Mr. Bearded Potbelly grabbed his cup in his left hand and raised it. While waitresses definitely had their top earning tips secrets, the truck drivers had their own. They knew how to get as much bang for their buck, or in this instance, as much cleavage for a tip. Sadie now had to lean over to pour his coffee, practically shoving her boobs in his face. He smirked at her. He knew exactly what he was doing. She smiled back and leaned over. His eyes were glued to her breasts as if they were going to bust out of her top. That was not going to happen. His partner who sat across from him let out a whistle and then a chuckle as Sadie began to pour. She stayed focused, not wanting to accidentally drop hot coffee on the guy’s crotch. That would not be good for her tip. She righted herself and ended the show.
“Anything else?”
“No, darlin’, just the check,” he responded with a smile.
She pulled out her receipt pad and pen to finish the bill. Sadie could tell while these two enjoyed the show, they wouldn’t be asking her back to the truck for a private show, thankfully. It didn’t happen often, but it happened. She always respectfully declined.
She slapped the bill on the table. With a smile and wave, she grabbed the pot and headed back to the counter.
Most regulars who ate alone sat at the counter. Carl sat at the last seat closest to the bathrooms, his regular spot. Carl was Bernie’s oldest customer. He had to be at least eighty and as long as Sadie had been working there, Carl came in every day. She liked him. He walked slow and ate slower. He acted as though he had nowhere to be, which was probably true. His baseball cap hung low and his clothes had seen better days. He wasn’t much of a talker but when he did, he was sweet and never gave anyone shit. He laughed at all of Sadie’s jokes, no matter how silly, and always left a three-dollar tip.
“Working your magic, doll?” he croaked out in his raspy voice. He took a drag of his Marlboro, blew it out, and winked. Bernie’s became a non-smoking establishment a few years ago. However, everyone ignored the rule when it came to Carl.
As a regular he knew Sadie’s routine; as a man he enjoyed the show. As he had said before, “I’m old, doll, not dead.” Sadie smiled back at him as she leaned on the counter. His eyes went directly to her cleavage. Old, not dead.
She snickered. “A girl has to make a living, Carl. Besides, I’m just trying to make eating here a magical experience!”
He burst out laughing. “Magical. That you do, girl.”
Sadie smiled. “Anything else I can get you? We have that apple Danish you like.”
“Sounds good to me, I’ll take one, and a refill.” He nodded toward his cup.
As she headed back to the kitchen, she saw Marge’s car pull in. Marge was Bernie’s wife. Occasionally, Marge came in, and it was always a surprise visit. Bernie never knew when she’d drop by. They all got the impression she was trying to catch him doing something. When she did show up, she was always rude. Marge was a very unhappy woman who enjoyed making others unhappy as well. Sadie wasn’t a big fan of Bernie’s, but for all his faults, not even he deserved the misery that was Marge.
Sadie looked for Pearl to announce it was best behavior time but she wasn’t on the floor. She glanced out the window to the parking lot and wondered if Pearl had left already? Sadie checked her phone and saw she had some time left on her shift. Where was she?
Sadie glanced around the diner again. Suddenly her back stiffened in realization of exactly where Pearl might be.
She raced through the kitchen nearly knocking into Juan. “Sorry.”
She rushed to the office door and grabbed the handle but stopped when she heard moaning and a knocking sound from inside followed by “Yeah, baby, work that cock. Fuck!” Bernie was an absolute pervert. Though she gave the man credit for even attempting to mess around on Marge. He must have a set of balls on him, or a death wish. If Marge ever found out about him and Pearl, she might just slice his dick off. Served him right, Sadie thought.
She didn’t even know why she got involved.
She sighed. Yes, I do. Pearl. Aside from her horrible taste in men, she was wonderful. It might sound hypocritical but Pearl really was a great person. She had looked out for her since she started. Sadie considered her a friend—a good friend who made poor choices. But who was she to judge anyone else? She didn’t walk in her shoes.
When Sadie heard a high pitched “harder, baby”, she knew she had to save Pearl’s ass, which she was pretty sure she had just heard Bernie spank. Sadie pounded on the door loudly and shouted, “Umm…Marge just pulled in so I suggest you pull out.” She smirked.
When Sadie backed away from the door, she heard “Fuck,” and major scrambling. That was a close call. She walked out to the dining room just as Marge and BJ were walking in.
“Hey Marge! Hey BJ!” Sadie greeted with her signature fake smile.
“Shouldn’t you be working? We don’t pay you to do nothing,” she snidely remarked as she walked past.
It was a rhetorical question so she didn’t bother answering.
She smiled up at BJ, Bernie and Marge’s only child, Bernard Crist, Jr. BJ was a nice kid. He was always sweet and polite to all the girls. He was definitely what one would call socially awkward, like most kids his age. He was tall like Bernie, with light brown, cropped hair, and dark brown eyes. He was very skinny, not yet filled
