The surrogate Truth

The chaos around us

The restaurant is always a crazy scene for us the employees. The customers just have to seat and us the servers attend to them as best as we can, hoping that at the end of the day, we get compensated.

I walk back to one of the tables I am covering for the night to ask if they never a refill and if everything they wanted was perfect.

I try not to let me mind roam free, but its hard not thinking about the things In my life. I go to the other tables and ask them the same thing before heading to the counter to grab extra napkins for one of the customers.

I pass my the kitchen ans remind the chef about the lobster rolls I signed off almost five minutes ago. I get a thumbs up from him and know that any minute now, he will ring me up to deliver the order.

As I am walking back to the corner of the room to monitor my tables, I hear the door open and naturally I turn my head in the direction of that. I see it's none other than the manager walking in.

Instinctly, I raise my hand to check the time and sure enough it was early. The manager, Mr Tom never came in until at least an hour before we closed at night. This was very suss but I didn't have time to dwell on that because I could see a customer raising his from my periphery.

I walk to the table because to attend to him but before I can get there, his lady companion had already slipped the content of her glass on him.

"May, can we leave this place and talk somewhere less crowded?" The male who flaged my says in a choked tone.

I hand him some tissues I have stack in my apron.

"Wow, just say you don't have the guts to face my you boneless swine. I can't believe I even went out with you. Without me, you would never be where you are now.

And now, you think you can leave me? Break up with me?

Hahahahahaha. I will you regret this. "She gets up to leave and so does he

"If you even try to touch me right now, I'll scream. I wish you the best life ever Luke. I hope you get everything you have always wanted." She said with so much hate

She shoves me out of her way and walks out of the restaurant. Everyone is looking between the door and the man still standing.

"Uhmm, I'm so sorry about this, can I get the cheque pls?

I think I've caused enough problems for the rest of my life." The man says looking so small, it felt like he wanted to disappear

"I will be right back with that sir." I say as I turn to grab his cheque.

I hand it over to him and he doesn't even spare it any glance before dropping a couple of hundred bills on it

"This should cover our meals and your tip including that assault earlier by May. I am really sorry about that." He says while walking away from the table.

I pick the cheque including the cash he dropped and walk to get it entered in. I see that the chef was done preparing the meal so I pick it up and go to deliver it to the customer.

The nightshift continues to run smoothly after the little hiccup and by the my back starts hurting and my legs almost give out, I see one of the last customers walking out.

I take a deep breath in and find the nearest chair to sit on.

I have been on a double shift with less than 3 hours of sleep. Coupled with the fact that I only had a bagel this morning.

"Em, Patrick says he'll like a word. Any idea what that's about?" Kate asks but I know it has nothing to do with her caring but all about her nosiness.

"Uhmmm" I say putting my hand on my chin. "I'm not really sure, Kate."

I get up from the chair and walk to the Manager's office. When I get there, I knock waiting for him to allow me in.

"You can come in." I hear from the other side of the door

I open the door and walk into the office. Since I started working in this restaurant I've only been in here three times and all those times it was to receive my paycheck.

I know for a fact that it's this isn't even close to when we get our weekly cheque so I cannot help but be nervous.

"Uhm P, you wanted to see me." I say nervously as I rub my hands on my apron." This is an act I picked up as a kid and I have never being able to let go

"Emily, I called you in here to talk about you recent behaviour, you understand don't you?"

I look at him trying to look as clueless as possible

"I don't think I follow Patrick. I have being nothing but the best." I add with a smile

"Do not make this harder than necessary Emily. You've gotten into fights with this week with your fellow coworkers and on top of that, you have been slacking off.

I know it's hard for you but, this time you really did cross the line and I shall no longer cover for you anymore.

Kate and the others reported the incident of the fight to the Restaurant owner and I almost lost my job too for covering up for you." Patrick finishes

"Wait, someone lost their job?" I whisper feeling like if I said it loudly it might be true

Patrick keeps looking at me after a few moments, he pulls his drawer and brings out what looks like a pay check.

"What's that for?" I asked with a laugh at the end trying to lighten the mood in the room

"Don't make this harder than it needs to be Emily.

Please, accept your last paycheck and then go and clear your locker in the employees station. As of right now, your employment has been terminated at this restaurant."

I don't know how I got here but next thing I know, I am on my knees. It could be because of the lack of food in my system or the fact that I had not slept for more than 7 hours this week but I knew deep down it was because of what Patrick just said now.

"Patrick

Patrick." I try to say calmly but my voice was already cracking

"Patrick, Pls don't do this to me." The words come out of my mouth as tears starts flowing from my eyes.

I start to inch closer to him but he shakes his head. He stands up and comes over to me. He gives me what really looks like my last paycheck. I take it because I am scared that if I don't he will change his mind.

The moment I collect it, the walks to the door and turns to me looking me straight in the eyes, then he opened it.

I stand up from my kneeling position and take deep breaths trying to steady myself and my emotions.

A few seconds later, I wipe the tears out of my face start walking out the door. I don't bother to say anything to him anymore. I go to the locker room and take my things out of my space here.

After that, I enter the service area and see some of my former coworkers. As I am leaving I hear someone say

"Psss, psss. Emily are you going to leave without saying goodbye to us?

That hurts our feelings." She mocks

I turn to see who said that and saw that it was Kate.

She had already cover the distance between us.

She brings her hand close to me and I think she's going to attack but instead puts something in the pocket of my clothe

"It's your tip from tonight. Think of it as a parting gift from us here. "She says like she gives a damn but I know deep down, she is happy that I was leaving.

I nod my head and turn to Continue my walk out of the building.

"Don't let the door hit you on your way out ,Emily. We wouldn't want that." She teases and the my other ex coworkers starts to laugh at me.

I walk down the street and go to the only place where I the most important person to me is currently there