What I Did:
I lied about my age, (I was 15)and got a "waitress" job at a Steak/Hoagie shop in my neighborhood in Philadelphia. The shop had just a handful of small tables outside and a bench inside. The cash register was a cigar box (for bills)and 4 coffee cups (change). I learned the first day how to make milkshakes, hoagies and cheese steaks. The owner was from Egypt, and really didn't know much about "Philly style" My first day, one of the regulars asked if I would teach Amin how to cook a cheese steak.
I loved it! I had a baby blue polyester waitress uniform and white waitress shoes, and walked to and from work, proud to ha
Why was it a bad job?
Amin paid me 50 cents an hour in cash. (On a good day I made $4 or $5 a day in tips.) He had me washing windows, dishes, putting stock away, accepting deliveries, and basically running the place while he left. I even made his daily bank deposits! Mind you, he never knew my name or social security number, he called me "Ponnie". (My name is Bonnie.)
One day I was washing dishes, and the 60 year old man came back to wash his hands. He asked me to come closer so I could tell him if he put too much garlic in his steaks. My response was, “Amin, you don’t put garlic in your steaks.” He told me to come closer and he pulled me into him and tried to kiss me. My response was, “Amin, I have dishes to do.” I finished the dishes, said goodnight and left. The next morning, when I showed up in my little blue polyester uniform, he fired me.
Tips and Tricks
- Hard to say. I guess a good work ethic is not always respected
