The sun was halfway to its highest point in the sky when Gabby Ortiz saw her destination. It was not impressive; just a one-story white building, whose purpose was identified only by the neon sign on top, flashing its one-word message to everyone driving by: EAT.
Not her first choice to start her life over, she thought; but then, her first choice hadn't really panned out that well.
After entering the driveway, she pulled into a spot away from the entrance, leaving the better spaces for paying customers. Popping open the glove compartment, she pulled out a stick of deodorant and applied it to her pits. She hadn't been able to get into the Y to take a shower, so she would have to hope that was good enough. Then, she combed her hair in the rearview mirror. Before leaving her car, she checked her makeup one last time. This last was not out of excessive vanity, but practicality: Bitter experience had taught her that no job interview ever went her way if the manager's first question was how she got the black eye. Deciding she was as ready as she would ever get, she got out and walked into the diner.
The place was practically empty. Not a single customer anywhere. Her heart sank. If most of her income here would be tips, it didn't look good for her. The only signs of life in the dining area were a man behind the counter reading the paper, and a radio that was just finishing "Livin' On A Prayer." As that selection faded into silence, "What You Need" started up. She walked up to the man at the counter. "Excuse me?"
The man, a white man in his mid-30s, looked up. "Oh, hello," he said. "What can I get for you?"
"I'm here about your ad on Craigslist?"
He looked at her as if nothing she had said was in English. "Ad? Craigslist?"
"Are you saying you didn't place the ad? Because somebody did." She pulled up the ad on her phone and showed him.
He studied the ad carefully. "I didn't place this," he said. "It's never happened like this before; but Management doesn't always clue me in. Would you like some coffee? Tea? A glass of water?"
"Coffee will be fine."
He invited her to sit on one of the stools at the counter, and poured her a cup of coffee.
Copyright 2000 - 2025 21 x 20 Media All rights reserved. This site is property of 21 x 20 Media
All Writing.Com images are copyrighted and may not be copied / modified in any way. All other brand names & trademarks are owned by their respective companies.
Generated in 0.11 seconds at 2:28am on Apr 04, 2025 via server WEBX1.
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author