"Waitress! Excuse me, I need more water." A creepy old guy says at one of the tables.
"Just water? Anything else?" I walk over and speak in a polite tone.
"Just water." He smiles.
As I walk away, I feel something pinching my butt. I gasp and quickly turn around, looking at the old man.
"Go get that water sweet cheeks." He demands with a weird smile.
I turn back around and scoff, feeling extremely violated. I guess that's what you should expect when working in a diner near the bad part of town.
This stuff nearly happens on the daily.
I should make old men pay me to pinch my butt or touch my leg as I walk by them.
God, I need a raise.
"Hey, Linda. Could you do me a tiny favor and get table 7 a glass of water. I just don't feel.. comfortable." I ask one of my coworkers.
"Oh, of course honey." She smiles. "You should go home and spend some time with your son. Take a little break." She adds.
"Linda, I really can't. I need this money." I grab a mop and begin cleaning around the kitchen.
"Tianna, baby, you've been workin' here for over 2 years and I haven't seen you use any of your vacation time once." Linda follows me.
"Well, I will be going on a vacation pretty soon." I shrug.
"Ohh, where?" She looks at me with wide eyes.
"Los Angeles. My friend is taking my son and I on a road trip there. I'll be leaving Monday and I won't be back for two weeks." I say with a small smile.
"Honey, you go right ahead and do that! I'll handle your shift while you're gone." She claps here hands in joy.
"Oh, Linda, I can't let you do that. That's so much." I place my hand on her shoulder.
"Don't you worry 'bout me, sweetie. You go relax. You need it." She gives me a warm hug and then walks away to give the creepy old man his water.
• • •
My work shift just ended and I'm picking up my son from his daycare. I walk inside the daycare building and see all of the little kids inside, running and playing.
And then I see him playing 'house' with another little girl. I smile and watch them laugh together. He's growing up so fast.
I remember the day I went into labor with him.
I literally thought I was going to die, but doesn't every woman feel that way?
Some women push the thing out like it's no big deal. They look like literal super models during labor and I don't get it.
All of the pushing, pain, and blood became so worth it once Toby was born and they placed him on my chest.
It was like the only thing that mattered in my entire, crazy world was him. My little bean.
"Mommy!!" I hear his precious little voice scream.
"Hi babyyy!" I crouch and open my arms for a hug.
He jumps into my arms, and that is enough to make my day better. All of the work I do at the diner becomes worth it when I get to feel this moment.
"Momma." He whispers into my ear. "I have girlfwend." He giggles.
"Ohhh, do you really?" I smile.
"Yeah, she nice. Her name is Voowanica." (Veronica)
"Wow, that's so cool!" I say in an excited voice as we walk out of the building, holding hands.
I buckle Toby into his car seat and we begin to drive home.
"Toby, guess what?" I look in my rear view mirror at my son.
"Huh?" He's says while holding one of his toy cars in his mouth.
"We.." I pause and reach my arm behind me to take the car out of his mouth. "Are going on a vacation in a couple of days!"
"Yayy!!" He cheers, probably having no idea what 'vacation' even means.
I'm just glad he's happy.
