Warnings!: serious age gap (like 40 years) though every one is of legal age
Also reviews = love, so feel free and encouraged!
Charlie McDonnell, slipped his apron around his neck, and tied the ridiculously long straps into a sloppy bow. He pinned on his name tag, and washed his hands. He walked across the back of the kitchen and grabbed a cart of drinks and salads, pulling it out the door behind him.
After nine months of unemployment he was more than happy for this job, and for the most part he really didn't mind serving and cleaning up after seniors of NorthSound Retirement, except Alex Day. Four days into the job, and Charlie already tried to avoid the man.
The first table went smoothly, drinks and salads were doled out quickly, and Charlie walked over to the next 'Oh, bugger. Him again' He turned to the lady on his left
"May I get you something to drink this tonight?" He asked politely. The woman, Lynda, held out her glass
"Cranberry" She said in a whispery voice. He took the cup, and grabbed the pitcher.
"Whole or a half glass?"
"What?" She pointed towards her ear, and charlie bent over to get closer
"Whole or a half glass" from across the table he heard Alex's low voice say
"bend over a little more, darlin". He ignored the comment, and poured the woman her requested half grass of cranberry juice.
The other Woman, Agnes, also ordered cranberry juice, and no salad. Then he moved to Alex.
"And would you like anything to drink?" He asked the man. Alex paused. He waited, and waffled, deciding and re deciding, until finally Charlie asked again
"Would you like anything to drink?"
"I heard you the first time!" He gruffed. "I'll take a full glass of milk, and..." He trailed off, surveying the cart "A Cesar salad" he said with a glint in his eye. Charlie poured the milk, and grabbed a Cesar salad off the bottom shelf, careful to squat, not bend. "No sense in letting that pervy old man get another kick outta me"
Alex's smile had disappeared by the time Charlie set down the plate. He quickly walked to the next table, trying to forget Alex's comment.
Alex Day was rather young to be retired, but was still an old man. And Charlie dealt with many old people each day, but none succeeded in pushing his buttons like Alex. Take the average resident, they might be hard of hearing, or sometimes can't see too well, and some have a rather difficult time making up their mind to order a meal. But Alex not only faked it to get Charlie to repeat himself, but mocked the boy, made endless provocative comments, and always tried to get Charlie to bend over.
The main course went over without event, but dessert was usually the worst.
Charlie was back at Alex's table "And what can I get you for dessert?"
"I'll take you in nothing but that girly apron back in my room". Charlie sighed and brushed it off. "Tonight we have chocolate cheesecake, vanilla and chocolate ice cream as well as tapioca, vanilla and chocolate puddings in regular and sugar free". All three had tapioca.
Charlie returned to the kitchen, and started busing dishes from the tables. Thankfully Alex left with the most of the crowd, and Charlie soon lost himself in work; busing dishes, clearing, wiping, and re setting tables, taking out the trash and vacuuming, and before he knew it he was clocking out, and driving home.
Home as it was consisted of a tiny basement apartment at the bottom of a shabby old complex. The lighting was terrible, but it kept warm, and he really couldn't get a better deal on rent.
After a short-staffed evening Charlie hadn't gotten home until later than he would've liked, and instead of spending leisure time he went to his bedroom, switched into PJs and promptly crashed.
So this was more of an introductory chapter, but more will come
