Grown-ups And Desperation

Josie has a job, and she brings in the spare cash that will buy her clothes and pay back everybody she owes (except her parents). She even gave some to church and ten dollars to a neighbor lady down on her luck. So all in all, I'm quite proud of my fourteen year old.

There are some days she brings home only twenty dollars for working five hours. She depends on tips, and the head waitress takes the "good" tables and gives the two teenagers the bad (or non-inhabited) tables. The head waitress brings home over a hundred dollars on those days, and Josie and her friend bring home their scant twenty-something. I said to Josie, "You are friends with the owner, why not say something? This makes me mad!!" She said, "Well, they like her because she's the only one who can work all through the week in the mornings. We have to go to school." I said, "But this isn't right! I was in there this morning, you guys were busting your butts and taking all the food out and getting refills. Where was this other girl? Why is she getting all the money you worked for? Let me talk to the owner for you!"

Josie said, "Never mind, Mom. I made good money the rest of the weekend. Anyhow, I feel sorry for that lady. She has to support her family on tips. Can you imagine, being her age and that's the only kind of job you can get?" I saw her point.

In the end, Josie sees it for what it is. She walks less than a quarter of a mile to work, so no gas or transportation fees. She isn't doing anything else with her time, and she's making mall money. She's saving up for a nice car. She works only weekends, and it's cash. It's profit, and she's not slaving at it like some people have to. And she sees how grown-ups act when they are scratching for a living.