You get an assistant.

You get to work a few minutes before five. You see two older woman waiting outside the door. They are wearing waitress uniforms and the name tag on the happy lady reads Kerry. The other lady is Cathy and she seems unhappy. Cathy is saying that Melissa or the cook should have been here at 4:30. Kerry asks if you are the new cook and did Melissa give you the keys. You tell her yes and no and then gesture to the scurrying figure that is Melissa. She unlocks the door, says sorry she is late, yesterday was crazy as Kerry was off and Cathy called in sick. After the other ladies are set up front she goes back in the kitchen to help you. She tells you that Cathy is always crabby.

She tells you Traci will be to work by six and that she should work in back with you so she can be better next time she has to fill in the kitchen. She also says in a low voice that Cathy doesn't like working with Traci as Traci can hustle, talks extra pleasant to customers, and being young and pretty gets good tips. Melissa goes out to work a third of the tables when Traci comes in. After a few hours working with Traci, you can see that her only problem is that she needs more experience to handle the rush that was thrown at her yesterday, and that when she gets stressed like she was the day before she kinda breaks down (While they seem like a normal loving mother/daughter, any 18 year old will get stressed when around a parent like that). Things are running smoothly at nine when you hear...

"You are the fourth guy to ask for that FUCKING blonde piece of trash. That slut is probably out back fucking the new cook. (Melissa is red faced and looking at Cathy) (Cathy looks to Melissa) Don't say it!- (You're Fired!) I Quit!" And with that, Cathy walked out the door.

Melissa rushes into the kitchen in seconds. She is naturally upset at Kathy's remarks. "I'm too pissed off for customers right now! Traci can you go out and cover my section and where that mean old bitch was for a while?"

"Sure, mom. I heard what she said. She is an old, dried up, mean hag. She wins if you let her get to you". Traci says as she takes off her apron and leaves the kitchen.

"How did Traci do?" Melissa asks five minutes later, after she calmed down some.

You tell her Traci did fine and work the rest of the day in the kitchen with Melissa. Traci and Kerry have split the front of the Diner in half and service is good through the busy lunch. You have had more experience in the kitchen than Melissa and by the end of the shift you have made her more effective than she was. The Diner hires another cook, a replacement for Kathy that is 18 and a friend of Traci's, and a few official cooks assistants in the next few days. The Diner is closed on Sunday but you get the keys and go in at eight to do special cleaning like behind the fryers and flooding the floors. Traci volunteers to help.