The Emotional Laceration of an American Girl.

Ch. 4 The Emotional Laceration of an American Girl.

I finished the English essay, turned it in and now it's time to go to work. I go to work everyday after school to pay for my things. My father only pays for the house things, breakfast, and dinner. I have to pay for my clothes, hair stuff, girl stuff, and lunch. I take the bus everyday across town to Debby's Diner. I get off the bus and walk through the doors into the back of the diner. I've been working here since I was 14. The diner is mostly a family business but they were friends of my mom so that's how I got the job. Then I see my boss Chris. "Today you have tables 3-7. Got it," he asked. I nodded, grabbed my notepad, and headed towards table 4.

Chris is the manager and he usually handles all of the money things. He's nice but serious. Then there's Susie. She's Chris's niece. She's sort of the friendly emo type. She doesn't cause any problems and she gets her work done so she's fine. She's actually a great listener as far as I've heard. She's a waitress like me. Then there's Erik who is the chef. He is a little pudgy but he has a great heart. He's always joking around. He's Chris's brother. Finally there's Tamara who is the co-chef. She is working here to pay for her culinary schooling and she's Erik's daughter. She's just as funny as her father. I finally reach table 4. "Hi welcome to Debby's Diner. What would you like to drink," I ask. It was a family of 5 sitting in the booth. A father, mother, two younger twin girls, and an older boy. "I'll have a sprite," said the mother. The father wanted a sprite too. The two twin girls wanted orange juice and the boy wanted coke. As I scribbled the order down on my notepad I felt someone's eyes on me. I looked up and it was the boy. I smiled at him and he turned his head. Rude much? I walked away, got there drinks and placed them on their table. "Are you ready to order yet," I asked. The boy didn't look at the menu because he was staring at me. Do I have something on my face? Then the father said, "I need more time. What about you dear?" The mother nodded and I walked away entering the kitchen. "Erik," I yelled. "What is it Lita," he asked. "Do I have something on my face?" I asked and he squinted his eyes which made me grin. "Not that I can see. Why," he asked. I shrugged and said, "Some boy was staring at me." "I don't know. We get some weirdo's that come in here. Was he by himself?" "Nope he was with a family." "Well I don't know what to tell you but to take one for the team." I shrugged and said, "Whatever Erik."

I walked out of the kitchen and headed towards there table again. "Are you ready now," I asked politely. The mother looked up and said, "I'll have the chicken salad with ranch." I scribbled it down. I looked up again and the father said, "I'll have the country fried steak with country potatoes." I scribbled that down and looked at the twins. They looked at each other and said, "Chicken Fingers!" I couldn't help but smile. Then I looked at the boy and said, "And for you?" I put on one of my best-I don't give a damn about you so just order now-smiles. "I'll have the bacon cheeseburger with fries," he said and then looked away. Jerk. I said their orders again and then headed back to the kitchen. "Better luck this time," Erik asked. I sighed and said, "It was a little better. Just fix their food quickly so they can leave." I handed him the list and he said, "Just put on your fake smile and pray for a good tip." Then I turned around and took other table's orders. After about 16 minutes, table 4's food was ready. I walked their way and they were talking but as soon as I got close enough to hear what they were saying, they shut up. That's suspicious but oh well. I put down their food and asked them if they needed anything else. They said they were fine so I went about my business.

After about 30 minutes, they finished eating and I cleared their plates. I asked them if they wanted dessert but they said no. Our dessert here is the best in the city so they missed out. They headed out the door but the boy came back. "Is something wrong," I asked. He shook his head. "Why are you working here," he asked. I was confused so I said, "What do you mean why? I need the money." "I guess that's a good enough reason but why work at all?" "Like I said, I need the money. Nothing more and nothing less." "Ok but what's that?" I looked at where his gaze was and it was on my leg. Shit! When I bent over I must have shown it to him. The beating before last, my dad took the kitchen knife and cut my leg. So I said, "Oh it was an accident. I fell outside and scraped it on some glass." That wasn't to far from the truth. He looked into my eyes and said, "Something's wrong...My name is Piper Gresh and I'm new in town. Will I see you around?" Was he hitting on me? "Oh well my name is Lalita Catkin and you might see me. I don't do much." The boy was still staring at my eyes and it was starting to make me uncomfortable. "Ok Lalita. See ya," he said and then walked out of the door. What was up with that? I looked down and saw that they only left me three dollars. I put up with all that weirdness and I only get three dollars. What the hell?

I finished my shift at 8:30 p.m. and I was tired. I made good money but all the effort put into this job really strained my back. I caught the last bus and was walking through the door. I put my bags down and headed towards my room but my dad's figure caught me by surprise. "Bitch you forgot to fix my dinner this morning," he said. What? I...shit. "I'm sorry sir," I said. He flicked his whip at me and it hit my face. "You're damned right you're sorry. I'm sitting here hungry as hell and you're sorry?! You are fucking shit," he said. He whipped me again across my face. My face felt like it was on fire. "Take off your damned clothes," He said. I was stunned. Was he going to rape me? My father never raped me before. I took to long so he whipped me again on my back causing me to scream. He pushed me on the ground and whipped me again. Then he crouched down and pulled my shirt towards him. Then he said, "Listen bitch, I'll have you. All of you and there's nothing you can do about it." He kicked me and whipped me and then he made his way up the stairs. From the stairs he said, "Have my dinner ready in an hour slut."