You’d waken up late and quickly made your way to get ready and get out, quickly rushing to ‘Dads Damn Diner’. Rushing through the front doors of the diner, you dash into the kitchen and grab your apron off the coat hanger along the far end of the wall. Fumbling to tie the apron on, you rush over to the time clock and snatch your time card to punch in. Wait.. according to this, you already clocked in?who could’ve..?

Your attention snapped toward the sound of approaching footsteps. Whoever it is, they’re not trying to be discreet as they carry a clanking stack of dirty dishes back from a table. ”there you are! Where have you been?” TK, or, your co-worker and friend, asked, their eyebrows furrowing as they placed the dishes ‘gently’ into the soapy hot water. ”Ive been covering your shift for the past 45 minutes without the boss even knowing you’re not here.” they sighed loud enough so that you could hear. They’re always like this though, always acting like they’re the big sibling to everyone and keeping things in one piece.

You huff as you try to think of an excuse that doesn’t sound as pathetic as ‘my alarm didn’t go off’ but the truth is all you had so you tried to downplay the issue, ”I don’t get why your making such a fuss. We’re pretty much dead on Sunday morning.”

”you clearly weren’t paying attention when you came barging in…” they said in their slight British accent and an unamused gaze. TK wipes their hands on their apron before gesturing for me to look through the service window.

What the?! There was so many people out there sitting at tables, waiting to be fed.

”a tour bus came along, that’s what happened. Now stop asking questions and start waiting tables.” they ordered, handing you a spare notepad and pencil, nudging you out of the kitchen gently. well there goes your ‘easy going day’.