I waited and I waited for help but all the rich people just stared at me and kept eating.

[freshwest]

100. I remember waiting table at a classic downtown bar to help make ends meet in college. It was kind of

weird, because I wasn't old enough to drink, but old enough to serve beer and liquor. I remember going days with no real food, but anyway. Tips were non-existent, even though the establishment was by no means a dive. It was located in the theater district in downtown. A lot of professionals came there after work and some tourists. But back to the customers.

I'd be balancing trays of drinks, mugs, etc. and the customers saw me rushing from table to table and guys thought it'd be funny to put a leg out and trip me, but I was really agile then. I didn't lose the trays, but they just thought that was hilarious.

Another job I had was at an all-day restaurant near the city's sports stadium. I remember being on duty for over 24 hours straight. My back and feet were killing me, and I didn't even get a bathroom break. My shift was over and I sat down, feeling sick. The guys started yelling at me to get my ass up and wait on them.

I said that I was off duty, but that didn't mean a thing. To them I was in the permanent servant class and they were entitled. After a while you forget the leers, grabs, kicks, propositions and obscenities and all the other so-called 'compliments' you get from people.

I remember at the bar, too, that one group was in there was ordering drinks, and they were my age, so they were underage. So I had to tell them that I could serve them soda, but not alcohol. When they asked how I knew, I told them their names because they went to the same high school that I had.

They didn't like that and asked why was I there, to which I told them I was working nights to pay my way through college and showed them my ID. That shut them up. Just think, Don, you have done well, too.

But what happened to you, indicates that not only did those people not respect you, I don't think they cared about being human themselves. It was surreal, they acted as they were at a play and you were just the floor show act like it couldn't have hurt.

I can't stand to see anyone down on the ground, I'd've been all over the tray, helping you up. But then I've been in situations when my pain or difficulty was a source of pleasure for other. You feel like road pizza and realize you ain't nothing to some people.

I live in an area where people do not act that way toward others. Sorry you went through that, and that your care for them wasn't not returned as they should have. I'm glad you're far away from that now.