Piano Man: The Waitress (1101 hits)
Category: Sound & MusicLabels: PianoMan
Rating: 2 on 25 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by DonkeyOnTheEdge (View user info) at 2005-06-06 17:40:16 EDT
The Old Man: http://www.ubersite.com/m/64888
John: http://www.ubersite.com/m/64982
Paul: http://www.ubersite.com/m/66575
Davy: http://www.ubersite.com/m/67072
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Ruth looked up when the bell attached to the door jangled. John and his dad walked same as always on a Saturday, half an hour before the bar was set to open. They relied on Ruth to get the bar set up for the evening and have everything in order. Tables washed and candles lit, change in the cash drawer and bottles of full liquor stored in the cabinets behind the bar so John wouldn't have to go looking for them. She always did these things the night before, but she used this time to clock in a little early and still get some studying in before the bar opened.
"What have you got there today, Rutie?" Doug asked, his kindly old face giving her the "I'm asking what you are reading, although I won't understand if you tell me," expression.
"It's a book on the political and economic repercussions from different wars and conflicts," Ruth said as she bookmarked her page and slid it into her satchel.
"Well, aren't you a smart cookie? What are you doing working here with all that knowledge in your pretty little head?" Doug asked knowingly.
"Because, Mr. McGreevy, the tips I get here help pay for my college," Ruth replied.
She always pandered to his little, "Helping the youth through alcohol," speech. Doug McGreevy would give it too her about once a month on how luck she is that she can work at a bar with so many desperate lonely men that can through wads of bills at her to help her pay for books and things.
"Oh yeah, that's right," Doug smiled. "Don't forget, Bill is coming tonight, so there will a little more business tonight. Hopefully you can pull in about three hundred."
"How can I forget? I had the piano tuned so people wouldn't leave if he hit a sour note."
"Haha! That's my girl. Lull them right out of their money!" Doug exclaimed.
Doug then retreated into the back and Ruth wandered up to the bar where John was writing down the dink specials on the chalk board with unusual flair.
"What's with all the swirley lines and happy faces, John? You didn't go all fruity on me, did you?"
John turned around and propped his chin up with his elbow on the counter of the bar.
"Dad said I could go pursue being a movie star when he finds a buyer for the bar," he elated.
"What? Doug is going to sell the bar? What will happen to me?" Ruth asked.
"Don't worry, it'll probably take a year or so. I'm sure you'll be done with school by then."
"Ok, well...that's ok. I just don't want to be kicked out by the new owner or something."
"No worries, Ruthie. You'll be well on your way to becoming President or something by then. Now, can you go make sure the lights are dimmed more than usual so the stage really stands out?"
"Sure thing, John."
Ruth walked to the light panel near the kitchen and fiddled around with the switches until she found a setting where the stage stood out, but she wouldn't crash into the tables getting people their drinks. She had forgotten how smoky the place got one night, and the ceiling fans only swirled the smoke around her head while she tried to squint through and take orders. Between the smoke and the dim lights, it was near immposible to get from point "A" to point "B" without cracking a shin or stubbing a toe. She even came close to dumping a picture of beer on man in a fancy suit.
After the lights were sufficiently dimmed, Ruth walked over to the door and flipped on the neon "OPEN" sign and was almost immediately smashed in the face by the door as a customer came rushing in.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry Miss. Are you ok?" The man asked.
"Ye..yeah," Ruth stammered, more shocked than hurt, "I think so."
"Good, good. I'm really, really sorry. I just wanted to get in so I can get a good seat. I saw Bill here six months ago and I just love his music."
"Yeah, he's pretty good," Ruth said somewhat absent mindedly, still gently probing her nose to make sure she was really alright.
The man must have seen her prodding her nose because he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and produced a card.
"Here, if you require medical treatment, just forward the bill to me," he said as he handed over the card.
Ruth took it and noticed the gold embossed eagle in the upper left hand corner of the card. It was the Congressional Seal of the United States. The man who slammed a door into her face was a congressman from a neighboring district.
"No problem, Congressman," Ruth said.
"Please, Rob," the Congressman said.
"Ok, Rob, can I get you anything to drink? Maybe grill you on some political tactics?" Ruth prodded.
Rob looked at her in a kind of quizzical awe. He didn't expect to have anyone want to talk to him at the bar, especially this young waitress and especially not about politics.
"Sure, I'll have a gin, no ice. Then I'll tell you the preferred method if offing lobbyists."
Ruth paused for a moment and must have looked a bit confused.
"It's a joke, of course. A little... nevermind," Rob stopped. "Just a gin and you can ask me anything you like."
"Thanks, Congre...er...Rob."
Ruth all but ran to the bar to get the drink as the congressmen moved towards the table nearest to the stage. Finally, an inside track into the nitty gritty of politics to see how it really worked, not just what the books say its like. She didn't even care about making three hundred dollars tonight. This was a much greater step in her education than money would allow for.
She brought the drink to the table and sat down across from the congressman.
"Here's your gin, no ice. Now, lets start with elections."
"Funny, I thought you might start there."
They talked until more customers arrived and Ruth was too busy to sit and talk. Rob offered to be a source of research whenever Congress wasn't in session and told Ruth that she could stop by his office anytime.
Ruth finally felt like she was making some real world process. Results from her actions that she could see, not just grades doled out by someone else's standards.
User Reviews
Submitted by iradney (user info) at 2005-08-04 15:58:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
just listened to the song, read all the essays, and HAD to rate!
Submitted by DonkeyOnTheEdge (user info) at 2005-06-10 07:50:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The buisness man is not the last one, the manager of the bar is the last one. As I've outlined in John's story, his dad, Doug, is the owner/manager. He will be the end all of the story.
Submitted by Flack (user info) at 2005-06-10 01:12:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This series is awesome. Only one character left, the business man getting stoned, and I hope its the best story out of em all, lie the one that makes it all come together.
Submitted by DanielH (user info) at 2005-06-10 00:39:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
(I would've liked to see the congressman request a receipt for his drink -if he's republician). All joking aside- wait, that's not possible.
+++
Submitted by icepigs (user info) at 2005-06-07 15:02:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Another great addition!
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-06-07 12:00:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2005-06-06 23:54:07 (#)
Ranking: 2
"I want your throbbing veiney member in my poopy hole,"
uh..... what'n the hell?
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2005-06-07 10:59:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Creepy_guy (user info) at 2005-06-07 01:09:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This kicks ass!
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2005-06-06 23:54:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"I want your throbbing veiney member in my poopy hole,"
Submitted by spedmonkey (user info) at 2005-06-06 23:51:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm listening to that song now. I forgot how good it was.
Submitted by tinactin (user info) at 2005-06-06 23:09:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I havent had dinner yet. I could really go for a steak.
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-06-06 22:36:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This is such a clever idea.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-06-06 22:33:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Goddamn politicians.
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2005-06-06 22:17:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
MOre dmanit...
Or I won't respect you in the morning...
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-06-06 21:21:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by JMG114 (user info) at 2005-06-06 20:53:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That's my favorite line of the song to belt out, and I like what you did with her.
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2005-06-06 20:40:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
not bad, but:
lonely men that can through wads of bills at her
<shakes head>
what did you cut and paste from?
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-06-06 20:12:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This is like getting a porterhouse, then taking one bite out of the middle, and dumping the rest - I'M HUNGRY FOR MORE, DAMMIT!
Submitted by pantsarestupid (user info) at 2005-06-06 20:03:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Keep it going. Please. You're making me want to hear a song that i've heard too many times...but I think I could listen to it with a new appreciation.
Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2005-06-06 19:36:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nicely written.
Submitted by Gnat (user info) at 2005-06-06 19:00:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-06-06 17:59:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Loving this series.
"She even came close to dumping a picture of beer on man in a fancy suit."
....."as the businessman slowly gets stoned"?
-Dave
Submitted by stevie_says (user info) at 2005-06-06 17:57:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by SiskelandFatboy (user info) at 2005-06-06 17:53:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Error or not, You have talent.
Submitted by DonkeyOnTheEdge (user info) at 2005-06-06 17:40:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Repost because my dumb ass fucked up the cut and paste on the first one.