ROLE MODEL

Working at Chucky Cheese is a dream for someone like me. I've always believed in the power of a positive attitude, the kind that can light up even the gloomiest of days. It's like a ripple in a pond; one smile can lead to another, and before you know it, the whole place is glowing with warmth.

That's the energy I try to bring every day, and it's why I love my job so much.

People say I'm a natural at making others feel good, and honestly, I think they might be right.

Just the other day, a little girl dropped her Chucky cheeseburger, and before she could even start crying, I was there with a fresh one, I even gave her a toy to boot.

The way her face lit up when I handed it to her was priceless. It's moments like that that make everything worth it. Being able to help people, even in the smallest of ways, is the best part of my day. 

Of course, it's not just the customers I enjoy helping. I love working with my co-workers too. When Natalie struggled with the cash register last week, I stayed late to teach her how to balance it properly. She was so grateful that she almost cried.

When Miguel had trouble understanding the schedule rotation, I patiently explained it to him until he got it. It wasn't a big deal for me, but it made a huge difference to them, and that's what matters.

I guess you could say I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I like things to be just right, and I'm not afraid to go the extra mile to make sure they are. Chris, the business manager, was so shocked when I told him I work almost every day while also studying for my law degree. He was so impressed, and now, he always turns to me when he needs something done efficiently.

Indira, another manager who's usually pretty strict, always tells me that I'm the heart of the restaurant, the glue that holds everything together. I can see why she thinks that. I've been here longer than most, and I know the ins and outs of this place like the back of my hand.

From the kitchen to the children's play area, there's not a corner of this restaurant that I'm not familiar with. And it's not just that I know it well; I genuinely care about this place and everyone in it.

 Alice, the other shift manager, has a soft spot for me. She once told me that if she had ten more employees like me, running the restaurant would be a breeze. I've always admired Alice for her no-nonsense attitude, and knowing that she appreciates my work means the world to me.

But, if I'm being honest, there's one person here who I can't stand, and that's Jonathan. It's almost laughable how different we are. While I'm busy trying to make everything perfect, Jonathan is the complete opposite. He's lazy, cynical, and acts like the world owes him something. 

I've lost count of how many times I've seen him skirting his responsibilities or rolling his eyes when a customer asks for something. It's like he's allergic to hard work.

I can't let anyone know how much I despise him, though. That wouldn't be right. It doesn't fit with the image I've built, the role model everyone expects me to be. So I keep my feelings buried deep down, smiling through every interaction with him, no matter how much it grates on me.

But today… today might be the day that cracks my perfect facade.

Amy walked into the kitchen for her usual morning shift, when she was suddenly greeted by Chris, who seemed unusually chipper.

"Good morning, Amy! You're working in the kitchen today with Jonathan."

Amy's heart sank, but she quickly forced a smile.

"Sounds great!" she said, cheerfully as she could manage. Internally, she was screaming.

"Why on earth would Chris pair me with Jonathan? He knows we're like oil and water."

She thought to herself anxiously. She knew she couldn't let her discomfort show, not even a hint of it. Instead, she nodded politely and made her way over to her station.

Jonathan was already there, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed, he had his usual moody look.

"Huh? I'm working with you today, am I? Hmph. Could be worse." he drawled, barely looking up as I approached.

"Good morning, Jonathan!" Amy chirped, keeping her tone light and friendly. "Ready for another great day?"

Jonathan snorted. "Sure, if you say so. At least I don't have to deal with the kids out front today."

Amy smiled, pretending not to notice the bitterness in his voice.

"It'll be nice and quiet back here, just the two of us." The words tasted sour in Amy's mouth, but she kept her expression bright.

"Let's make it a great shift!"

As the morning wore on, Amy focused on her tasks with laser-like precision.

The kitchen was a flurry of activity, with burgers to be made, fries to be salted, and orders to be filled. Amy moved through each task with practiced ease, her hands working quickly and efficiently. Every burger came out perfectly, every order was exactly as it should be.

Jonathan, on the other hand, was his usual self. He moved slowly, taking his time with every little task, like he had all the time in the world.

Amy watched as he lazily assembled a burger, barely putting the meat patty on and haphazardly tossing on the toppings. Amy's fingers itched to fix it, but she resisted the urge. Instead, she forced herself to smile.

"That looks great, Jonathan!" she said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into her voice. "You're starting to get the hang of it."

He glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "You don't have to pretend, you know. I'm not trying to impress anyone here."

"Oh, I'm not pretending," Amy lied smoothly. "I just think it's important to support each other. We're a team, after all!"

Jonathan shrugged, not convinced, and went back to his lazy burger-making.

Amy turned away, gritting her teeth behind her smile. "Why did Chris have to put us together today? I love working here, but Jonathan is making it so hard to keep up the positive energy that I pride myself on." she thought to herself as she sighed.

As the hours passed, Amy's patience started to wear thin. Every time Jonathan slacked off, it meant more work for her. And every time she had to pick up the slack, it became harder to maintain the cheerful facade. But Amy couldn't let him get to her. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

At one point, Jonathan stopped altogether, not even in the kitchen anymore, instead, he was fooling and joking around with another co-worker in a completely different station!

Amy took a deep breath, walking over to him with what she hoped was a friendly expression.

"Hey, Jonathan, could you help me with these orders? We're starting to get a bit of a backlog."

He didn't even pay her attention, continuing his play-fighting with his colleague.

"You've got it covered, Miss Carter. I'll just be in the way." 

Her smile faltered for a split second, but she quickly recovered.

"Oh, come on, it'll go faster if we work together! Plus, it's more fun that way."

He finally looked her way, his expression one of mild annoyance.

"Look, Amy, you're great at this job. You don't need me dragging you down."

Amy's heart pounded in her chest, and she fought to keep her voice steady. "You're not dragging me down, Jonathan. We're both here to do a job, and we might as well make it easier on each other."

He shrugged, but this time he stopped his messing about and sauntered over back to the kitchen. He started working, though at his usual sluggish pace. It wasn't much, but it was something. Amy forced herself to stay positive, even as her frustration grew.

The longer the shift dragged on, the more difficult it became to keep up her act. Amy's smile started to feel like a mask, heavy and uncomfortable, but she couldn't let it slip. Not with Jonathan watching. She couldn't let him see how much he was getting to her.

By the time the lunch rush hit, the kitchen was in full swing. Orders were flying in, and Amy was moving faster than ever, her hands a blur as she assembled burgers, cheese bites, pizzas, and prepped salads. Jonathan was still dragging his feet, but she didn't have time to focus on him anymore. She just had to keep moving, keep smiling, and get through the shift.

"Amy, we've got a birthday order coming up, make sure it's perfect!" Chris called from the front, his voice slightly frantic.

"You got it!" she replied, already assembling the special pizza with extra care. Amy could feel the pressure mounting, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

Jonathan was supposed to be helping, but he was off to the side, wiping down counters at a snail's pace. She glanced at him, her patience finally fraying.

"Jonathan, could you please get the next order started? We're falling behind."

He looked up, blinking as if he was surprised that she was still talking to him.

"Yeah, sure," he said, but his lack of enthusiasm was painfully obvious.

Amy bit back a sharp retort, instead turning her attention back to the birthday order. This was important, and she couldn't afford to mess it up. The last thing she needed was a disappointed child on her conscience.

Amy completed the order perfectly and the child was incredibly happy. The lunch rush finally tapered off, leaving the kitchen in a state of calm that felt almost unnatural after hours of frantic activity.

Amy could feel the tension in her shoulders slowly easing as she wiped down the counter for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Her shift was almost over, and the thought brought a deep sense of relief. She allowed herself to breathe for what seemed like the first time since the morning started, her smile now softer, less forced, but still present.

It was important to her to finish strong, to keep that positive energy alive, no matter how drained she felt.

As the minutes ticked by in silence, Jonathan wandered over to where Amy was standing.

He didn't say a word, just leaned back against the counter beside her, his hands behind his head in a relaxed, almost carefree pose. His eyes were fixed on the ceiling as if he was lost in thought—or maybe just trying to pass the time until he could clock out. The contrast between them couldn't have been more stark.

Jonathan looked like he hadn't exerted an ounce of effort all day, while Amy stood there, the weight of exhaustion evident in her posture, yet still maintaining that aura of positivity she was known for.

The silence between them was thick and awkward, neither of them making any attempt to break it. Amy stared down at the floor, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her apron. She could feel the last reserves of her energy slipping away, but she fought to keep her spirits up, even now. It was a matter of pride, of maintaining the image she had worked so hard to cultivate.

But the quiet was oppressive, and after what felt like an eternity, Amy couldn't take it anymore. She let out a soft sigh, finally allowing a sliver of honesty to slip into her words as she spoke, her voice low and a little tired. "It's been a long day," she admitted, more to herself than to Jonathan. "But we made it through, I guess."

Jonathan didn't respond right away. He continued staring at the ceiling, his expression unreadable. Then, without looking at her, he asked a question that caught Amy off guard.

"Why do you do it, Amy?"

She blinked, turning her head slightly to look at him, though he still didn't meet her gaze. "Do what?" she asked, genuinely confused.

"This," Jonathan said, gesturing vaguely around them with one hand. "The whole… positive thing. You put on this display for everyone like nothing ever gets to you. But why? Why go through all that trouble?"

Amy hesitated, unsure of how to respond. It wasn't a question she had ever really asked herself—not in those terms, at least.

For a moment, she considered brushing it off, giving him some generic answer about the importance of a good work ethic or how a positive attitude could make all the difference. But there was something in Jonathan's tone, something that made her pause. It was the first time he had ever asked her anything that felt remotely serious.

So instead, Amy took a deep breath and decided to be honest, if only a little.

"I guess… I do it because it makes things better," she said slowly, searching for the right words. "For everyone else, but also me. When I smile, and when I try to stay positive, it helps me get through the day. And if it can help someone else too, then it's worth it."

Jonathan finally lowered his gaze from the ceiling, turning his head to look at her. His eyes were sceptical, but there was also a hint of curiosity there, something almost like respect. "But doesn't it get exhausting? Keeping that up all the time?"

Amy's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered, giving him a small, tired nod. "Sometimes," she admitted. "But it's better than the alternative. If I let myself get down, if I start focusing on everything wrong, then it's all I'll see. And I don't want to be that person, you know? The one who's always negative, always dragging everyone else down."

Jonathan was silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "I get that," he said quietly, surprising her with the sincerity in his voice. "But it's not like you have to be perfect all the time. People would understand if you had an off day if you weren't always… on."

Amy looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time, she saw something in Jonathan that she hadn't noticed before. A weariness, a sense of resignation that ran deeper than just laziness or apathy. Maybe, in his way, he was struggling too—just differently.

"I know," she said softly. "But I've worked hard to be this person, to be someone people can rely on. It's not about being perfect, it's about trying to make things a little better, even if it's just in small ways. And yeah, it's hard sometimes. But it's who I want to be."

Jonathan held her gaze for a moment longer before looking away, his hands dropping from behind his head. He seemed to be mulling over her words as if they had struck a chord with him. The silence returned, but it wasn't as heavy this time. There was something almost… understanding, in it.

Finally, Jonathan let out a small sigh, running a hand through his hair. "You're something else, Amy," he muttered, almost to himself. "I don't know how you do it, but… I guess it's good that you do."

Amy smiled, a genuine one this time, though it was still tinged with the day's exhaustion. "Thanks, Jonathan," she said quietly. "That means a lot."

He didn't respond, but she didn't need him to. The fact that he had acknowledged it, that he had even asked, was enough. The kitchen was quiet again, but this time, the silence felt different—less awkward, more comfortable.

As they both stood there, the tension between them seemed to ease, just a little. Amy knew that tomorrow would bring its challenges, that Jonathan would likely return to his old ways, and she would once again be the ever-positive force in the restaurant. But for now, in this brief moment of understanding, they both allowed themselves to just be.