FIFTEEN MINUTES IN THE WEEDS

I’m standing in the kitchen

trying to hold on to my thoughts, knowing all too well that if I stall, I’ll lose my hold on the situation. What do I need to do again? Oh, yeah, “Nelson, I need a gin martini, straight up with a twist.”

“Do you know what kind of gin?”

“Nah, they didn’t specify.” I know if the boss heard me say that, she would get crazy concerned and upset. But, I also know that Nelson, the bartender, has it under control. I ring up a regular martini on the touch screen computer, knowing that it will cover the cost and profit of whatever concoction he makes. Send. Log out. What now? Oh, yeah. I stick my head in the food window, and the heat assaults my eyes. “Heinz, the guy on table 24 wants his Tilapia cut in half, and then blackened on one half and broiled on the other.”

He gives me a look of irritation instead of complaining & says,” Okay. Does he want anything else? Does he want me to eat it for him too? “no” “Okay.” “Thanks.”

Then Hugo, the busboy,

touches my arm and says, “Table eight wants their check.” “Alright. Thanks.” “Also, is table ten having anything else?” “I don’t know, but table one needs more water.” “I’m on it.” he speeds off before I even have a chance to say thanks.

What now? Oh, yeah, Table 31 needs to place a food order, and table four hasn’t even been set yet. “Leah!” calls Naz,( the boss,) ” Yes ma’am?”

“Are you ok?”

No. I want to scream and make a b-line for the front door, but my reply is automatic a defense against panic. “Yeah, I’m fine.” “Okay.” She replies to walk off, but I ask, “Actually, will you take table four’s drink order?” “Sure,”  She says, “Thanks.” I start to walk out to table 31 but hear, “Hey Leah! Where’s this martini going?” I check my notes. “The guy on table 24…position two.” Nelson speeds off. “My table needs a refill on their coffee,” says the new girl, “ Alright, just grab the pot and pour.” I wipe the sweat off my brow. What am I doing? Oh, yeah. Table 31 needs to place their food order. I walk out of the kitchen and suddenly remember table eight. I back up, go to computer one, and print out their check.

“Leah, your foods up,”

says Shan, the other boss, “Oh, crap.” I start to walk over and I hear Nelson say, “I got it.” Thank god! “Thanks, Nelson!” As I walk out of the kitchen to go to tables eight and 3, Naz walks in and orders the drinks for table four from Nelson. I look back and see he has my plates in his hands, looking at the ticket to figure out who’s having what. “Okay, I’ll do it in just a second. “ I make a mental note of the drink order, dropoff the check with a smile and a thanks to table eight, and got table 31 to take their food order. Thankfully, they are easygoing and order their food just the way it comes. As I walk to computer one, table 27 stops me, “Miss, Miss!”