I had my first day of training today as a server at the Towson Diner.
 
I’ve been trying for so long to land a serving job, if by trying I mean sitting around hoping one lands in my lap. It’s funny how when I finally go out and APPLY for one, I get one. Makes no sense.
 
At about 4pm I showed up at the diner in my freshly bought uniform (white button down and black slacks). You supply your own uniform there, including the nametag which was news to me. I hope “My Name Is:” stickers are acceptable.
 
I sat there looking through the menu, which is enormous, for about an hour when the manager finally paired me up with a server named Zach. Basically, I was going to shadow him for the night, learn the basics, and take some tables on my own if I felt up to it.
 
I’ll be honest; it’s a little overwhelming. Before today I figured it couldn’t be that hard to remember what was going on with… say… three tables. If I had a penny for everytime I had to ask Zach “where is this dish going again?” I’d have like, well, 5 pennies or so. Not to mention all the menu shit you have to remember, and figuring out how to use the archaic computer. It’s gonna take some time.
 
There was one particularly notable incident tonight though that may come to set the tone for working evenings at the Diner. I had shadowed enough that Zach decided to let me take some tables on my own, as long as he was there to back me up. Around 9 o’clock, this guy walks in and gets seated at our section. He’s a tall guy, kind of lanky, short hair and a goatee. I approached his table and introduced myself.
 
Me: “Hey how are you doing tonight sir? My name’s Evan, I’ll be helping to take care of you. It’s my first day here, training, so go easy on me.”
Him: “Oh, that’s great Evan. You’re doing great.”
 
He was very soft-spoken and had a very friendly demeanor about him. There was something about him though that set off some red flags. The overwhelming gentleness of his voice combined with his using my name excessively gave me the impression that he was a little off.
 
Him: “I’ll tell you what, Evan. I’m just gonna start off with a regular coffee aaaaaaand… a slice of oreo cheesecake. Can you do that for me, Evan?”
Me: “Sure thing. I’ll be right back with that for ya.”
Him: “Oh wait, one more thing. Do you have a phonebook I could use?”
 
I tracked down a phonebook for him and brought it along with his coffee.
 
Him: “Oh great, Evan. Thank you so much.”
Me: “I’ll be right back with your cheesecake.”
Him: “Take your time, Evan. Take your time.”
 
The guy sat there for a while, just eating his cheesecake, drinking his coffeee, and highlighting shit in the phonebook. I came by a few times to refill the coffee for him, and he was continually overly pleasant. After a while, I asked Zach what he thought the guy was doing.
 
Zach: “I don’t know man, we get some crazies here.”
 
I went to refill his coffee for the last time at about 9:35, when he finally answered my questions.

Him: “Say, Evan. I noticed you guys are pretty close to the jail here. Do you ever get guys come in who, say, just got out of jail… for something they didn’t do… and have nowhere to go? No one to call?”
Me: “Uhh… actually…”
Him: “Because that’s what I’ve been doing here, Evan. I’m looking for some place to go.”
Me: “Well you know there’s a lot of really good hotels arou…”
Him: “Evan, generally people who have just gotten out of jail don’t have a lot of money.”
 
At this point Zach jumped in and recommended a few good shelters/hospitals in the area. The guy thanked us and introduced himself as Gary. He went on to tell us his story.
 
Gary: “I used to own a company around here and I was doing really well. Then I hurt my back and everything fell apart. I got my prescription from the pharmacy one day, and I was driving home and I got pulled over. Turns out my bottles weren’t labeled and I got arrested for trafficking narcotics. I spent 2 months in the detention center. I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”
 
Eventually a friend of his came and met him and they left together.
 
I’m not sure how much of his story I believe. I’m inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt, but if he grew up here, had a family here, owned a company here… would he really have no one to call after just 2 months? I don’t know.
 
I’m sure there will be more where that came from.
 
EDIT: I no longer work there. Creative differences. You know how it is.