Working in the World

I just started a new job. I'm working as a server at IHOP. So far it's been pretty good, but it is the first time I've worked in an environment that wasn't Christian. Yeah, I know. I'm SUPER sheltered. I'm not really shocked by the things I see at work, they just make me really sad. I'll tell you about some of my co-workers.

Leo
Leo was my trainer. I don't like this guy. He just sort of gives me the creeps. I mean, I think he's a complete pervert. He's really obnoxious, and he insults everyone. See, he thinks that everyone knows that he's joking, but it really grates after a few... minutes. Those are the bad things about Leo. The good thing about him is that he is really great with customers. They all like him, and he gets really good tips. I hear that I'm lucky to learn from him. I'll be okay, I'll just pray he doesn't ever touch me. Eww.

David
This guy is one of the nicest guys I work with. He is ever available to answer my many questions, and even though he looks a little scarey, he's a complete gentleman. I was rolling silverware with him yesterday, and I realized what a sad guy he is. He came here from Portland, Oregon, but I'm not sure when. He said that he worked as a bartender there. He just sat there in the booth, talking to me as he rolled silverware. "It payed really well, but it was a hard job. You have to watch all of these people come in sober and leave drunk. The worst part about it was the fact that I knew I was responsible for getting them that way. I was selling them the alcohol." I felt so bad for him. I didn't know what to say. I mean, it wasn't really his fault that people were getting wasted, but I didn't know how to tell him that. I tried, but he didn't really listen.

Christine
Geez, this girl is something else. She smokes. A lot of the people there smoke, but she is pregnant and smokes. You just want to shake her and say, "Don't you want a healthy baby? What are you thinking?!" She is so proud of her boyfriend because he is in Florida right now, visiting the other girl he got pregnant. She thinks he's just the most wonderful guy for being responsible. Don't get me wrong. It's a good thing that he wants to take care of that kid, but I don't think that he's such a nice guy as she thinks he is. When she was telling us all about this, everyone was pretty much telling her to shut up. She turned to me and said, "They just don't understand! You'll understand, right?" Then she told me the whole story. Hmm. What does one say? Dump him? He's a sorry loser? Why don't you see that all this creep wants from you is sex? Again, I didn't know what to say. David shook his head and said, "I'm so glad I don't have that kind of drama going on in my life. I've worked really hard at it."

Hester
This is an older black lady. I haven't gotten a chance to talk with her much, but I do know that she's really superstitious. Everyone down there is, but I think she's the worst. I was sweeping the floor yesterday, and as soon as she realized that the broom was within 1 yard of her foot, she jumped out of the way and said, "Honey, don't you sweep my feet!" I just kind of stared blankly at her. Having your feet swept apparently has something to do with marriage. I'm not quite sure what, but it supposedly hexes it somehow. Someone swept my feet the other day and looked up at me like they'd just plunged a knife through my heart. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to sweep your feet. I'm so sorry." Psh! You could sweep my feet all day. I really don't give a care! One of the girls said, "I didn't believe it until it happened to me." Um... Okay.

That's all I really have time for right now. I'm starting a new shift today, so we'll see what kind of people I meet tonight. I'm praying so hard that I can make a difference to all those sad people. I wish I could tell you about them all. They all seem really hopeless. I mean, they look like they're trying to be happy, but it's sort of insincere.

That's all for now,
Anna