I received a call from the manager, Ed Thomas, of the diner. They operate 24 hours and are looking for a waitress who will shift from 10:00 PM-08:00 AM. I told him the current status of my visa, and he was still okay with it. He wants to know if I can start after two days and if I am okay with the $11 per hour salary. So, I told him I would confirm tomorrow because I wanted to verify if the babysitter would be available during the shift.
After the conversation, Kai and I immediately went to the reception of the motel.
“Good afternoon! Could you let me know if the babysitting services would be available during the night?” I asked.
“Sure, ma’am! We have two staff who would be willing to do that. For how many hours would you be needing?” Jenny, the reception said.
“Actually, I will be starting a new job in two days, and the shift timing is from 10:00 PM-08:00 AM. So, I am wondering if one of the staff could do that on a possible monthly basis?”
“I see. Let me get back to you. I will ask the two first if one of them could do that. May I know your room number?”
“Room 305. Can I get a confirmation within this day?”
“Sure! I will be calling them now, and I will give you a call once they give me an answer.”
“Thank you, Jenny!”
Kai and I head to the playground after that. I wanted to spend more time with him as I could. It will be difficult for both of us. We used to see each other during the night, but our timings will be the opposite when I start working. But it’s needed to be sacrificed if we don’t want to end up hungry.
Two hours after, I received a call from Jenny that one of the babysitters would be willing to do it, but the rate would now be $150 a month and only advance payment. It’s because she would have to give up her part-time job for her to babysit. Jenny said that this is already the best offer because most are charging per hour. I understood that because I checked online, and indeed it’s pretty expensive, especially if you hire a professional sitter. I agreed with it, and she said Selene Jones would be coming around 07:00 PM to meet me. Then, I called Ed to confirm that I could start working after two days.
We went back to the reception when Jenny called me to say that Selene had arrived. Selene is just eighteen years old, and I am lucky that Kai liked her right away.
“Your such a sweet kid. You remind me of my brother Stanley,” Selene said when Kai smiled and immediately hugged her.
“I’m glad that you two seemed to like and are comfortable with each other,” I said.
“He is a good kid. When do you want me to start?”
“I will start working after two days, and I guess you already know the time.”
“Yes, from 10:00 PM to 08:00 AM. What time do you want me to come to your room?”
“I will just be working at the diner nearby. You can come around 09:30 PM to room 305.”
“Alright then. It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Peters, and also you, Kai.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too. And please call me Kamiah.”
“Okay, Kamiah. See you!”
“See you!”
Kai and I went back to our room. We had our dinner, and we spent the night watching TV until we fell asleep.
Two days after, Selene came knocking on our room around 09:30 PM. Kai was already sleeping, and I just told her some things Kai might need later on. I also gave her my number to call me anytime, especially if it’s an emergency. Then, I headed to the diner for my first day of work.
I was met by Andrea Waters and Sam Goodwin when I arrived at the diner. Andrea was the waitress who quit but still doing her last three days of work. The manager asked me to join early so she could teach me. Sam Goodwin was the daddy-type supervisor on shift. He is funny and loves to talk about his kids.
I have done waitressing before. It was my part-time job when I was still studying. So, it was not hard to learn and catch up despite not doing it for a long time.
“You learned fast,” Andrea commented.
“I used to the same job when I was still studying. This is like a refresher to me,” I replied.
“That’s good. You will not be hard adjusting to the work here. But usually, we don’t have many customers during the night. Only the ones who are staying at the motel. And some people who don’t have a choice but to eat here because this is the only one open.”
“I understood that.”
“But if you are lucky, you will have some customer who will give a good tip. Sometimes even higher than what you can make in a day.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Just be patient and keep smiling. Customers like that. If only my fiancee were based here, I would not leave this job.”
“Congratulations, by the way.”
“Thanks a lot. How about you? Are you married?”
“Separated. And I have a son. He is a year and a half.”
“Really? I am a single mom, too. I think most of the waitresses here. Hazel and Susan as well. Ed is a single dad, so he understood what a single mom is going through.”
“That’s why I was surprised he accepted me even if my visa is just tourist.”
“Oh, he is a kind-hearted man. He raised his daughter alone when she was only two. Now, his daughter is seventeen. He never forgets how he started and helped as much as he could. But please don’t put him in trouble with the authorities. Work on your papers, too.”
“I know. Would you by any chance know a lawyer who could help me get a green card? My son is a US citizen already.”
“I think I know one. I will give you her number later.”
My first day at work was not that bad. I even received a $30 tip which I am grateful for. And when I reached home. Selene said that Kai woke up around 05:00 AM. She feeds him, and they had been playing since then.