The man sighed when she brought the two plates of waffles.
‘Bad day?’
He looked up. ‘My girl stormed out. Didn’t like that we’d both ordered waffles. I refused to change and now she’s sulking in the car. Worst. Day. Ever.’
Her day had started with cleaning urinals at 6am. Two separate groups had skipped out on the bill and she’d have to pay the difference. Her rent was overdue. Her son had told her that very morning to ‘F$@& off’.
She smiled broadly. ‘That is the worst day ever!’
Above all, she needed a good tip.
*********
Friday Fictioneers is a challenge set by Rochelle each week where writers from around the world post 100 word stories based on a common photo prompt. For more information, and to read other stories, visit Rochelle’s page here.
Jessie Ansons 
Needs must when the devil drives
Very true, unfortunately!
Dear Jessie,
I’ve been a waitress before. I felt her pain. Well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle! So glad to be back to FF and hear your lovely critiques once more 🙂
Ha, I like that she managed to hide her real feelings in order to get a good tip. Always good to remember others might be having a lot worse time than you are. Well done.
Thanks Iain 🙂 glad it got the message across.
It depends on what you call a bad day. Poor woman. My son worked in restaurants part-time in high school. He always gives a good tip. Good writing, Jessie. Happy Holidays to you and yours. 🙂 — Suzanne
Happy Holidays to you too!
That is so good. We need to look beyond the smile. Bravo.
Thanks so much for your lovely comment 🙂
Wow! Terrific story, Jessie! You hit the nail on the head. I once did a bad camera shot in the studio because I had an off day. My boss told me, “You can have a bad day, you just can’t have a bad show.” Even in other professions, the show’s gotta go one.
Merry Christmas, Jessie, to you and your family. 🙂
Great reflection 🙂 It can apply to all professions if you think of it that way. Merry Christmas to you too!
She’s a saint. I might have foregone the tip just to put his day into perspective for him… Good one.
It’s always tempting but rarely rewarding. Thanks for the lovely comment 🙂
Smile and nod!
Yep! So true 🙂
Hey! We both went the tip route. I like what you did with yours.
And I liked yours! I really felt for the poor waitress in your story and I’m glad you ended on a happy note.
You tell it like it is. I feel for your character.
I’m glad I was able to get that feeling across. Thanks for stopping by!
Wow, Jessie – a lot of punch in this thought-provoking piece. Super!
Glad you liked it Di 🙂
All too often our perspectives are warped. A waiter or waitress always has to have that smile for the customer, but who knows what type of day (or life) they are having? Great story and reminder.
Thank you! That’s just the message I was going for so I’m glad it got across 🙂
Loved this peak into the other side of the service – very nicely done
Thanks Dahlia 🙂
Wonderfully observed – I hope she gets that tip.
Me too! Thanks for the read 🙂
Worst days are all relative… aren’t they?
I like to think there’s always someone having a worse day and always someone having a better day than me.
All a matter of perspective… and yes, let him wallow in his “worst day ever” – she ain’t got time for that s*** 🙂
Haha, so true.
I really enjoyed your take and the philosophical questions it poses. The importance of gratitude and trying to keep our reactions to what happens to us, both in terms of the good and the bad, in perspective. I live with a severe auto-immune disease which has flared up over 3 Christmases in the last five years and I broke my foot two Christmases ago. After going through chemo and surviving, most things wash over me now. What I have noticed, is the number of people who need to vent and just talk for a good 15 mins half an hour about their problems without pausing. I don’t mind listening and I don’t expect these problems to be monumental. They just need someone to listen, just as people have listened to me and I swear there are a few people out there who have listened to me at the hospital and shown me such love.
I’m Australian so cafe staff are paid wages and tipping is minor here. Actually, I usually buy at the counter.
I feel sorry for the desperation of the waitress and that there’s no one to listen to her and ease her hardship. Some people really do it tough without much, if any, encouragement.
xx Rowena
BTW I think you’d enjoy reading the true story about the sunflower seeds salvaged from the Malaysian Airlines MH17 shot down over the Ukraine. I was given some of these seeds and they’re growing in my garden:https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2016/12/22/sunflower-a-christmas-miracle/
Thanks for the lovely comment and reflections Rowena! It’s true that sometimes all we need is for someone to listen.
You’re welcome, Jessie and please pop back and let me know how your story goes in the competition, especially considering I’m almost local.
xx Rowena
Yes. Excellent story. There but for fortune. 🙂
Thanks Sascha!
Some people are too self-absorbed to see how ridiculous they are, unfortunately the waitress cannot afford to point that out to him.
No, but I’m tempted to write a sequel when she says it how it is!
Great contrast between the two lives. Sometimes people don’t realise how good they have it. Nicely done.
Thanks for the lovely comment 🙂
I feel for the waitress! Well done!
Thanks Debra!