Top six things

pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

# If something is going to go wrong,# it will and always be prepared for the worst.

Dealing with the public, you are open to have anything happen. With every small town, you always have the local business mogul.  You know the person that owns most of the business. In this case, it is the trash service for the whole town. They have two boys, they are hardworking boys slightly spoiled and most people know who they are. Also, there is a cousin the same age as the youngest boy. They are close and do everything together. Just like brothers. As older teens and adults, they would come into the restaurant at night from a night of snowmobiling or snowplowing. Of course, there were also the nights that they would come in after the bars closed.

So, here is the beginning of the story. The youngest boy and the cousin were not very happy with each other when they entered the restaurant. They were of age and had just come from the bars. As I walked them to their table, I heard mumblings about some woman but did not hear the whole thing. I left them to look at the menus.

Voices became loud and then there was shouting. I looked through the door into the dining room, just as I poked, my head out I saw plates and bodies flying.  The two had escalated to a fistfight. From somewhere a plate of fries and ketchup flew. It landed in the face and chest of a man sitting in a chair next to the cousins.  Shortly after this the youngest boy land in his lap. 

#Stay calm and clear-headed at all times.# That has always been my motto especial working in a bar rush. Now I had known these boys for years and knew they were good boys just drunk, young and had testosterone flying.

“What in the hell are you doing” I yelled at them.” Get off the floor and pick this shit up now,” I yelled at both of them. Apologize to this poor man and clean up this mess or I will call the cops. I did not really have to call the cops. One of them was already there. He had come in while I was seating them. He know them and was waiting to see what I did.  The rest were due to come in for break in a few minute anyways.

#Be a part of your community.# Also, be known as being a good person. Being a night waitress, I spent many hours sitting with the local law on their breaks. They knew me well and know I could handle things. Of course, I knew I could call them and they would be there in just a few minutes. One time a customer called the cops about an incident, another customer was being unruly.  I did not make the call so they did not come in right away. I was a little concerned but handled the unruly customer. The officer on duty came in an hour later for break. Why didn’t you come in when we were having a problem? ‘I asked.

“Because you did not call.” He said.” I heard the call but I figured you could handle it and if not I was right across the street. “I know if it got out of hand you would have called” He went on to say.

#The sordid side of life exists and there is nothing that can be done about it.# So just, get on with it and deal with it.  They only come out at night. People with their affairs, you also got vampires, yes vampires some of them had their teeth worked on to have extended fangs. There are also witches, warlocks, Goth and just your average nut cases. Some nights a regular parade would go on for hours. Forget diversity this was all of the other forms of life.  I do not know what their parents were thinking.

After the bars closed and the bar rush was over. Then the owners of the bars/strip clubs would come in. Sometimes the strippers themselves would come in. I always felt sorry for them; young pretty girls that just had a bad childhood.  As they sat there and discuss their events of the nights so did the law. Most time they talk amongst themselves. Occasionally they sat with the local law enforcement. Maybe discussing a new predicament, they had found themselves in.

 It was better than a soap opera. This was real life unfolding in front of you.  I sure miss those days. Really I do. I just do not miss staying up all night.

Life is hard and we need to laugh at ourselves. All of this took place over 20 years ago. I am sure all the vampires, witches and Goth are now executive somewhere or at least I hope so. Along with that, I hope the strippers are happily married with children. Again, I surly hope so.   

#Nothing is free.# Unless a plate of fries come flying into your lap and you get your meal on the house. Then again, it did cost you a new white shirt.

P.P.  Three years ago in the middle of February I need to find someone to dig us out with a bobcat. Our local plow guy could no longer plow the snow in our driveway. It was a record year for snow. An employee said she knew of a guy so I called him up. The name sounded familiar but then there were a lot of people with that last name. Sure enough it was the youngest boy. He gave me a discount for not sending him to jail that night.