TWELVE DAYS OF REIGN

GO GET 'EM

Joseph was discharged the next day as promised. He drove me to my corner, but before I could open the door to get out, he stopped me.
"Reign," he called.
"Yeah?"
"Dad's funeral is tomorrow. Do you have something to wear?" he asked. I had to search my thoughts, not sure what truly decent clothing I had in my small closet. I had a dress but it was red and was long enough to cover my butt. I wore it for the higher priced Johns that wanted a full-service night out at a hotel. But that was the only dress I had.
"No," I answered giving him a smile. "But I'll get something. I won't embarrass the preacher at his farewell."
Joseph's face remained still as he stared at me.
"What do you plan to do after tomorrow? Are you still going to work the corner?"
I shifted my eyes from him, not sure what to say. Working the corner was no woman's dream job but it put food on the table.
"I don't know anything else, Joseph," I confessed looking down into my lap, picking at a hangnail on my thumb. "I saw a sign on Pete's Café. He's looking for a waitress. I have a great memory, but I can't read. My mother was a junkie back in the day and didn't put me in school when I was a kid," I laughed in order not to cry. "So, I doubt he'll hire me," I continued. "Besides, the preacher took me to Pete's Café all the time for dinner. Pete knows I'm a hooker. Hiring me might be bad for business."
Joseph gave the wheel a squeeze, then pulled away from the corner.
"Joseph, what are you doing?" I asked pulling the seatbelt back across me. "Where are we going?"
"I don't want you on the corner anymore, Reign."
I looked between him and the road, not understanding him. It was like he hadn't heard a word I said. The truth was I didn't want to be either but I couldn't read or write. I was told by a Temp Agency that I needed a GED just to be a housekeeper, something I could never get. So, I was limited in what I could do.
Joseph pulled up to Pete's Café and parked the car. Just as I said, the post for the waitress position was on the door.
"Pray about it first," he said narrowing his golden-brown eyes on me. "Then go in and get that job."
"Did you hear a word I said? I can't read or write. I only knew about the position because I overheard Pete's staff talking about it when he put it up."
Joseph's chest heaved. He took my hand in his and gave it a confident squeeze.
"Reign, pray about it right now. Pray about it believing that God can open the door for you. Then go in there and sell yourself and watch God move on your behalf."
I exhaled a breath searching his face. He was serious. I swallowed a lump in my throat sliding my eyes adjacent from his, taking my hand back. I bowed my head and closed my eyes and prayed inwardly, not wanting Joseph to hear my plea to God and all that I would say. It was private after all.
My God, in Jesus name, I ask that you bless me with this job. I don't want to sell myself anymore, a tear squeezed through my closed eyes. Please, save me from my street life.
I exhaled a breath, wiped the tear away, got out of the car and went into the Café. Pete was coming out from the back of the kitchen with a sheet of paper in his hand. I smiled, hoping my nerves weren't showing.
"Pete! Just the man I wanted to see!"
He smiled, "What's up, Reign? Haven't seen you in a few days," he waddled over to the door and peeled off the waitress post and replaced it with another.
"I've been fine," I said following close behind him trying to catch his eye as I spoke, "I came in because I heard you're hiring for a waitress. I'd love to take the job. I can't read or write but I have a great memory. I would never forget an order. Try me out! Test me!"
Pete shifted his large, big-bellied frame around at me. "I'm sorry, Reign. I just filled that position an hour ago, and I only need one girl."
The news hammered against my brain like a Viking mallet. I could feel the tears forming in the pit of my stomach, but I kept my smile not wanting to appear as if I could not take bad news in front of him. That might seem like I couldn't handle disappointment.
"Oh! Came too late, I guess," I nodded and set my hand on the doorknob. "Thanks for your time."
"Well wait a minute," Pete's weary beady blue eyes leveled on me. He tugged on his apron. "So, you're trying to go straight?"
I nodded, pressing my lips into a line. The tears were coming and in a moment I knew I would not be able to suppress them.
"Well, that's great, Reign! I'm proud of you."
"Thanks," I said in a whisper.
"Listen, I don't have any room for another waitress, but I have a position open for an assistant cook," he said going back to the door, tapping on the paper he just taped up on the glass. "The pay is decent and it's a transitionary position. That means that if you're good, you'll become the morning chef in three months and that's a heck of a lot more pay, Reign."
The tears I had been fighting back had surfaced but their meaning had instantly changed.
"What?"
"Yeah," Pete gestured. "You know Mark, my morning chef?"
"Yeah?"
"He's retiring, leaving for Texas. Claims he wants to spend more time with the grandkids," he chuckled. "I know the feeling. But he's giving me three months to find someone. I can't give you long to pick up the routine, and how we make our eggs, but I'll give you a shot in the kitchen if you want it. But if you suck after two weeks, I'll have to let you go, and find someone else before Mark leaves. Not that I have anything against you, Reign. It's just business."
Pete peeled off the post and handed it to me as a tear cascaded down my cheek.
"So, what do you say, Reign? Want to try it out?"
I nodded, taking the post from him. "Yes," I cried. "Yes!" I leaped on him and gave him a hug. He laughed, and one-handedly patted my back.
"Ok, ok!" he smiled then pointed a thick fat finger at me. "Before I say yes you have to go pee in a cup today. I hope you're clean, Reign."
"I am! I promise I am!"
"Good," he nodded pointing at the back of the paper. "Go to the Gunger Hospital for a drug screen and checkup. All the information is on the back. Just give them the paper and they'll handle the rest. I should get the results by tomorrow or Saturday. If everything's on the up and up like you say it is, then you get yourself back here bright and early Monday morning at six o'clock. Be ready to work hard, Reign. Mark is a perfectionist. It shows in his French toast."
"He's the best."
"He is," Pete nodded. "Now get going."
"Thank you, Pete!"
I raced out of the Café and got into the car shedding tears of joy.
"I'm gonna be a cook!" I wrapped my arms around Joseph. "God is blessing me to be a cook!"
Joseph laughed, wrapping his arms around me. He rocked me back and forth a moment basking in the goodness of God upon me.
"I knew He would."