Safe Place

I have a terrible job. Okay, it isn't THAT fucking bad, I just wait tables, and I choose to, so this isn't me complaining, I'm just stating how terrible waiting tables can be, shitty costumers, bad tips, asshole-ish demands, bad managers and lazy fucking co workers are all reasons to never want to wear an apron and say "how would you like your steak cooked?" But tonight I actually had a moment that made me love my job.

It was about 8:30 and the restaurant was slowing down, less consistent costumers, less orders going through the POSy machine into the kitchen etc. I got sat a table of three around this time, and at first I wasn't happy, only because I was hoping to be cut and sent home, but never-the-less I had a table, hey at least I'll have an opportunity to make some money.

I approach the table and I see a mother a father and a young daughter, she can't be a day over 9, but she is dressed nicely, in a long black dress, with make-up on her face.

"My name is Mike, welcome to the steakhouse, how is everyone doing tonight"

The father looks up at me and has a nice smile on his face, he looks like fun.

"I'm doing good, how are you doing?"

"I'm doing good sir," I say to him and I look over at the young girl, "special occasion tonight?"

"Me and my daughter are out on a date tonight Mike, although my wife decided to come as a third wheel," the father says to me and laughs.

I assure them that I am going to take good care of them, and I take their order. The father orders a gin and tonic because his daughter asked him not drink a beer tonight.

Their food comes out quickly and they eat, I go back to check on them and the daughter is at the bathroom, so the father takes the time to talk to me.

"Me and my daughter are on a 'date' tonight because all three of her brothers are at a 'boy's only' sleepover party, and she doesn't get a lot of daddy alone time."

"That's so nice!"

"Before we came out I went to grab a few things and I told her I was going, so she says to me that she is going to get ready for dinner. I come back from the store and she has on this black dress, and I look at her and she's got on this eye liner and lipstick! It was like a knife in my heart because although I thought it was so cute that my daughter was so excited to go out, I know what's coming next, and I know i wont be on any of those kind of dates!"

Hearing all this broke my heart man, it was warming to see such tender care for a child. When you wait on people you see people at their best and at their worse. Eating makes people vulnerable, and they let their guard down when they do it. In a world where we read stories about people leaving their kids in trash cans and child abuse, and fucking child porn, it was really refreshing to see parents that really loved their child. It made me think of the times I would spend playing board games with my mom before i had school or she had work, or when I took my Dad to a comedy show last year and he texted me that he had a good time and said he loved me. I saved the text message, and all those memories because people aren't going to be around forever, and when they're gone it's all we're gonna have.

The father asks for the check, he compliments me galore, which i appreciate almost as much as the 30 percent tip they leave on the bill, I thank them and I tell the daughter to enjoy the rest of her date.

I only got to know these people for about 45 minutes, but for those 45 minutes, I didn't feel like I was waiting tables, and for that I am forever grateful.