The job

Annalise knew that to start again, she needed money and a place to stay at least. To secure those essentials, she had to find a job that would provide that money.

With only a semester left until graduating high school, she faced the reality of being unable to complete her education now that she was penniless.

Lacking a degree—common high school— limited her job prospects, and the thought of working had never crossed her mind until now. But at this point, she realized she had no choice—she needed to work.

Her thoughts drifted back to the woman from the restaurant. Tina had shown her kindness, and Annalise figured that if she returned and asked for a job, Tina might hire her. It was time to act; she needed that money for survival.

With a that in mind, she turned around and set off toward the restaurant. The distance was daunting, and her legs ached with every step, but she pushed through, knowing she had to reach that place.

After what felt like an eternity, the sight of the restaurant came into view, and she let out a sigh of relief.

She placed her hands on her knees for a moment, catching her breath before entering. Once inside, her eyes scanned the room, landing on a few customers enjoying their meals.

She waited until she spotted Tina, who also recognized her and approached with a hint of confusion.

"You again? What brings you back here?" Tina asked, curiosity evident in her tone.

Annalise took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding assertively, "I'm here to inquire about a job."

"Job? What do you mean?" Tina replied, her eyes swirling with confusion.

"I want to... work," Annalise drawled, she was surprised that she would even be able to say it. Work and her were never friends, but what could she do now? Except to work.

Tina's expression shifted as she processed Annalise's words.

"Let's talk in a quieter place," she offered, leading Annalise away from the bustling entrance to a private corner.

Once they were out of there, Tina turned to her with a serious expression. "Why do you want to work? Aren't you supposed to be in school? What about your parents?"

Annalise was once again reminded of the past which she was struggling to leave behind, but she quickly answered just before she broke down again. "I need money to survive. School isn't an option for me, and I don't have parents."

"I'm an orphan" Annalise added, and Tina's eyes widened in realization.

"So, you need a job to earn enough for your living expenses," Tina summarized. "I could use extra help in the shop, but the pay is low. Have you considered looking for work elsewhere?"

"I don't have a degree for that. I'll take whatever pay you offer; just hire me. I will need guidance on how to start," Annalise responded.

Tina studied her closely, contemplating the situation when suddenly a loud voice cut through the air: "Who's here?! Come take our order!"

"I'm coming!" Tina shouted back. Then she turned to Annalise, "First, go use the restroom for a shower. After that, put on some fresh clothes from the cupboard, and I'll tell you your next task."

Annalise nodded firmly. Just before Tina walked away, she asked, "So, I will be starting here?"

"Yes, as long as things go smoothly," Tina replied before heading off to attend to the customer.

Following the instructions, Annalise went to the restroom, took a shower, and changed into a neat skirt and top. Though the clothes were slightly big on her, she tied her hair up and stepped out confidently.

As she emerged from the restroom, Tina noticed Annalise and assessed her appearance. "Good. I'm Tina, by the way; you can just call me Tina."

"Annalise," she introduced herself.

"Alright, Anna—" Tina began, but Annalise interjected.

"It's Annalise," she clarified, wanting to distance herself from memories of being called "Anna" by someone who was no longer in her life.

"Got it, Annalise," Tina responded. "Now, head to table five and take their order."

Annalise moved toward the table, ready to face the customers. "May I take your order?" she asked, meeting the eyes of the older men seated there.

She noticed the glint in their eyes and shot them a scornful look; they clearly thought they could toy with her, but she was not about to let that happen.

"You need to smile; chasing customers away won't do any good for this little shop," one of them said.

"Fine. Give us rice, chicken, grilled asparagus, steamed broccoli, and roasted vegetables like carrots and bell peppers..." the man ordered, listing items one after another.

Annalise felt her heart race; she knew she was on the verge of messing this up. All she could remember was rice and chicken.

The other man chimed in, "I'll take lemon juice." After they finished, Annalise nodded, turned to head towards Tina, and felt a rush of embarrassment as she walked. She hoped that this wouldn't end up in a disaster.

She approached Tina, who was ready to pack the dishes. "They ordered rice and chicken... um, and carrots?" Annalise said, trying to recall.

"Is that all?" Tina asked, packing the dishes.

"Yes," Annalise replied, adding, "And they wanted lemon juice."

Once the dishes were packed, Tina handed her the tray. Annalise turned on her heels, feeling the pressure. She had never served anyone before, and now she was focused on not fumbling.

Arriving at the table, she placed the food down in front of the men. "Whose order is this?" one of them asked.

"Your table. Table five," Annalise stated, her green eyes locking onto the table number.

"You've got to be kidding me... Where are the vegetables? What kind of nonsense is this?" he barked. "How am I supposed to eat plain rice and chicken with just carrots?"

"Guess she's just beauty without brains... what a waste," the other man sneered, scrutinizing her.

"Where is your manager? This is unacceptable; how could you have gotten employed with such short memory?" he shouted.

Annalise bit back the tears that threatened to fall from being shouted at. "Why are you shouting like I killed someone?" She demanded, "It's just a mistake!"

"A mistake?" The man asked wide-eyed, "Everyone can you see what's going on?"

The other customers had turned to witness the commotion, their voices rising in response. Tina quickly stepped in, coming to her aid.

"What happened?" she asked Annalise.

"She messed up the order; how am I supposed to eat this? And she didn't even apologize but said it was only a mistake" the irate man retorted.

"Look, man, let's just leave," the other suggested. "We should never have come here, such poor service."

"Wait, please," Tina interjected, "You don't have to leave. I sincerely apologize for the mix-up." But they were already walking out the door.

Annalise could only watch Tina's back in front of her; anxiety rushed through her. Now that she had fumbled and successfully chased out two customers because of her short memory, she wondered how Tina was going to respond.