Raison D'être

Happy Birthday to Me

Anastasia

As the brakes of the subway hiss, my eyes are blinded by the bright lights. I watch as the passengers get off of the last stop here at Uptown. I make my way out and look through the signs to find the subway that goes back Downtown. I currently have $1000 cash to my name, it's all I have managed to save up out of the 17 years I've been at the orphanage. My procrastination for getting a job at a young age came back to bite me in the ass. My plan, a lousy one that is, is to get as much sleep on these rides as possible. I'll try and find a job or jobs, I should say, to stay afloat; as for the necessities like showering, I'll just find a Planet Fitness which is a whopping $10 a month.

After the multiple naps that took place on the ride Downtown, I got off at a random stop because my stomach was being noisy. I look over to the nearest map and memorize the location of a 24-hour Diner. After crossing multiple streets and admiring the city in its bustling state, I see a Diner placed smack dab in the corner of a busy street. I walk in and take a seat at an empty chair over up at the countertop. I take a good look at the place, and it looks like the theme is what I imagine every Diner to be. My thoughts are interrupted when a man who looks like he is about 50 greets me with a smile and hands me a menu, "You must be new here. Welcome!"

I smile back before looking through the menu and respond "Yes sir. Brand new here and starving."

He chuckles before walking away to give another customer that walked in a menu. As I look through, I'm hit with a realization that New York is fucking expensive. Mind my cursing, I don't like to curse, but dang this place is expensive. How will I survive here? My thoughts are interrupted once more when the man comes back over with his notepad and pen "Alright sweetheart what can I get ya?"

"Could I get the kids mac and cheese with the side of fruit? Water is good too."

He eyes me before responding, "Kid, the kids menu is for 8 and below. Besides I thought you said you were starving? You gotta eat more than that!"

I return the smile he gives me before giving him my reasoning, "look" I glance over at his name tag, David. "Mr. David, the kids' menu is the cheapest thing on the menu and all this adult stuff is just not in the budget," I wave over the menu to point out how three pancakes are $25. His laughter is deep but contagious, "kid I like you. You have by far been one of my most interesting customers today, and for that, I'll go ahead and let the kids' meal slide for you. I'll even add those pancakes on the house!"

My eyes widen in shock, and as I wave my hands to dismiss his offer "No way, you are too kind! I couldn't. Please."

He leans over to me, with his hand covering the side of his mouth, "Kid I own the place, you don't have to worry about it, those pancakes are overpriced anyway, but you know why I charge it? Cus' people are willing to pay."

My eyes widen in shock once more and before I know it he's walking away and telling the chef behind the counter what my order was. As he comes back with my water, he asks where I am from. To which I respond with the community where my orphanage was, he hums in response before asking "Well what are you doing here alone? Where's ya parents?"

I almost choke on my water, "Oh um, I don't know..." my voice trails off and his eyebrows furrow at my response. "My mother left me over at the orphanage down where I used to be before I was admitted out."

This time it was his turn for his eyes to widen in shock, "wow, I'm sorry to hear that. What do you do for a living?"

I look over at the condensation that has formed on the glass, before saying "I actually am on a job hunt. I'll take anything at this point because as I said I'm on extreme budgeting right now." His eyes light up at my words before he offers "kid I'll offer you a job right now! What'd ya say?"