Distracted

“Hello, my name is Shay Richards, I’d like to hand in my resume” I smiled at the slim, unkempt woman behind the bar.
She looked me up and down “we have no spots to fill”
I felt uneasy, she hadn’t even looked at my resume, not that I wanted her to, it wasn’t exactly impressive. “But there’s a notice in the window for new bar staff” I smiled my biggest fake smile
She looked me up and down again, like she was judging the jeans, converse and baggy t-shirt I was wearing “you don’t have the right look”
I sighed, feeling hurt I turned around and walked towards the door in which I entered.
Then came another voice, from the opposite end of the bar. “Come on Helen, give the girl a break”
I turned in the direction of the pleasantly scruffy man- not dirty; messy.
“You would know all about needing a break wouldn’t you” she looked at him annoyed but sympathetically.
The man stood up and walked closer towards us, “I would and that’s how I know that she needs one” the man slurred his words and I no longer felt like he could help me.
The woman looked back at me “do you even know what kind of bar this is?”
“How many kinds of bars are there” I quipped.
They both laughed, but not at my joke.
“I told you she’s too innocent, it’s not happening” she looked at me again apologetically.
“Sorry love, Innocence doesn’t belong here”
“Just give me a chance, please. I have tried everywhere else. This is my last hope” I pleaded; hopeful that the scruffy drunk man wouldn’t pass out before he had the chance to convince the woman.
“We do need someone Helen” the man chipped in. he was now at the other side of the bar pouring himself a Whiskey.
She looked from him to me and back again. “Right, you can have a trial, be here for 8pm tomorrow, late and you’ve lost your chance…now get out of here”
It was 7:15pm, the sound of the city below calmed my nerves, I had gotten used to the sirens and chatter of the streets of my new home in the three weeks I have lived here. I was almost out of cash, I couldn’t screw this job trial up. I wasn’t kidding when I said it was my last hope, I thought there would be a lot of jobs in London, I thought wrong. There was nothing an unqualified, inexperienced young woman that didn’t want to strip and dance on a pole for a living.
I slipped on my black skinny jeans and red vest before my black plimsolls and leather jacket. Black and red, can’t go wrong. I smiled into the mirror put my hands on my hips and told myself “you got this”

I arrived at 7:45, the sight before me was unfamiliar despite being here just over 24 hours ago. The Bar was alight, the neon sign above the door reading Coyote; what kind of name is that for a bar.

I pushed myself through the queue ignoring the grunts and moans aimed at me until I reached the front. The drunken man from the previous day stood tall, looking fresh- checking ID’s and confiscating hip flasks. “Hey Shay!” he smiled un-clipped the barrier rope and motioned for me to go through. “Helen should be out back”
I smiled my thanks and walked through the dark building, I didn’t really notice how grungy the place was until now, the dark walls covered in rock posters and drawings.
I felt under dressed as I glanced at the two other bar maids dressed in revealing outfits. Shit, I’ve already blown it.
I turned to the sound of my name and the unkempt woman from before no longer looked unkempt, in a top that exposed her toned stomach, low rise jeans and knee high army boots. What kind of dress code is this?
She looked me up and down like she had done the day before, she grimaced, said nothing but motioned me to follow her. I obeyed.
“Hi, my names Mia” the beautifully petite Asian woman stood in front of me offering out her hand. She was wearing a black crop top baring the Jack Daniels logo, high-waisted denim shorts and thigh high black boots.
“Shay” I replied as gave her hand a firm shake.
“her name is Riley” I looked over at the unfriendly looking woman wearing a skin tight vest top two sizes to small, skin tight jeans that were ripped so much she may as well be wearing shorts and cowboy boots as she quickly threw 8 shot glasses onto the bar and filled them with whiskey, handed them over and took the money. Wow, impressive.
I turned my focus onto Mia, she was at the bottom of the bar spinning bottles before she poured them. I am so not going to get this job.
Helen had me serving customers and it was going well, I started to feel better about myself and have more confidence in my abilities. Until Def Leppard came on over the sound system, Mia and Riley jumped onto the bar and began to dance. Shit.
That is when I realized what kind of bar this was.

Notes