Path to Larceny

Angelina loaded my tray with plates while I balanced it on my right hand. “So help me, Rain, take this to the table and come right back—no pit stops! Do not bother my customers!” she said, pointing at the door leading to the dining room.

I gasped and said, “And deny whatever gorgeous man or woman the chance? Ma! That’s blasphemy!”

“Te voy a pegar con mi chancla. ¡Vete ya!” Angelina yelled. I yelped as she reached down for her shoe, then hurried toward the doors. Angelina was a scary lady, which was funny cause she was married to the biggest softie, Cyrus, who was also the chef. Though Cyrus was one lucky man, Angelina was the definition of beauty, with her long black hair braided extravagantly and her gorgeous brown eyes framed by long black eyelashes. Her tanned skin was unique in this rainy town, making her even more gorgeous. I don’t know why she could never get behind the fact that it was a requirement for me to flirt. How else am I supposed to make tips?

I replied, “I’m going! I’m going! Don’t hurt me!” Phillipa, the bartender, opened the door for me, and I quickly headed to the left corner of the dining room, where my tables were waiting. Phillipa was a tall man with a betting problem. Always betting on even the littlest things and winning maybe half of the time. He had short black hair and black eyes. He had deeply tanned skin, complemented by the white button-up shirt he wore with black pants, which had a chain hanging from a front pocket that led to his wallet in his back pocket. The dining room wasn’t really fancy; honestly, it looked like a retro diner, but never tell that to Angelina, though, or she will take whatever shoe she has and start swinging it at you. When she moved to the city, she never wanted anyone to say she stood out, so when she opened the big “fancy” restaurant she’d wanted, she themed it like everywhere else: retro. Black and white square flooring. Dark wooden walls and ceiling that looked in need of repair. Red booths with leather seats and a jukebox sitting in the corner that played 80s hits, though half the time you clicked a song on that thing, it didn’t work. There were about eleven tables and ten bar stools, so there were only ever two servers and a bartender. The only thing she changed was that, instead of a milkshake bar, it was an alcoholic bar. Cyrus said Angelina has been using it more since I got here, but I have no idea what he means. I am a joy to have around!

I quickly approached my table in the corner booth, where a mom, dad, and two five-year-olds were seated. I flipped open the tray stand with my left hand before setting the tray on top of it. I said, “Alrighty, family. I got two mac and cheese bowls with fries for my two chaos makers, a lovely chicken Ceaser salad for the lady, and a piping hot steak skillet for the gentleman.” I started passing out the food, beginning with the children and ending with the man. “You need anything else? Steak sauce? Extra dressing?”

“Ma’am, if I need steak sauce, then the steak is wrong,” the dad said as he picked up his knife and fork.

I gave a short laugh and said, “Well, some people are special; once, I had someone order a steak, and they wanted it to be like jerky.” He gave me a disgusted look. “Exactly. Well, call for Rain if you need anything!” I picked up the tray stand and the tray, then started walking back to the kitchen. They were one of the few people in the restaurant. Only two other tables were occupied: one held a couple who looked like they were arguing, and another held a guy in a hoodie sipping coffee.

“Rain, you got a new table!” Selene, the other server, yelled as she threw another piece of gum in her mouth. Selene was the definition of I am only here because I have to be. She barely tried, and if it required much effort, it was instantly dumped on me. Her long light brown hair was always put up in the most extravagant hairstyles, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her without makeup, bringing out her brown eyes. I threw up a thumbs-up before opening the kitchen doors to put the tray and tray stand back.

Angelina said, “Take care of the new guests and tell Selene to get back here and get this hot food!”

“Aye aye, captain!” I yelled before walking back out to the dining room, pulling my hand-sized writing tablet out of my pocket. “Selene! Food!” As I crossed toward the left corner again, I noticed a gorgeous blonde thing sitting two tables down from the family I had just served. “Sorry, beautiful, how are you today?” Her blonde hair flowed in waves to her waist, and her cerulean eyes looked as cold as ice. She wore the local university’s blue and gold uniform: a short-sleeve button-up and short skirt, with a pair of blue heels.

She raised an eyebrow and gave me an unimpressed look, saying, “I’m hungry. Sweet tea, little ice, and a burger, extra dill pickle on the side.” I grinned and looked her up and down. Now that’s my type.

“Yes, ma’am. Tell me, do you come here often, cause not a lot of people know about our dill pickles,” I said, resting my right hand with the tablet on the table, staring into her eyes.

“I’ve been here more times than that line has worked, that’s for sure,” she replied, rolling her eyes.

I put my left hand on my chest and mock-gasped, replying, “I’m just curious! I know I would have remembered a woman as captivating as you. With your glowing sun hair and sky-blue eyes, you could stop the world in its tracks.” I saw a reddish tint come to her pale cheeks. “But let me go put this in ASAP, and I’ll bring that drink. If you need anything—someone to bring another drink, a free dessert, or even to insult someone—I am here.” I winked as I turned around and walked back to the kitchen. Angelina rolled her eyes at me when she saw the big grin on my face.

“I swear! You leave my customers alone!” Angelina yelled and snapped a towel at my backside while I made the blonde her sweet tea. I laughed loudly.

I said, “Come on, Angelina! I’m just having a little fun!”

“Cut her some slack, love; we were like that when we were twenty,” Cyrus said as he walked around the kitchen. Cyrus was on the chubbier end, with short ginger hair and blue eyes. He wore his chef’s uniform everywhere; he said it was to make him look professional, but I just think Angelina liked how it looked on him.

I smirked at her and said, “Yeah, when you were my age, you were like me! That was like four years ago, right?” Cyrus chuckled and shook his head.

“You are not charming me out of this! And you! Stop helping her, or so help me, te voy a castigar!” Angelina replied. I raised an eyebrow at Cyrus, who just sighed lovingly.

I asked, “Do you even know what she said?”

“No, but it sounded so lovely,” Cyrus replied as he smiled softly and flipped a patty.

Angelina said, “Just give me her order and go check on your tables.” She was trying to hold in a smile while she looked over at Cyrus cooking. Say what you want, but whatever they have works. I quickly ran my hands through my shoulder-length black hair to make it more presentable. I wasn’t by any means gorgeous, but I definitely didn’t feel ugly. My eyes were a light brown that Angelina said “held more mischief than children,” and I wasn’t badly built. While the world didn’t give me a butt, it sure did give me a good pair of boobs to catch stuff with.

“A burger, extra dill pickle on the side,” I said, grabbing the sweet tea and walking out of the kitchen.

Phillipa said, “Ten bucks says you don’t get her.” I smirked and shook his hand under the bar before walking back to the pretty blonde.

“Here you go, love,” I said, putting the sweet tea down in front of her. The pretty blonde took a straw and started stirring the tea. “So a pretty lady like you must have a pretty name to match. What can I call you? Well, besides mine.” She snorted and rolled her eyes again. “Heard that one a lot too? Alright, what about this one? I really enjoy art. Can I know the name of the beautiful painting in front of me?”

Her face turned scarlet, and she said, “Whatever, you’re not going to leave me alone anyway. It’s Catherine. Now will you go and check on my food?”

“Catherine. Now that’s a name I would love to hear more,” I said before turning around. “Oh, but Catherine, you should know I would never leave someone as gorgeous as you alone.” I walked back toward the kitchen, grinning like a cat that caught the canary.

Phillipa groaned and said, “There is no way.”

“Not over yet; keep that ten warm for me, though,” I replied, winking. I walked into the back, and Angelina threw up her hands.

“You took forever to get back; I do not pay you to move like a snail and make my customers uncomfortable!” Angelina yelled.

I replied, “Please, Angelina, she’s anything but uncomfortable. Can I get her food? I’ve got a bet to settle.” Cyrus chuckled loudly as Angelina raged, yelling different, colorful words in Spanish. She was probably shouting about how glad she was I was here and how she couldn’t wait to see me accomplish this bet. I quickly plated the food, making sure to put two dill pickles on the plate before going back out into the dining room. “Here you go, Catherine. Burger with TWO dill pickles for the beautiful lady. Let me know if you need anything, anything at all.” I winked as she blushed and carefully put the plate in front of her. “Just call for Rain.” Then I went over to the family at my other table to check on them.