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I ran a hand through my faded plum-colored ponytail and smiled "Thanks"

"Are you sure you do not want to tell ain

"I’m an orphan Is that what you want to hear?"

His lips thinned "I aht bitterly But not as hard as it hen I was a little kid

"You wear the yo-ih?" he asked I held my left arm up for him to see "Good Do not take it off"

He opened the door and I walked into the steaa," José said "Yana restocked the condiet to eo home and put your feet up You worked hard"

"Sure, boss," I said, faking a sed as I went back into the restaurant

Since I was already covered with soda and beans, I figured it was only fair that I tackle the trash The bags dripped soda and beer as I dragged them out back The sthe trash up over the side

Light flickered beside the Dulowed to life I stuer said, taking a drag on a cigarette The lighter died and his face went dark

"Hello," I squeaked, ready to run to the restaurant

"I’uy I took a calarette, the end glowing red

"Nice toto leave

Back in the kitchen, I studied ht Refried beans plastered my shirt, mashed into the fabric The drinks I’d spilled and then sat in were al stiffer by the h hardly visible onthe spill brilliantly obvious

"Ugh Thank you for sending me home, José," I whispered

Just then Penney and José burst into the kitchen, José speaking about ahis face with his hand

"I already gave hi her hands about as she spoke

"Well, go out there and see what he wants to drink … and don’t mess it up!" José barked

Penney nodded, put her hands on her curvy hips, and hurried out the door to the dining roo on?" I asked Naalyehe watched us from the other side of the kitchen

"An important customer" José’s voice was a little too loud He looked at Naalyehe "If the town knows he’s eating our food, this will be the ht it already was," I said

José save s "Oh, you sweet little thing! If only my sons weren’t already married …"

Just then the kitchen door burst open Penney walked in with her hands on her round hips and stared at o of me

"What?" José and I asked at the saie Mae to wait on him"

José took one look at ain

"Who wants er O’Connell," Penney answered

"What?"

"Don’t panic, Magdalena," José said in obvious panic, handingto my filthy shirt "You’ve become a fabulous server Just don’t mess up! And don’t drop any drinks on him!" He turned to Penney "Can you fix her up a little or is it a lost cause?"

Penney studiedthe hair tie from my ponytail, she let ers through it a few times, fluffed it around my face, and then looked at me

"Better," she said "But wait!" She fished in her jeans pocket and pulled out a tube of glittery red lip gloss--as if I didn’t have enough glitter on me Without a word, she coated my lips "Hopefully he won’t notice the stain on your pants," she ht, hopefully he won’t care" She sht, chica He’s in the booth by theGo take his order"