For years Bella wanted to be a waitress. I believe this began after she heard, "waitresses make bank!" After working a few counter-service jobs, she got hired at Red Lobster. They said she couldn't serve tables because she had no experience, but they would start her as a hostess and get her waiting tables in time. That never happened, and after a half year or so, Bella gave notice.

She then went to a local restaurant in walking distance to our home and asked for an application. The hostess asked what she was applying for. Bella said a waitress position. The girl asked if she had experience. Bella said she did not. The hostess said they didn't hire waitresses with no experience. Bella asked if she could speak to a manager. The hostess said she could though it wouldn't matter because it was their policy to not hire inexperienced wait-staff. Bella said she understood but would still like to speak to the manager. He was called. He met with Bella for ten minutes. And when Bella left, she left as the newest wait-person on the Fitz's staff.

They paired her with a seasoned waitress to teach her the job. Before her first shift and between her training sessions, Bella ran google searches for "how to be the best waitress" and "how to get good tips as a waitress" that produced copious Bella-style, color-coded notes. Then she had her first shift. It was hard, but then it was over.

During her second shift, as one of her tables left, they stopped at the hostess podium and asked to speak to a manager. He was summoned, and this couple told him they were both career waiters and that the waitress they had today was the best waitress they had ever seen. He asked who helped them. They said a girl named Bella. He asked if they were sure it was Bella and not a different name. They said they were sure it was Bella. Seeing Bella in the distance, the manager pointed her out. Yep, that was her. He asked them if they would believe this was her second-ever shift as a waitress. They said they would not.

Bella has different tactics for every kind of customer. Small children are asked which one of them is paying. Veterans are thanked for their service. Girls get their hair or look complimented. Guys, well, she doesn't have to do much extra for an all-guy table. I don't know if all waitresses make bank, but I do know Bella does. When she comes home from a shift, we have a family practice of counting her money. I used to be a bank teller and have enviable skills at organizing and snap-counting money, dropping the bills into tidy stacks along the way. Our voices rise with the count, each time wondering if a new record will be set.

The boys seeing all of this money, became intrigued. At the time, Alex was 17, and Anthony 15. Bella said she could totally get them jobs there, and she did. Alex busses tables, and Anthony is a host. The scouting report on those two is Alex is a hard worker and is always moving. He does so well clearing tables the wait staff sometimes give him bonus tips in gratitude since they get more customers in their sections given his quick cleanups. Anthony's job is lower impact and he is more known as a conversationalist, though he has to be careful not to talk with the customers. One of the first groups he ever seated asked what he would recommend food-wise. Anthony is not a great fan of the food at this place and what he wanted to say was that he'd recommend going back outside, turning left, and walking a quarter mile to the ramen shop down the way. This is why Anfer should not speak to the guests.

When the boys got their first paychecks, as they don't get paid in tips like Bella, they were floored at the numbers they saw. The fact is, Marty and I were even a little struck. They did work quite a bit over the summer, occasionally picking up double shifts. If there was a downside to this windfall, it is that it made their mother's chore sheet something that would never be consulted again. The boys joked, asking one another to guess how times they would have to make their bed to earn this much cash. Or how many loads of laundry. Or how many kitchen floor scrubbings. This mocking was enjoyed far more by me than it was by Marty, who defended her rates as being quite just for young children. They were quick to point out that they were at the same rates when they were five as they were when they were fifteen. Marty reminded them how little room and board she charged them and, now that they were such big spenders, if she should reconsider their tenant status. This earned her hugs and apologies from each of her boys.

I once commented to the kids how neat it was to have three siblings working at the same place. There were many times two of them would be working at the same time. I think all three of them were up there once or twice. The kids corrected me, saying it wasn't that cool because there was one family that had eight people working there. Ok. Now that is stunning. And even more stunning when all eight of them go on vacation at the same time. The boys definitely picked up multiple double shifts that week.

One more thing of note before I step away from this memory. There is a restaurant policy that employees are not allowed to walk home alone after a shift. Because of this, when any of them finish a shift, they call the house. Then whoever is at home and Leta (Bella's dog) will go for a leisurely evening stroll, grab the employee and walk home as a group asking for details about any angsty customers or moments from their shift. I think we might be good for another summer or two of this, and when it is done, it will be one more family experience my mind will occassionaly and fondly return to.