…and it was a mandatory day for everyone because the customers were coming for their very important family meals together.
I was just married and we had no money. My dad was deployed to the Middle East for 14 months and he had just left a few weeks prior. I was a mess.
I told them I couldn’t work that day but they said I would be fired if I didn’t come in. They pushed a lot of guilt- saying if I didn’t show up then other people would have to work later and longer- but if we all worked 4 hour shifts everyone could work and spend time with family.
And so I worked 3:00pm to 11:00pm because I was new.
Only “veteran” employees could work the early shift out of respect. Four hours my ass.
I don’t remember how much I made that night in tips. I just have these images of happy families eating turkey & all the traditional sides together seared into my head the whole time I’m thinking “why are all these people here?”
They’re paying to eat a family meal at a restaurant, forcing a bunch of people to be away from their families.
I remember being so miserable just wanting to be with my family.
This was 11 thanksgivings ago.
Mimi’s Cafe