What a shit show tonight. I went to work at the restaurant up the street from me.. The one that I've talked about here before as not really "having it all together." The first thing that happens when I got there, is that the owner gave me a signal that he wants to talk to me for a minute. He asked me if I was also working at another restaurant in town. I told him yes.. but that I didn't have any regular shift yet, just when they need me. He pulled me into his office and it begins. . "look, I'm only tellin ya this cause I like ya, but you don't wanna be workin in that place. The owner is in the witness protection program.. The owner's exhusband is a rat, he put a lotta guys away. The feds pretty much own that place. They pay the rent, her mortgage... Ya know, I'm not sayin I'm perfect. I can admit it, I did time too. I was a loan shark.. I got sent away..... etc"
WHAT. THE. HELL.
Seriously? Just when I thought I was out!!! It's all around me. Everywhere. Why the hell would this guy unload all this intel on me? Do I have "one of those faces" that people just feel the need to unload on? Why can I NOT get away from organized crime? It gets better.
The next thing to happen, is I head into the bar area where I see "Mike" who is a regular drunk at both establishments that I work at. He too gives me the come hither hands like he's got something important to tell me. I'm guessing that he's the source that told my boss that I'm working at a rival restaurant.. but I guess that was inevitable. So I start to tell him, "yeah, yeah, I know, he already told me about the witness protection stuff..." But he stops me and says, "No no, I was going to tell you that if you have to choose one over the other, than you should definitely NOT stay here. You'll do better at the other place. You'll make some money at the other place..." Oh come on. I can't take it. This place is seriously a disaster area.
Enter, the board of health.. Just to kick things up notch.. After about 3 hours of sticking his foot in his mouth, and a presumably horrific inspection, the agent slapped three bright yellow stickers on the front door and two front windows proclaiming that we were closed effective immediately, due to health violations. Excellent. The owner flew off the handle. Went out and tried, unsuccessfully, to rip the notices off the door and one window. He made up a sign of his own that read, "Closed for private party" and stuck it over the violation notice on the door. This notice was largely ignored, and the people came in anyway. It was a decent night. A couple of good reservations, and one party of 15 that stayed well past their welcome, drinking heavily and complaining that we were clearing their tables-- a good hour and a half after their "party" was set to be over, mind you.
So typical. I'm beginning to think I might actually be the problem.. I might really be the "Mush"! They should start locking me in the bathroom on important days.
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