It Could Happen To You
Kitty Vics slid down onto the barstool at a small diner, a soft sigh slipping from her bloody lip. She rubbed her forehead and watched as a young brunette in a waitress uniform walked over. She had a pen and paper in her hand and a smile on her face as she walked over to Kitty.
"Can I get you anything, hun?" She asked.
Kitty rubbed her eyes. "Got any coffee?"
The waitress nodded to the coffee maker and said, "This pot's old." She poured out the stale coffee. "I'll make you a new one."
"Oh, you don't have to."
"It's okay, really." The waitress assured her as she started measuring out coffee grounds.
"So…" Kitty rested her chin on her forearms. "How's your day going? Or night-" She glanced at the window, which was pitch dark out. "I guess it's night now."
"Pretty good," The waitress replied in a chipper tone as she grabbed a mug and poured Kitty a new cup of coffee. "How about you?"
Kitty ripped open a package of sugar and dumped it into her coffee before stirring it with a spoon. She looked up and noticed that the waitress had dark circles around her eyes and her hair was haphazardly pulled into a ponytail. "You don't look like your day is going pretty good." Kitty noted before taking a sip of coffee.
The waitress visibly deflated but tried to appear positive. "I'm just tired."
"Me too." Kitty smiled kindly, making the cut on her face ripple. "Name's Kitty."
"Ellie."
"So Ellie," Kitty sat up straighter and took another drink. "Why's your day shitty?"
The waitress looked around at the empty diner before leaning in and divoulding, "I've been here for ten hours and have gotten screamed at three times, all for twelve dollars in tips."
"When do you get off?" Kitty asked.
Ellie's pressed her lips together. "Two hours."
"Twelve hours." Kitty shook her head. "Shiiit."
"And I still can't pay my rent." Ellie added. A jingle cut through the air and the waitress fumbled for her cell phone. "Do you-"
"Nah, go ahead."
Ellie mouthed, "Thank you." And walked over to a corner, whispering into her phone. After a minute, she walked back over, a grim loom on her tired face.
"Everyone okay?" Kitty asked with raised eyebrows.
"My neighbor says my little girl has a fever." Ellie readjusted her apron and tightened her hairband.
"You got someone to cover you so you can go home?"
Ellie shook her head as Kitty's cell phone rang.
"You mind?" Kitty asked.
"Of course not."
She raised the phone to her ear and listened intently. "Yeah? Uh, huh...On my way." Kitty hung up and smiled at Ellie. "Off to save the world." She finished off her coffee and stood up. "Everything'll turn out okay, Ellie."
"I hope so." The waitress smiled tightly.
Kitty fished out a wad of cash from her suit and dropped it on the table. "Keep the change, cher." She walked out of the diner, her pocket fourteen hundred dollars lighter.