‘Clipped and short...’ - Alex

Her face never changed in front of me. A solid stone of agonizing cheek pains from the tight lipped smile she plastered on her face for the duration of her trip.

The words she spoke were clipped and short, for some reason this excited me. There had to be a reason of this strange behavior, normally people give up on smiling after a few hours into each shift.

I watch her move to the 'Employees Only' door. My order had been simple, a steak, mashed potatoes, and a coco cola. I let my hearing wander through the conversation, but one mans talk pulled me in.

"I heard the owner of this ragged pub actually raped his employees, and the workers parents pay him to!" Man One whisper to the two men sitting next to him.

"Really? Why the hell would the parents pay for that?" Man Two questioned, a southern accent making him hard to understand.

"I heard about this too. I heard the parents pay because all the girls are gay. After all, the owner only employs girls," Man Three offered.

"Yeah, that's what I heard," Man One agreed.

"You think he'll let us join?" Man Two asked.

"Why not just ask?" Man Three offered.

My waiter walked up to them with a stiff back and a smile permanently attached to her stone cold face.

I stood up before the men could get out a word, I walked over to the table that resided seven feet away. And I sat down next to the men who spoke of raping the waitresses here. Once my butt was comfortable in it new home, I proceeded to ask the waitress, "Do you like rainbows?"

She seemed conflicted but settled with, "Yes, they are quite entrancing."

The men, who looked ready to push me down a ditch, sat silently next to me; although the glares spoke more to me than words could.