FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

~ Chapter 26 ~

"I finished my drink! You're supposed to get me a new drink before I finish!"

"There's sour cream in my rice, take my plate back!"

"Get us more napkins! How come whenever we come here we never get enough napkins!"

It was the table from hell, that's all that was there to it. It was a regular semi-busy afternoon until almost twenty people showed up at once demanding to be seated right away. It was some teenager's birthday and they had brought their own sheet cake, unsliced of course. Elena was helping me, but the tribe was relentless.

"I'll be right back with your refill. Who else wants one? I'll see what I can do for your rice. I'm sorry, ma'am I'll go get more napkins right away," I skirted around silverware that had fallen to the floor already, some of it still brandishing food. Reaching into my apron I procured pre-wrapped silverware sets and placed a handful on the table as I walked by.

"Hey, Gayleb!" a boy about fourteen tittered, "Get me some ice, my chicken's hawt!"

Another boy next to him coughed, "Queer!" and they both laughed.

"Stop that!" I heard an older woman half-heartedly scolded the two. Their voices, still louder than any other table in the restaurant, were muffled as I walked for the refills and change of orders.

Elena approached me with her own orders that she was taking back. I had just stuffed a handful of straws, napkins, and whatever else I could think of to shield me from the demands of the table. "They're saying the food took too long and the orders are getting screwed up. They're demanding free dessert."

"Goddamn it," I sighed, "They already got biscuits before the meal. What'd you say?"

"I said I'd check with Rob." Rob was the manager of the night and a pretty cool guy. He tended to help us on busy nights and I had gotten his go-ahead for the free biscuits.

"Save me," I whined, resting my head on Elena's shoulder.

She patted my head, "I'll check with Rob," and she walked off.

I walked back.

"Okay, refills!" I called, pouring from two pitchers, "As soon as I get these I'll be right back with more for everyone else!"

"Straws?" someone asked.

I set down a pitcher and procured a handful of straws and set them on the table. Piranha-like mitts dove for the plastic wrappers and squeezed around me. A hand reached for the pitcher I set down.

"Thanks, hon," I deftly and swiftly managed to pull the pitcher away at the last second before it could be lost in the mess on the table, "I got it."

Something pinched my butt and I prayed that it was one of the old women. I turned to the closest one, "How's your drink?" She shot me a scolding look and I realized she was on her cell phone.

Still smiling, I proceeded down the line of refills. A couple of kids ran around the table and I twisted to avoid them.

The pitchers were empty by the time I reached the other side of the room. I did a quick glance of the room and noticed on the floor was a white cloth. Not thinking, I bent down and picked it up. Socks. I dropped them and jumped up with my skin crawling. Nobody was paying me any attention and I was quietly grateful for that.

"Excuse me!" came a perturbed voice from the end of the table where I started, "I need another refill!"

I looked and sure enough, the kid had finished his refill I had just given him when I started refilling glasses.

"Where's the other waitress? She's a lot better!" he called out as I passed.

"Hey sir, we actually wanted to split the bill. Sir?" one of women called out to me. I ignored her.

"Cade?" Rob stepped out as I approached the kitchen.

"Rob, I could kiss you, you stud," I exhaled, weather-beaten. "Please tell me you're letting me go home early."

"Actually, yeah I am." Rob motioned for me to come with him and I followed.

"Really?" I was kind of taken aback at this. I was just kidding and I was trying my best out there.

"How're things going for you? You know, at home?" We were sitting in his office.

"Better. Becky's getting better," I sighed involuntary. I couldn't have helped myself if I tried.

"You look dog-tired right now," Rob smiled and I smiled, warily, back. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you get your tip from that table. Go home and get some rest. Get rid of those panda eyes."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it."

I would have thought up a witty one-liner to walk out on, but I was too exhausted. Giving Rob a thankful and knowing look, I headed home.

The clock ticked twelve-eighteen in the morning. A blue, hazy light pulled its self through my window and bathed my room in an indigo shadow. The red numbers of my alarm clocked blinked twelve-nineteen.

I turned away from the clock. I had already thrown off most of my covers except for a thin sheet. My room alternated from too hot to too cold. The remains of my tips for that evening lay strewn either on my desk or the floor below it. My clothes were lain in a pile at the foot of my bed. I turned again.

My pillows were too flat or too fluffy or too warm.

My mind was dizzy with exhaustion but I kept feeling all the lumps of my mattress or my legs kept getting tangled up my sheets.

Why can't I sleep?_I thought, deliriously. _Why can't I just fall asleep already? I'm so tired; I don't want to be awake anymore.

Tears of fatigue and frustration dampened the corners of my eyes and I got out of bed. I pushed it sideways so it was parallel to and flush with the wall.

I crawled back in bed taking my pillows and sheets with me. The pillows I placed against the wall and the blankets I wrapped myself up, tightly. I placed my back against the pillows and cuddled one of them. It was the best I could do to not feel alone.

God, where are you, Becky? I don't know what to do anymore.