wind burnt face
shooters yelling
gun shots wake me up

dirty diapers
baths
3 kids running wild

Training day greetings
Can I help you?
Wrong

First job jitters
Cash register swings open
Wrong change

first day
Charlie introduces himself as
“The Pervert”

16 years old
they trust me
with the company truck!

babysitting
three boys
bedtime is a nightmare

out in the sweltering heat
swatting at mosquitos
all the while praying for rain

driving home
the drive in screen
plays for traffic

first customer asks
for my help
don’t panic

still don’t know
what I’m doing
smiling at my boss

why do I want
to work for no money?
the interview

memorizing the codes
I will be
the fastest at the register

baseball, tshirt, mini bat
selling souvenirs
i don’t even like baseball

so proud of my first raise
later I find out
the boss thought I was cute

Welcome to Taco Bell
25 Taco Supremes
their ready...bastard drives off

$5.50 a hour..15 hours a week
that's enough to..
keep the tank half full

customers ask questions
I smile and give answers
hope I was right

my little lemonade stand
older boy comes by
strange feelings inside

overcooked cookies
lingering smoke
spreads across the store

streaming tears
the customer
continues to scold me

first night
new busboy sneaks
leftovers

new steakhouse busboy
the waitress shows him
her tips

sweaty palms
nervousness
can's be late

no more free weekends
working long hours
for slave labor

Fat man
orders another burger
assisted suicide

Double cheeseburger
with a diet coke
I note the irony

I sweat though my white Shirt
Did I remember deoderant?
I walk into the interview

Hours of Preperation
My nerves shake
No call back

young and poor
flippin’ burgers
first uniform

first day, first job
fry stuck to my shoe
last day

Behind the menu
I can see
The couples fight

All the worst tasks
Are given to
The new guy

first day of work-ever
its raining and flooding
…my career is off to a great start

I am supposed to do
what with that?

five hours of roast beef and
onion rings….just for that!?
I spend it all in one place

Retail shop
A contest I did not want to enter
Do you have a credit card with us?

Summer job
trying not to spend the first pay check
the same place I work

coffee shop
the customer is always right
new drink free of charge

First job…
I only get paid
Five-fifty?!

Scrubbing pots
And pans…
Isn’t that a woman’s job?

All work
No play…
No credit either