Page 51 - 2024-2025 Creative Writing

Working at a Café

Today is my second day at my new job at one of the few 3 culinary star restaurants in

Mongolia. If you ask me “ How was your first day on the job?”, I would say it was fine but

in reality it was physically and emotionally exhausting. It was like someone was sucking out

my energy without leaving anything behind. Maybe it is because of the endless 14 hour shift

that starts when the birds start chirping, 10:00 am, and ends when the city is at its

darkest,12:00am. But there is a catch. We, the waiters, work for two days straight, for 28

hours combined, and then rest for 2 days again.

When I woke up today, I felt like my arms, legs, even my neck were made of noodles as I

was wobbling strangely. As I was thinking of what will happen today, I knew I would be
absolutely exhausted like yesterday. I put on my ugly, blood like colored red vest and

packed my oil stained white apron.

I sat on the bus while having a flashback of how I crawled back home yesterday, never

wanting to experience that feeling again. I got off the bus and walked to my workplace,

when I got in front of it I took a deep breath and started working.

After a few hours of working, I realized yesterday was heaven compared to today…

I had to stand straight as an arrow because the costumers shouldn’t see that I’m tired. I

should always have a warm smile on my face even if I’m drained or sad. I can’t sit down in

front of the costumers because it would look messy and lazy. The costumers ordered me
around and talked to me as if I were inferior to them.

Finally, after longest 14 hours of my life, I left to get home, dragging my legs that weren’t

functioning properly. As I am on the night bus, I thought to myself “Maybe I should just

study”…

10A Anima Amarsanaa