Saturday, March 1, 2008

My Last Post About Work, For A While- Promise

Last night, the unthinkable happened. I cried at work. That's not me. I can handle myself under the most stressful of situations. I may get flustered, I may get angry, I may ask for help, but I. Don't. Cry.

I had several tables- no big deal. I screwed up a big tables check- nothing that couldn't be fixed. I ordered the wrong food- table never even knew it, again, no big deal.

I lost my server book- REALLY BIG DEAL.

My server book had all of the money I had made that night. It held all of the money I had made for the restaurant, and was expected to turn in at the end of the night. It held all of the credit card slips, proving how much money I had made through credit cards. It held my favorite picture of Maddie.

I first noticed it around 8ish. By 8:30, almost all of the servers knew about it. The entire restaurant staff was helping my look for it. People were digging through trash cans. Others were going through all of the menus, hoping that it had been accidentally mixed in with them. Like I said, it was a big deal.

By 9:30ish, everyone had pretty much given up hope. We were all still keeping our eyes open for it, but didn't hold out much hope of finding it. Conspiracy theories were floating around- Who took it? Probably the new chick. I bet a customer saw the cash and grabbed it. Did you notice the new busser?

In all honesty, I have no idea what happened to it. And, that's not like me. At all. I may randomly wash money in the washer. I may forget the $20 bill in my jacket and leave it there, until the next season. But, I don't lose my server book, with around $300 in it. Ever.

And, then, after I thought I was done crying about it, the manager had another server bring me to the front of the restaurant. Lots of the servers were there, and I thought it may have been one great big joke, and someone had been hiding my book the whole time.

Nope.

Something nicer. He handed me a wad of money. "Here. This is from the servers. They collected money and wanted you to have it. Consider this your tip money for the night. We'll worry about the other later."

Pretty awesome, huh? What is even crazier about the whole thing is that it came from some people that I can barely tolerate. Don't get me wrong, I have lots of friends that work there. But, some of the people, I don't have anything in common with, and well, quite frankly, they get on my freakin' nerves. And, they chipped in so I would have money at the end of the night.

It was totally unexpected and I'm extremely grateful to each one of them. If it were to ever happen to one of them, I'll be the first one to toss in money. The manager on shift, helped me out and I'll be paying back the money over the next week. Just a little at a time.

I had a hard time sleeping last night. Did someone I work with take my money, without any second thoughts? Was it a customer that knows how to steal identities, b/c it also held my check stubs with my social security number on it? Did I, gasp, throw it away? Oh, crap, I forgot to look through that one trash can. That's where it has to be. I know it.

If someone did steal my server book, I hope the money was well spent. I hope they enjoy the pictures of Maddie on the front cover. They were my only copies of them, and my favorites, so I hope they value them as much as I did.

I hope they have a conscience and return my server book, money intact. So I can give back all of the money that the servers worked their butts off to make.

Because, you see, I cried last night. And, I don't want them to tell anyone.

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15 comments:

Karen said...

Oh, no! That is just horrible, but hopefully it'll turn up somewhere soon.

Thank goodness for a great manager who didn't cuss you out because of it, and wonderful coworkers that pitched in to help.

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

That is just awful. I hope it turns up somewhere and nobody intentionally stole it, but I guess that's not looking good. =(

Laura Paxton said...

Oh, hon...so sorry that happened...really cool that everyone else stepped up to help you, though...hope it shows up!!

Sarah said...

I am so sorry this happened to you! You deserve only good things. You coworkers must also think so, the way they came to the rescue.

I do hope it shows up.

Patricia said...

Wow, what a crummy week you've had. I do hope your server book turns up although you've never lost it before, so why would you now? It's hard to think that someone might have taken it, eh?

As to the couple who tipped you $2, phooey on them. I am a very generous tipper if I get good service. You guys work hard and have to do a lot for your wages. If, on top of all that, you make me feel welcome and/or special, then a generous tip is how I let my server know. (tee-hee... I also know they will remember me the next time I come in!)

Geez, I hope next week that things look up for you. It's ok to vent about work; considering it takes up a lot of our days and isn't necessarily what we want to do with our days!

BookMamma said...

That SUCKS! I used to wait tables and lost my book too. It DID finally turn up and unfortunately another server was found with it.

That is so nice of your coworkers to come together like that. Kind of makes me feel better about humanity and all...

Cheers from the Weekend Blog Hoppers!

suchsimplepleasures said...

oh honey...that is so yucky!! that is the kind of thing that makes your heart constantly sink into your stomach!!
but...that is wonderful that all your co-workers helped you out!! it makes you less cynical...and it makes you realize how much good there still is!! i've been encountering goodness lately, on my blog...
i hope you find it!!
xoxo

Adrienne, Another Ordinary Miracle said...

Oh no, Chelsea. My heart dropped just reading this as I imagined the panic in your own heart when you realized it was gone. What a wonderful manager and co-workers you have. Even if you can't stand being around some of them, at least you know they are there for you if you need them. I really hope the book is returned to you soon, with Maddie's pictures in it at least :)

Anonymous said...

Oh, horrible! I'm so glad there was a silver lining and I hope you find the book!

Victoria said...

I am so sorry this happened. I hope the book turns up.

Amy said...

That's terrible!

I hope it turns up.

Irene said...

How awful, but also so sweet that your co-workers helped out.

Unfortunately, try as I might, I have always been a crier. And sometimes, as humiliating as it was, I cried at work. I hated that.

Hope your book shows up!!

Anonymous said...

Oh man that must have been stressful but how nice of everyone to do that for you. You must be special!

Amy said...

I am so sorry that you lost your book with everything in it, especially Maddie's picture. But this is such a sweet story Chelsea. I love seeing the good in people.

Sassy said...

Good always prevails over Evil.
I am glad to know that your peers took a stand to help you out. That is great!

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