Emma

A Full Moon

I hate working Friday night shifts.

All the wack jobs and drunks always come out on the night of my shift. It's either the old creepers that hit on me, or the snide and pretentious frat boys from the local college that ask for my number. I hate it because I have to wear a smile the whole time its happening. Stupid management.

And tonight, I have to pick up the slack around the bar because it's packed tonight. To make matters worst, its almost eleven, so everyone is is almost good and plastered.

I push open the sliding door with my hip and walk over to the men at the bar who ordered the burgers. Slapping on a smile, I say, "Okay, one with no pickles," The man whose just passed tipsy holds his hand up, "Extra ketchup and mustard," The man checking me out flicks an eyebrow up and down, "And no tomato or onions," The man talking with a slur nods while glugging down a huge cup of beer. "Now is there any thing else I could get any of you?" I ask politely.

Surprise, surprise, they want more beer. I would have never guessed that in a million years. I get them some more and go to the restroom before anyone else asks me to serve them.

Gripping the edge of a sink, I stare at myself in the mirror. I notice I'm sort of a mess so I try and tidy up. Tighten my apron, clean the lenses on my glasses, and adjust the clip holding back my dark, curly hair. I wish I had a bobby pins for my bangs. Other than that, perfect. Oh, wait my collar's not straight, and I fix that too. Now I'm perfect. Except for my mood, of course.

Tabitha pushes through the door, and greets me in her southern drawl, "Oh, hey sugar! Whatcha' doin'?" She sits in her hip and blows a lock of blond hair out of her face.

"About to head back out there," I groan. "All of my tables a full tonight,and every single one of them are getting wasted. This is the worst I've seen it since I've worked here." I flip around and lean against the sink, dropping my head.

Tabitha snaps her fingers, "I'm not the only one that noticed? Thank you! Maybe it's a full moon or something. I dunno." She peeks in the mirror adjacent to mine and puts on some shimmery lip gloss. She rubs her lips together then looks at me. "Oh, by the way, a bachelor party just came in."

I lift my head, frowning, "Don't tell me-"

She matches my expression and nods slowly, "Mhmm, in your part of the bar."

"Gah, just shoot me in the face!" I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air. "How bad do they look?" She gives me a look that says 'pretty bad.' "Ugh, great."

"If it's any consolation, a few of those guys are so hot!" I shoot daggers at her with my eyes. "Sorry, I'm kidding. When was the last time you even checked a guy out anyway?" Since that one guy in high school. Oh, and since I've had to maintain my grades for a scholarship and can't afford distractions. "I'm am going to set you up with someone the first chance I get. Be warned if you don't find anyone on your own."

I sneer at my co- worker and she sticks her tongue out me. "I can find myself a guy, I just don't care to at the time. Plus I know I won't be finding one here. Especially tonight among the drunks."

She shrugs and looks away causally, "You never know. If it is a full moon, then strange things can happen."

"I do know. And strange things are already happening, just not to me."

"Whatever, sugar," and Tabitha leaves the restroom.

I stay in the bathroom for a few more moments, trying to prepare for the worst from the bachelor party. I've dealt with groups like this before. This is so not a big deal. I can totally handle this. It just another bunch of drunks. Nothing out of the ordinary. After my mental pep talk, I walk out and head toward the bar and immediately see the bachelor party. It's hard to miss them.