YESTERDAY.
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Chapter 1.
Page 1.
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Thandeka.
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A year earlier.
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Today was pretty hectic here at McDonalds where I work,it was month end and you know people like to treat themselves with the little that we make in these jobs that we have.
Me: Thank you so much.
I handed the food to the next customer as I went to check on other orders. Days like these I did wish I had gone back to school and furthered my studies but than I knew that was just wishful thinking,not all of us were meant for success,some of us were just meant for this life. The working odd jobs kind of life and having a salary that could barely cover any of the basic needs of your everyday life. That was me, my life was just a simple life that ordinary people lived. The day went with of course some difficult customers like now I was busy with one right now.
Customer: I specifically stated that I didn't want no damn ice on my drink.
I completely must have forgotten that she had said that and the anger in her face was really getting to me because I was apologizing and was definitely going to change the drink for her.
Me: I am so sorry ma'am,I will change it for you.
I apologize but she wasn't having it,she just began yelling earning us attention from a whole lot of people in here and I could feel my heart sink. I hated being the center of attention but working in fast food chain kind of meant once in a while I would always have the spotlight and not in the right way.v Just as my shift was about to be over than this happens.
Customer: CALL YOUR MANAGER RIGHT NOW,YOU USELESS PIECE OF SHIT!
The drink soon covered my face and I could taste the Cocacola light on my mouth. I was in shocked. This was the first time that I have ever had a customer escalate to this point. I could see the shocked looks on everybody that was either here to order or were waiting for their order. The embarrassment that hit me made tears fill my instantly and I just didn't know what to do or say but this woman stayed yelling. I decided best I just walk away from here because I couldn't take the embarrassment anymore.
Customer: Don't you fuckin walk away! (she yelled hysterically)
I never dared looked back,I walked to the back and the moment I was away from this whole attention and drama the customer just created, I began bawling my eyes out. I hated this life. Hated this job. Hated everything that had to do with my life at this instance. I felt like I didn't deserve any of this.
Sihle: Thandeka I'm so sorry (She spoke sympathetically)
I just continued crying,the fact she was even feeling sorry for me made this tight knot on my throat get worse and I began crying like someone just announced the death of my loved ones. Out of all the customers I have ever dealt with, I have never had one completely shatter myself esteem Lil this one just did.
She pulled me closer and held me in this comforting embrace allowing me to just let it out all out.
Sihle: Ncese (she brushed my back comforting me)
We must have stayed like that for a few minutes till I was finally able to calm down. I finally moved from her and just walked over to my locker. I was still sniffing back my tears and I knew I wasn't going to be able to continue working so yes I was going home now,I didn't even care about the lost time that I was about to get.
Sihle: Let me get back to work.
I just nodded and indeed she left me to change into my own personal clothes. I fixed myself up so I could look decent. I was heading straight to the taxi rank the moment I walk out of this hell hole.
Once I felt I looked decent enough, I wore a cap and just looked down and made my way out of this hell hole. I never said goodbye to any of my colleagues. I was walking too fast as I made my way to my taxi rank ignoring some of the usual cat calling from the bored men in these streets. The moment I got in a taxi I plugged in my headset and allowed Taylor Swift cardigan to try and soothe my heart even though I felt like it was only making things worse. I couldn't believe this was how horrible my life was. Was this what I wanted to finish school for. To have people disrespect me and demean me infront of so many people. Today has to be the worst of all the years I have breathed in this earth. This was the most horrible day of my entire life.
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The moment I got home,I went straight to my room and just decided to drop myself in my bed and just cried. Thank God I was by myself,mum wasn't home as yet which was a good thing for me. I think I needed to be by myself at this point cause I couldn't bare to have someone else feeling sorry for me. My phone rang and I took it to see it was one of my best friends Amanda but I didn't answer as I just carried on burying myself in my sorrow till sleep came and took over.
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Next morning I woke up late and let me tell you I have never been so late in my whole entire life and I just knew I was off to an awful start of the day, right now I was rushing to the taxi rank with hopes that I will find a taxi that is only short with one person so I can at least minimize my lateness. I took this huge breath when I saw Sphe who was the rank manager and one of the guys that kept on asking me out.
