Chapter 7 Irritation

Being at the restaurant early meant that Celia got a chance to wait in the back before her shift started. This gave her a chance to relax. After the horrible anger and irritation that she had experienced yesterday and today, she more than deserved it.

Although, the relaxation wasn't as relaxing as she thought it would be. While she had tried with all her might to not let the conversation with Iggy bother her, sitting around with no one to talk to only made her mind think about it more. It weighed down on her, hanging over her head like a very long hanging storm cloud.

She tried to push it to the side by using more than one method. She got up and paced. She ran her hand through her hair. She even took up her boss's offer and swept up the floor. But all of this did nothing to distract her.

"Henri," she said to her boss, "I need to talk with someone."

Henri, the golden skinned goomba, raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay, Celia?"

"I will be, as soon as I have a conversation to focus on." She looked up at the clock. "I have ten minutes until I need to get to work. Do you think you can fill up that time?"

"Well, sure. But I also need to worry about the employees coming in."

Celia let out a huff. "Oh, for Pete's sake, they can worry about themselves!" It was only the silence that followed that statement that alerted Celia to the fact that she had said that to her employer, who had the power to fire her. She slapped her hand to her mouth. "No! That's not what I…"

"Celia," Henri said, his face growing darker and darker. "Did you just snap at me?"

"I...uh, I...I mean…"

"I could write you up for insubordination," Henri said. "I don't care what trouble you're going through within your pretty little head; you do not talk to your boss like that!"

Celia hung her head. "I'm sorry, sir."

Henri relaxed his face a little bit. "Luckily for you, I am feeling generous today, so I'm not going to write you up right now. However, I want you to understand that I absolutely will not allow this in the future. Consider this my one and only warning."

Celia let out a breath. "Thank you, sir."

Henri nodded and looked up at the clock. "You have five minutes. You're close enough to the start of your shift; if you want, you can clock in now."

Celia nodded. "Yes sir." After the stress that the last hour and this scolding had brought onto her, she was ready to get to work. She was ready to do something useful. She clocked in and wiped her hands on the front of her uniform, if for no other reason than to get rid of her distress. She let out a breath and went out into the main area.

And that was when she groaned.

"Bert's here," she muttered. Sure, Roy was too. He was sitting at Table Eight, which was in the middle of the room, while Bert sat at Table Twelve, near the window. They were the only customers here.

Celia wiped her hands on her uniform again and went over to Roy. She figured she might as well deal with the easiest person first. "Can I get you something to drink?"

Roy smiled. "Just water today. And you already know what I'm getting to eat."

"Yep," Celia said. She went to get the water and punched the order into the machine. She brought the water back over to Roy, all while trying to hide her dread from him. "Your biscuits and gravy will be out in a minute."

"Sounds good! Thanks, Cee!"

"You're welcome," she said, unable to mask her grumble tone. Thankfully, Roy just ignored it, allowing her to go up to the grumpy Bert. He kept shifting his position in his chair, his teeth barred. He looked like a feral battle cat as opposed to a regular customer.

"Hello," Celia said. She tried to put on a smile. She really did. Unfortunately, the sight of this ugly face resting before her made that an impossibility.

"Finally. Took you long enough." Bert shifted position again. "Where's my menu?"

Celia held back a groan. "You mean you aren't getting your usual?"

Bert scoffed. "I get what I want when I want. Your job is to serve me, not question me."

Celia bit her lip. "You're right. I'm sorry." She went to get him a menu. She placed it on the table for him when she returned. "Do you need a couple minutes?"

"Uh, of course! That's like a no brainer."

Celia sucked some air through her teeth. "Alright." She made her way back to the front. She saw Connie coming in through the entrance, all dressed up and ready for work. The Koopa Troopa beamed and waved at her, prompting Celia to wave back.

"WAITRESS!"

Celia went back over to Bert. "Have you decided?"

"Yes. I'll have a Belgian waffle with ice cream." He handed her the menu. "Make the ice cream chocolate."

"Chocolate? But...the only flavor we have is vanilla."

Bert narrowed his gaze at her. "Do you want a tip or not?"

Celia had to take all her self control to not scream. "Yes. Of course. I'll make sure to get that for you right away."

With that, she went back up to the front to punch the order into the machine. Seriously. Bert was just….impossible. She wished she could say that he had just woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, but that would imply that he had something good to offer on a normal day. Unfortunately, this was a normal day for him.

"Connie," Celia called out once she punched in the order.

"Yes?"

Celia sighed. "Can you...go across the street and get some chocolate ice cream for Bert's Belgian waffle?"

Connie gawked. "Chocolate….are you serious?" When Celia nodded, Connie sighed. "Oh my developer." She rubbed her face in an irritated manner. "I'll...I'll be back in a minute."

With that, she left. Celia honestly felt bad, having to do this to a sweetheart like Connie. But what else could she do?

"Order up."

Celia got the biscuits and gravy and brought it out to Roy. The shades wearing Koopaling beamed at her.

"Thanks, Cee! I promise I'll leave an extra big tip!"

Celia actually managed to smile. "Thanks." As she walked away, she muttered under her breath "I'll need it."

After that, Celia waited on some more customers who had come in. As she did, Bert groaned like the donkey he was from his spot in front of the window. "What's taking so long?"

Celia gripped her hand into a fist. "Maybe you should have gotten your usual instead of forcing Connie to get chocolate ice cream for your sorry ass," she said under her breath.

Thankfully, Connie returned with the chocolate ice cream right at that moment. Celia thanked her, brought it to the kitchen, and scooped it onto the waiting waffle. She then carried it out to Bert. She hoped, for her sake more than anyone else's, that he would like it. The last thing she needed was to hear more of his soul-hurting complaints, especially when she was already dealing with a fair amount.

Unfortunately, Bert only greeted her with scorn when she returned. "Finally! Took you long enough."

Celia swallowed her anger. "It's only been ten minutes."

"Which is about nine minutes too long," Bert said. "I should have known to not come back here when this place has garbage servers like you."

Celia's blood froze in its tracks. "What?"

"You heard me. You're a garbage server. All of you are."

Celia gripped onto the plate. After serving him countless times, going out of their way to get something for him that wasn't even on the menu...this was how he decided to treat her? By calling her garbage?

"Now, hand me my meal."

Celia's hands shook. Her heartbeat sped up. Her insides felt like they were burning up.

"Of...of course sir."

And that's when she threw the plate right at Bert's face.