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Nodding and looking relieved, she says, “Okay, the cool thing is, it’s not a corporate bar or restaurant. It’s privately owned. You get a nice hourly wage, better than here or at those other places I mentioned. And the tips on top of the wages are fantastic. Mostly guys come in, and they’re big spenders.”
I laugh. “Hmm, I wonder why.”
Chuckling, she replies, “Right. But I have to say they’re truly good tippers.” She points to the southbound side of the busy four-lane road to the left of us. “It’s about half a mile down from here. It’s called Boots.”
“Boots, huh? Okay, sounds interesting,” I admit. But then, ever the skeptic, I say, “I do have two questions, though.”
“Sure, what are they?”
“First, if the money is so great, why are you still working here at Applebee’s? And second, why are you helping me?”
Blowing out a breath, Sammie says, “Honestly, I stay here for a few shifts each week because I feel bad for Barb. We really are incredibly short-staffed, and she is so nice and accommodating to whatever you need. I hate to leave her in a lurch, but I probably will quit at some point.”
I nod. “All right, that makes sense. And reason number two?”
Sheepishly, she says, “Um, I actually get a referral bonus for anyone that I send in that gets hired at Boots.”
I laugh. “Ah, got it.”
Scrunching up her face, she asks, “Are you mad?”
“No, not at all.” I shake my head. “I think it’s smart of you to do a little recruiting for extra cash.”
I like this girl.
We talk a little more, and I’m sold on trying for a job at this Boots establishment.
Since I’m not busy, and she’s going there anyway, I decide to follow her down to the place.
Pulling into their lot, I determine that it looks respectable enough. Boots is just a basic restaurant with an Old English pub feel about it, nothing tawdry.
We park and go in, and I meet Sammie’s manager, Annie.
It’s funny. She takes one look at me and hires me on the spot.
When she walks away to retrieve the new hire paperwork I’ll need to complete and bring back, Sammie and I look at each other and laugh.
“That was easy,” I say.
“Told you you’d be a perfect fit, Ellie.”
“Yeah, I guess you were right.”
After Annie returns and gives me the paperwork, I say good-bye to Sammie and head out.
On my way home, I call Barb to give her the bad news. But she sounds so sad that I feel guilty and tell her I’ll pick up a shift or two each week.
Hey, if Sammie can do it, so can I.
This is better anyway. I don’t really want to share with Nils that I’m working at Boots. I bet he knows the place. In fact, I have a feeling every male within a fifty-mile radius knows about Boots.
And not that I think Nils would care, but he may tell Arden.
That would not be good, as my overprotective brother would certainly not approve. He’d worry too much about me.
So, for the foreseeable future, as far as Nils and Arden are concerned, I’m working solely at Applebee’s.
Nils
