I knew which teenagers were nervous before job interviews and which couples were celebrating anniversaries they could barely afford.
I remembered birthdays.
Sometimes I brought someone an extra dessert.
Sometimes listening mattered more than the food.
Robert thought none of that counted as real work.
Then came the Thursday night that changed everything.
Robert had been talking about a promotion for months.
His company was choosing a new regional director, and Robert was sure the position would be his.
His boss, Mr. Harrison, had worked with him for almost fifteen years. Robert constantly talked about him.
“Mr. Harrison respects people who work hard.”
“Mr. Harrison knows I’m management material.”
“Mr. Harrison notices everything.”
That Thursday, Robert came home nervous.
“The final decision is tomorrow,” he said.
Then he looked at my uniform.
