Paying it Forward

My feet are killing me and it’s only 8 O’ clock, I have four more hours left till I can go home and take a nice warm bubble bath with some melodic house mix by DJ Korolova. “Valentina, Valentina I need some more napkins over here please and some water get over here.” Oh man, this man is so annoying, he’s been a regular for the past few months and is a pain in my ass ever since I turned him down but that hasn’t deterred him coming since the food and ambiance of this place keeps bringing him and other regular customers back. I can’t say I blame him it’s by the Hudson River as the George Washington Bridge can be seen in the distance. “What’s up Orlando what do you need,” “You can’t hear or something I need some more napkins and a refill of water please the game is getting good,” Orlando mentions. “Sorry I haven’t noticed as you can see the place is packed and I’ve been running nonstop trying to keep up,” I mention. “Hey, Devils, are tied and your Rangers don’t look so good,” “Okay, we may not be winning right now but who is up 2-0 in the series so we’re in a good spot if we lose tonight,” as I walk away. “Listen some water and napkins please, hurry up,” Orlando shouts. “I’ve got ya relax want to take over for me and see how you would fare?” “Ughh, no thanks, I’ve got bad knees,” Orlando says. “Valentina, Valentina where is my food, I’ve been waiting forever for my meal.”  I look over my shoulder and see it’s Johnny, my ex-boyfriend. “Very funny, you just got here and I’m not serving you Sheryl is.” “I’m sorry I’m still hopeful that you’ll come back to me,” as Johnny kneels, wonderful attention I don’t need today. “Johnny get up stop being silly, place is packed, and I’m swamped as you can see,” Johnny gets up “Sorry, sorry, I miss you and wish you came back baby,” “I’m sorry you know why, I told you I can’t you have done a lot of damage to me and my family, caused a lot of grief. “Come on we’re practically family now.” I look at Johnny with his baby brown eyes as I swing my right hand. Johnny’s eyes widened, not expecting it. “Fuck baby, that hurt what the fuck, “as Johnny rubs his red left cheek. “You have the cojones to come here saying that practically family, you and my cousin had a fling while I was working double shifts taking care of my brother who was sick and thank God through prayers and faith the cancer is in remission. You’ve got some balls, don’t you. I don’t talk to my cousin anymore because of her betrayal and I’ve let you come to the restaurant cause I try to not mix my personal life where I work, you have a right to come in here and eat cause we’re adults but clearly one of us isn’t,”  I overhear my manager Rafael run over, “What the hell is happening, I heard there was commotion, what the hell happened Johnny your left cheek is red.? “Oh, it’s nothing it’s all good Rafael I swatted a mosquito away,” Johnny mentions. Rafael takes a step back, “A mosquito what I don’t have a mosquito problem here what,” Rafael defends. “Relax Rafael I should have said I thought it was a mosquito which it wasn’t it was my itchy skin acting up, sorry for the scare Rafael.” “Are you not tending to Rafael Valentia?” Rafael asks. “No, I’m not Sheryl is. “Somebody called me?” Sheryl asks. “Yes, are you not taking care of Johnny?” Rafael asks. “Yes, I am as you see the place is packed tonight with so many playoffs games going on,” Sheryl points out. I look at Rafael, “Ease up on us a little Rafael, everybody is being tended too and things are a little bit tight but we’re bringing out the orders to the customers as quickly and efficiently as possible since we’re down to 2 chefs since Mikey’s recovering from his knee surgery.   “Okay, okay let me get back to the kitchen and give the chefs a hand, Rafael mentions. “Sheryl table 7 needs a refill of water and some more napkins, I’ll take care of table 8 with their orders which should be ready by now, I mention to Sheryl. “Thanks, Valentina not to worry I got ya.” The place is swamped and to have to worry about Orlando being annoying and Johnny getting under my skin, I don’t need this today, my aching feet oh please want this day to end, “Calgon just take me away,” I shout. “Valentina who is Calgon?” Sheryl asks. I laugh, “Oh it’s an old commercial that I saw on YouTube about a bubble bath which I so badly need after this shift is done,” “Really, I’ve got to check out some of those classic commercial spots because you’ve been singing and quoting some of those classic commercial spots for the past few weeks.” Sheryl smiles. “Yeah, I just find those classic spots relaxing after a hard day’s work you know,” I mention. “Kevin, you’ve got the order for table 8 ready,” “Valentina, hey you look a little annoyed what happened?” Kevin asks. I roll my eyes and look at Kevin “Johnny is what happened,” “Oh no what did he do?” Kevin asks. “Oh, he just had to rub in my face of being practically family since he and my cousin had that fling, what an asshole you know.” You want me to add some more spices and maybe something more to Johnny’s food tonight, Kevin asks. I laugh, “Oh no, that’s okay but it’s tempting for sure.” “Okay, Valentina the paella con chorizo, and shrimp are ready along with the shrimp mofongo,” Kevin mentions. The smell of the food has me daydreaming of being at the beach eating these dishes with a mojito, “Hmm, wow it smells so good.” Wow I so wish that I was at that beach right now but the view of the Hudson with the sun setting with the lights of the George Washington Bridge in the distance will have to do for now. “It’s a shrimptacular event right now yes, yes, yes,” as the patron shouted just as I came over to his table. “Okay your paella and shrimp mofongo is hot and ready for you,” “Thank you, thank you, I’ve had a long hard ass day at work and I’m treating myself this and can I have another round of mojito por favor.” I smile yeah if I wasn’t working, I would have one of those mojitos as well.” “I see you and the other waitresses are busy tonight wow don’t know how you do it,” I smile, “Hey we all have to make a living and just do it you know, I’ll bring that mojito in a few, enjoy,” I walk over as my feet are just throbbing a little damn need s new pair of shoes cause these shoes have worn out their welcome. I get a tap over my shoulder; I look over and it’s Janet the receptionist “Valentina somebody left this envelope for you, and it’s really fancy since it has a wax seal on the back.” “What else does it have Janet did you put a flashlight under it to see what else it has,” I ask. “No, no I didn’t do that as well sheesh,” as Janet rolls her eyes. “Relax, Janet I’m just busting your chops just a little, so who dropped this envelope did they leave a name?” I ask. “No, he didn’t all he said was thank you and gave me the envelope, he was good looking though oh my god,” Janet gushes. “Oh, really okay let me take a breather and see what this is,” as I take a seat and admire the wax seal and open it up. The letterhead had cherry blossoms on the upper left corner.  I start to read the letter, Dear Valentina, I want to thank you for being such a beautiful, kind, and wonderful person to my mother who came to eat every weekend while her favorite Premier League teams played during the season. She loved your company and looked forward to coming every weekend for some good food and your company. She mentioned to me how you lifted her spirits when she finally decided to leave my father who was unfaithful to her. She mentioned how you were her angel and how you helped her find her way back to what she loved, which was painting. I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m writing you this letter. Well, unfortunately my mother passed away suddenly. She wrote a lot about you and the love you have for your brother who was sick and just being a great loving person to everybody, so sweet and full of joy. My heart drops as the tears flow down as I try to continue to read the letter. If you look at the back of this letter there is a check taped and this is for you paying it forward for all you did to my mother thank you so much. God Bless you and your family, Valentina. I look at the back and just cry.