and fortune

Rose “I can’t believe I have to go into work today and to think today is my day off at the restaurant”. I think to myself as I get in my car and drive off. I work at a four star restaurant, yes four! Unfortunately, people can be really stingy with the reviews they leave online. What do they have against the last star it’s right next to the 4th star. You just have to click on it. So, unfortunately, I got called in today because one of the other chefs was sick, and the kitchen needs more hands-on deck . I mean, I could use the extra pay to get something nice for myself, but still I’ve been working for three days straight, and I need my rest….. no, not need….. crave my rest. But anyways I’ve gotten there, and I’m doing it anyway. I use the back entrance since that’s what the cooks and waiters use to get into the restaurant . “Where have you been?” Ted said as soon as I walked in. “We’ve been calling, didn’t you see the misses calls?” “I was on the road, and I don’t make it a habit to answer calls while driving, and I don’t have a death sentence, do I??” “Okay, but everywhere is packed, and we need hands on deck” “Okay I’ll change and catch up” “Thank you” he said, after which he took two deep breaths. Ted is a really nice guy, except when he’s tense and stressed, then he gets really bossy and not friendly, but other than that he’s a really nice guy. I get to work ,preparing some specials, helping around in the kitchen, and cleaning up as I do when a waiter calls for my attention, telling me that a customer wants to speak to me. “God I hate this part” I thought to myself as I followed her to the waiting customer. Usually, Ted was the one who helped talk to customers but today's a very day and i wouldn'twant to stress him more than he already is, so i take deep breaths and follow her out of the kitchen. As a cook,being called by a customer meant two things: you're either getting yelled at or complimented, and I really hope it’s the latter since it's my first time getting called. Getting to the table, the customer was a guy in a lazy suit. Yes, a lazy suit, one with its tie not knotted and the first two buttons undone. “Hello, I'm the cook that was requested for…" How may I help you” I said wearily. “Yes, you're the one who prepared this dish?”. “Yes,I am” “Wow, you're very good. This is one of the best dishes I've eaten in months. What's the name?” “It's a rice risotto.. nothing special” “it's not just special…..it's magnificent” he said while picking the plate up and giving the front a rather slow but not disgusting lick. “Um…. Thank you??, If that would be all, I'm just going to get back to the kitchen since we have a full house today”. Before he could speak again, I turned and hurried back to the kitchen. I wasn’t really a fan of going to talk to customers because I've heard of a lot of angry customers who, out of their anger, would throw their food in your face. So most of the time, I usually ask Ted to help me out in answering so I can just avoid all of them in the process. But this wasn't so bad. I'm not really much of am interactive person so when I say that my heart almost jumped out of my chest when I heard that a cook was being requested and it wasn't just any cook but me!....... you wouldn't have to look at me twice to know that I was scared out of my wits. But thankfully, it went very well. “But come to think of it , who hasn't tried the rice risotto in the area before?” I thought to myself as I got ready to leave my place of work. He didn't really look like he's from the area… so I guess that explains it. I get home and put on some billie eilish as soon as I walked through the door to cool my head from all the stress from work, then I prepare a warm bath to release the tension and undo all the knots in my shoulders and joint. Working at the restaurant can be stressful, but it pays the bills, and I'm grateful for that. Sometimes, I wish I was born with a gold spoon, and I didn't have to work so hard for things. "But I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and reasonably priced clothes to wear, so there's not much to complain about." I thought as I relaxed more into the bath.