Travelin' Soldier

Chapter Two: A Day at Work

CHAPTER TWO: A Day at Work

Bethany sighed as she drove to work that morning, tired of the stupid car that she had to have her best friend jump every morning. She was seriously considering just buying another car. This was getting old; it was getting old very quickly.

She parked in the lot of the Pig’s Bay Café, the local barbeque joint in town. It was old, and it was a classic. Most everyone here loved the place, and they got a lot of business from the surrounding towns.

She went inside, pulling her hair back as she walked into the kitchen, grabbing her apron and tying it around her waist. She’d wash her hands.

“Hey Darius.” She smiled as she walked by, waving.

“Hey Cookie-Dough.” She rolled her eyes at the cook’s nickname for her. He’d given it to her as a toddler, when all she would eat up here was the cookie dough ice cream. If she was being honest, it was still her favorite.  It was what she ate when she was upset.

“Busy today?” she wondered what kind of workday she was in for. As long as no one started being stupid and ridiculous, it was generally a really good day. There was always that one idiot, though…

“Not much. Got a few of the Basic kids coming in today.” He said softly, offering her a knowing smile. “How’s your brother doing? I miss that kid.” He admitted. He’d watched Beth and her brother, Joshua McDowell, grow up since they were infants. Their father and he had been friends until he had divorced his wife, leaving the two children alone with their mother. Since then, working at this café seemed to be a family tradition.

“He’s doing alright.” She said, making sure her apron was tied on tightly before looking for her ticket pad. “I haven’t talked to him in a while.” She admitted gently. “But I have to get my butt to work.” She laughed. “See you in a while.” They always ended up having long conversations in the kitchen, especially on her breaks. Unlike Beth herself, Darius was pretty good at multitasking. The two were really close, Darius having stepped in for her family when her father had walked out.

She walked out of the kitchen, going to take orders, running between the kitchen and the dining room. She was glad when it seemed that no one decided they wanted to be stupid. It seemed as if she was going to have a nice, easy day at work. It would be about five hours into her shift when a young man in an Army uniform sat down in her section. She’d seen a few come through during her shift, but they’d always set in her co-workers section and thus were not her responsibility. She would go to him with a light smile.

“What can I get you?” she asked softly, knowing the menus were on the table. It made it easier than having to hand out menus, and the customer didn’t have to wait to look to see what he wanted to eat.

“Coke, no ice, please. And whatever you recommend as an entrée.” He said faintly, and she noticed that he looked insanely nervous and almost unsure. The look reminded her a lot of how her brother had been before he had gone off to Basic. There was always that underlying fear…that fear that maybe this isn’t what you wanted, that you would be safer off at home or at work, that you weren’t cut out for this. She admired the soldiers for being able to quell all of that and still do what they needed to do to protect our country and our freedoms. It was a very refreshing thought, and something that she knew she could not do. Each person had certain limitations, and hers started with joining the military. She was not cut out for that kind of life.

“I’ll have that out to you in a minute.” She promised with a smile, going back and grabbing a cup. She’d start to fill it with ice before remembering the last part of his request and dumping it back out. She’d just fill it up with Coke, bringing it back to him. She smiled politely at him when he asked her a question.

“You’re name’s Elizabeth?” he asked gently. She smiled at that, making a half nod, half shrug motion

“It is, but everyone calls me Bethany. What’s your name?” she asked gently, honestly wanting to know. If someone was kind enough to take the time to bother with asking her name, then she wanted to know that’s person name. That was just the type of person she was. It didn’t change, no matter the situation. She had and always would be like that. Someone cares enough to ask about you, ask about them she thought to herself.

“Jason. Jason Reynolds.” He admitted, and she was glad to see the smile on his face. She kind of wished it was bigger. There wasn’t anything she knew that she could do to help that, though.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Jason.” She told him, meaning it wholeheartedly. Bethany loved meeting new people. It was just who she was; and, honestly, she was reminded of her brother quite a bit looking at the young man in front of him. “Are you on your way to Basic Training?” she inquired, waiting a moment. She paused when there was no answer.

“Jason?” she asked again. She watched him blink, looking like he was coming out of a daze.

“I’m sorry… I zoned out there for a moment. What did you say?” The girl laughed at that. So, he had been in a daze… That was kind of funny. She was curious as to what had had him zoned out, though

“I asked if you were heading off to Basic Training.” She admitted.

“Yeah…how did you know that?”

“Well, my brother joined two years ago, so I know this is the time of the year that they come and pick people up to go down to Training. And you’re wearing Army Greens.” She admitted with a gentle smile.

“Oh…” she held back her laughter. He was funny. He really was. It amused her, in a good way. “Your brother is in the army?”

“Yeah. He enlisted two years ago. I don’t know what base he’s at now, but you might have him as a drill sergeant.” She had to fight to keep the bitterness out of her voice. Her brother hadn’t sent her his new address when he’d changed bases, and now she had no way of getting a hold of him. She missed her brother. More than anything…

“Hey…would you mind sitting down for a while and talking to me?” he asked, and she noticed that his smile was bigger than it had been before. She offered him a smile in return.

“I’m off in an hour, and I know where we can go.” She admitted, nodding. She paused as she heard someone yell at her from the kitchen. “Now let me go get your food before my other customers eat me.” She teased with a laugh, turning and walking back into the kitchen. She’d grab his food, bringing it back out to him, smiling at him when he thanked her.

“Who was that, hmmm?” Darius asked her, nudging her when she walked back into the kitchen. She rolled her eyes.

“His name is Jason. He asked if I’d talk with him. So I think I’m gonna take him down to the pier.” She admitted with a sheepish smile. Darius raised his eyebrow.

“Your brothers spot?” he asked. She nodded, clocking out when that hour was up. Darius watched her go in amazement. She hadn’t taken anyone down to the pier since her brother had left…