"Thank you for choosig T*** B***. May I take your order?" I ask, pressing the button labeled 'A' to talk to the customer outside. "I'd like a mucho grande nacho with a large Pepsi, four soft-taco supremes, one beef enchirito, and four chalupas." I listen closely, pushing the buttons on the screen in front of me as fast as the person speaks.
'Does anyone really know what time it is? Does anyone really care?' Not again. That song has been stuck in my head all day! If I start singing it again, I'm going to sound like a freaking broken record. I know, how about some Matchbox Twenty, or the Beatles? Those always work to get other songs out of my head.
"On those chalupas, would you like beef, chicken or steak?" I ask politely. When the man takes a while answering, I know that my next question will be even harder for him to answer. "Two chicken and two steak." He answers proudly as though he has answered the age old question of how to attain world peace.
This is so very boring. Why did I get a job anyway? I could be sleeping late, but no, I have to get a job. When do I get to leave this place? Honestly, how many stupid people can come through the drive-through in one morning? It's ten-o'clock and these people are already eating lunch!
"Would you like those to baja, Santa Fe, supreme, or nacho cheese?" I ask, smiling at my unseen customer.
'This can't be love, because I feel so well, but still I love to look in your eyes.' This is fun. Only eight more hours of washing dishes, mopping and taking orders left to go.
"Could you repeat that?" But before I can, a passenger repeats the list for him, allowing him to make his decision. "I would like the chicken chalupas to be baja and the steak to be supreme."
'I'm so dizzy my head is spinning. Like a whirlpool it never ends." Whoa, you people really don't get this do you? I wonder if I'll have to work late. I had better not. I have plans tonight. It's bad enough
"That's one mucho grande nacho, one large Pepsi, four soft-taco supremes, one beef enchirito, two baja chicken chalupas and two supreme steak chalupas. Would you like to try an order of cinnamon twists with that?" I repeat the order and say my required follow up item. Chance raises his eyebrows in appreciation at my remembering.
that I have to shower again when I get home because I smell like this place, but the uniforms are the worst. I hate these things... talk about ugly. Who picked these things out anyway? I know, a color-blind, fashion moron, that's who. I wonder what my hair is going to look like when I take this hat off... It's bad enough that I have to come in here in the morning, but these
"No, thank you." The customer replies, anxious now for his food.
poeple are insane. They expect a sixteen-year-old girl to help close up the store one night, until 3 am, and then be at work at 9:45 am the same
"Your total is ten dollars and twenty-eight cents. Please drive around to the second window." As the care pulls around, I press the store button on the first computer to move the man's total to the cash register. Using my hip to press the bar, I open the sliding glass window, allowing a rush of hot August air to enter the store.
day to open up! I can't wait to see the look on Sharon's face when I give notice. Okay, here is another person who can see you now, so don't forget to smile. Chance is in a bad enough mood already, so I don't want him yelling at me. He can be such a
"That will be ten, twenty-eight please." I say as the man pulls forward. As he hands me eleven dollars, I ask,
jerk at times. Oh well, I'll get over it. All I have to do is reapeat,
"Would you like any hot or mild sauce?"
"I'm getting paid for this."
"Mild please." he anwers as the glass door window shut. "Seventy-two cents is your change sir. Here's your drink." I say as I hand him his Pepsi. "It will just be a moment." Smilingly, I walk to the counter behind me and count out the appropriate number of napkins, sporks, and mild sauces. I then finish wripping my orders on the line, bag it, and go to the window.
That makes things easier. Look at this guy, thinking I'm his slave or genie, to just bring him his food. Who cares, you lazy slob? You can't even get out of your car to buy this slop. Stop it! If I keep thinking like this, I'm going to have a bad day, and it's already bad enough. Think of a song. Got one. 'Reach down your hand in your pocket, pull out some hope for me. It's been a long day, oh ain't that right and no Lord, your hand
"Here you go, sir." I say, handing him the food. "You have a nice day." Then, stepping back, I watch him drive off. The sliding glass window closes haltingly. Another customer has been served.
won't stop it, just keep you trembling. It's been a long day, oh, ain't that right." Goody. Now that Mr. "I'm too good to use a door" has driven off, I can go back to washing the dishes.