That afternoon, the restaurant where Cathy worked had a lot of customers as usual. Cathy and others were overwhelmed to serve the customers, but they managed it.
"Cathy, where's the food for table number three?"
"Cathy, table number five wants to order some food."
"Cathy..."
"Cathy..."
Cathy nimbly completed her task perfectly. If a customer were angry or complained, Cathy patiently listened to all their nagging and provided a solution that benefits them but would not harm her employers.
"Why is it taking our food so long? How long has it been? Do you want us to suffocate from hunger?"
"We know both of you take your busy time to have lunch at our place. Therefore we cook with all our hearts hoping that both of you are always in good health. If we don't serve with our best, how could our serving be your energy booster?"
"Ah, how sweet you are. I wonder if I could have a sweet tongue like you."
Cathy smiled at this, "That's not true, ma'am. Both of us know that your words are the sweetest. Isn't that right, sir?"
The lady's husband laughed at what Cathy said and nodded his head in agreement.
"Cathy..." called one of her coworkers.
"My apologies, I'm afraid I have to go now. I'll make sure your order arrives perfectly." Cathy kept a wide and gentle smile to the couple and then dashed to help her colleagues.
It was a hectic day because the number of orders exceeded the limit. Those who worked in the kitchen were swamped and moved around without rest.
Many complained at the long-serving, but Cathy managed to appease them. Fortunately, most of the customers knew Cathy. With a few sentences from Cathy, they all could calm down again.
Several hours later, one by one, the customers left the restaurant.
After serving the last customer, Cathy sat down limply with a sigh of relief. Finally, her shift this afternoon was over, and finally, she could take a nap.
However, she heard one of her coworkers screaming in fear.
"Gosh! I made a mistake. What should I do?"
"What's wrong?"
"I've been counting our income, but the number doesn't match my records." came the answer in a tone that almost cried.
"How much?"
Upon hearing the sizeable number, all the employees working there looked at the girl with sympathetic eyes. If their boss finds out about their loss, then only two possibilities will happen to the girl.
First, the girl would be sued to compensate the company and be fired. Or second, the girl's income would be deducted to pay for the loss.
Cathy was very familiar with the character of the girl. Not only clumsy but not good at counting. Cathy could guess the girl's mistake not in counting the money but in calculating the records.
Cathy moved towards the crowd of payment square in leisurely steps.
"Let me see the book."
After working there for two years, all the employees were very familiar with Cathy's character and abilities. They let Cathy recalculate that shouldn't be her job.
Whenever someone made a mistake, Cathy would fix it. Whether in the books or the wrong orders, Cathy takes care of it even in handling demanding customers.
Initially, some were jealous and resentful of Cathy, but Cathy selflessly helped them all. Not only problems at work, even when they need help personally, but Cathy also helped them voluntarily.
For example, one of the waiters named Vina once had a life difficulty problem. At that time, Vina's mother was seriously ill and forced her to leave her job to care for her mother.
However, she could not afford to pay for medical expenses and daily food. Vina could only buy general medicine to relieve her mother's fever.
Knowing their situation, Cathy bought nutritious food and visited them at their home almost every day. Cathy never gave them money as she was not rich, but she gave her care and food whenever she had more.
The same thing happened to Fani. Fani was still in high school, and her brain was not that smart to catch all the lessons in her school.
She needed a private tutor to give her additional lessons, but the costs involved in paying private tutors were too far to reach.
After knowing the problem, Cathy taught her for free. Even the way of teaching was easy to understand. Not only that, but Cathy was also patient and kind to her, who often makes mistakes on her lesson problems.
Seeing Cathy's kindness, some try to take advantage of it. There were occasions when someone pretended to have a stomachache or dizziness and asked Cathy to continue her work.
One time, twice until finally, Cathy caught the hidden intentions of the people who used her. Therefore, when the same person asked her for help, Cathy would firmly reject her. She gave the person an excuse that couldn't be refuted.
"Why don't you take time off when you're sick?" or "I have to finish this assignment first," and once responded with, "I'm not sure I can finish your job as well as you can. What if the manager gets angry if the results aren't satisfactory?"
Cathy was smart and could see if someone really needs her help or just wants to take advantage of her kindness. She has indeed had a kind heart, but not that stupid to let people use her for their selfish reason.
And she could also come up with a valid and reasonable excuse.
For the first answer, if a person took leave, the salary would be deducted as most of them, only part-timer workers. Then for the final answer where she said the manager would get angry if the results weren't satisfactory; Cathy had a reason for that.
Each worker has their own assigned task. Even though their duties were the same when serving customers, one specific task was addressed to each employee. Each of them has different particular assignments.
Cathy herself had a specific task regarding cleanliness both inside and outside the restaurant. She also needed to make sure things went well in the kitchen.
On the other hand, those who wish to take advantage of her have the job of supplying quantities of cooking ingredients and red wine.
This job was crucial, and if they make a mistake, they would be faced with dismissal or a cut in salary.
Cathy knew this person would not want to get fired, mainly because she works there as a permanent employee. As for Cathy, she only worked part time and was not under any contract.
Besides, she could find another job easily if she was fired from here. She got nothing to lose even if people around her wanted to trip her. Hence, she got nothing to worry about.
Since that incident, no one has dared to take advantage of Cathy. Cathy only gave her hand what she could do. If she couldn't do it, then she only encourages and motivation through her sincere words.
Cathy's presence in their midst created a family bond between them, and it was getting bigger each day. Both younger and older than Cathy, everyone considered her as a good mother, friend, and sister.
Cathy herself also thought of her coworkers like her family; only she knew her limits. Even though she considered them her family, Cathy would not run to their help when she was having trouble.
Since the incident, when her father slapped her and seeing her three siblings in the room, crying out loud, made her realize something.
She, Catherine West, didn't want to see her three younger sisters get the same treatment from her father. She wanted to protect the three of them, and she wouldn't let anyone hurt them.