Julie Markley immediately knew that something was wrong when she saw her father staring at a newspaper with his head in his hands.
The headline said: "Black Friday." in two-inch high letters. Julie wasn't sure what the headline meant, but judging from her father's reaction-it was very bad news.
A few weeks later, Julie found out just how bad it was. "I've lost my job at the bank" her father announced during dinner. "The good news is that I have found another job as a clerk in a store, but the pay is much less. If we are going to survive, you will have to quit school and get a job."
Julie was stunned, quit school and get a job? If only her mother were still alive. Julie knew her mom would figure something out. "I know this comes as a shock her father said, but there is no other way. Millions of men are out of work and we have to do what's necessary."
"What kind of a job could I get? I'm only 15" Julie said through her tears. "There is a diner near the waterfront that is looking for a waitress. Tomorrow you will take the bus down there and apply for the job." Her father said firmly.
"What about my friends at school?" Julie protested. "Can't I say goodbye to them?" Her father shook his head. "It's better this way, I will take care of everything at the school. As soon as this emergency is over, you will finish school." he promised.
The next morning, Julie put on her best dress and tried to think of what she would say to owner of the diner. Other then babysitting, she had never had a real job in her life.
The bus ride down to the waterfront was terrible. So many of her fellow passengers looked hungry and scared. The "Happy Diner" was on a side street just a few blocks from the waterfront. Julie looked in awe at the huge ships waiting to be unloaded at the docks.
The diner was busy with loud working men and it took all the courage Julie had to not run away. A large, powerful man in a stained white shirt was at the counter. "Can I help you?" he said to Julie in a booming voice.
"I.... I have come about the waitress job." she said in as strong a voice as she could muster. The big man laughed. "You're just a kid. Why aren't you in school?" "I had to quit so I could help my family." Julie answered truthfully. The owner smiled sympathetically. "Hard times everywhere. I'll tell you what" he said. "I'm going to give you a try.The pay is 25 cents an hour and you keep all the tips. Be here tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM sharp. By the way, my name is Tom Sullivan." the owner held out a huge hand for her to shake and for the first time, Julie noticed that two of his fingers were missing.
Julie's alarm clock went off at 4:30 and she made it to the bus stop by 5:15. It was still dark when the bus finally made it's way down to the waterfront.
Even that early, the Happy Diner was crowded with men. Mr. Sullivan walked up to her and handed her an apron, a pencil, and a notepad. Julie put the apron on and Mr. Sullivan told her how to take an order.
Her first customer's were all longshoremen. Most of the men were patient and kind, but a man in dirty overalls made a crude joke and put his hand on her bottom. Julie tried to push him away, but the man wouldn't listen. Suddenly, a huge hand missing a couple of fingers grabbed the man's wrist and twisted it hard. "You touch her again and I'll bust your head." Mr. Sullivan warned the man in his booming voice.
Julie didn't have anymore trouble after that and as the day wore on she learned most of the shortcuts of being a waitress. Towards evening an old lady in a ragged dress came in the diner. Julie could see the woman had not been eating well at all. "Could I have a little soup?" the woman asked Julie in a tiny voice. Julie nodded and felt the change in her pocket. She had made almost two dollars in tips for the day.
Instead of soup, Julie wrote "chicken dinner" in her waitress shorthand and gave the chit to Mr. Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan looked doubtfully at the old woman. "I'll cover it." Julie said to him quietly.
After several months, Julie's father found a job in another bank and she was able to quit her job and return to school. Mr. Sullivan said she could come back and work for him anytime, but Julie told him that she already had plans to be a teacher.
The headline said: "Black Friday." in two-inch high letters. Julie wasn't sure what the headline meant, but judging from her father's reaction-it was very bad news.
A few weeks later, Julie found out just how bad it was. "I've lost my job at the bank" her father announced during dinner. "The good news is that I have found another job as a clerk in a store, but the pay is much less. If we are going to survive, you will have to quit school and get a job."
Julie was stunned, quit school and get a job? If only her mother were still alive. Julie knew her mom would figure something out. "I know this comes as a shock her father said, but there is no other way. Millions of men are out of work and we have to do what's necessary."
"What kind of a job could I get? I'm only 15" Julie said through her tears. "There is a diner near the waterfront that is looking for a waitress. Tomorrow you will take the bus down there and apply for the job." Her father said firmly.
"What about my friends at school?" Julie protested. "Can't I say goodbye to them?" Her father shook his head. "It's better this way, I will take care of everything at the school. As soon as this emergency is over, you will finish school." he promised.
The next morning, Julie put on her best dress and tried to think of what she would say to owner of the diner. Other then babysitting, she had never had a real job in her life.
The bus ride down to the waterfront was terrible. So many of her fellow passengers looked hungry and scared. The "Happy Diner" was on a side street just a few blocks from the waterfront. Julie looked in awe at the huge ships waiting to be unloaded at the docks.
The diner was busy with loud working men and it took all the courage Julie had to not run away. A large, powerful man in a stained white shirt was at the counter. "Can I help you?" he said to Julie in a booming voice.
"I.... I have come about the waitress job." she said in as strong a voice as she could muster. The big man laughed. "You're just a kid. Why aren't you in school?" "I had to quit so I could help my family." Julie answered truthfully. The owner smiled sympathetically. "Hard times everywhere. I'll tell you what" he said. "I'm going to give you a try.The pay is 25 cents an hour and you keep all the tips. Be here tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM sharp. By the way, my name is Tom Sullivan." the owner held out a huge hand for her to shake and for the first time, Julie noticed that two of his fingers were missing.
Julie's alarm clock went off at 4:30 and she made it to the bus stop by 5:15. It was still dark when the bus finally made it's way down to the waterfront.
Even that early, the Happy Diner was crowded with men. Mr. Sullivan walked up to her and handed her an apron, a pencil, and a notepad. Julie put the apron on and Mr. Sullivan told her how to take an order.
Her first customer's were all longshoremen. Most of the men were patient and kind, but a man in dirty overalls made a crude joke and put his hand on her bottom. Julie tried to push him away, but the man wouldn't listen. Suddenly, a huge hand missing a couple of fingers grabbed the man's wrist and twisted it hard. "You touch her again and I'll bust your head." Mr. Sullivan warned the man in his booming voice.
Julie didn't have anymore trouble after that and as the day wore on she learned most of the shortcuts of being a waitress. Towards evening an old lady in a ragged dress came in the diner. Julie could see the woman had not been eating well at all. "Could I have a little soup?" the woman asked Julie in a tiny voice. Julie nodded and felt the change in her pocket. She had made almost two dollars in tips for the day.
Instead of soup, Julie wrote "chicken dinner" in her waitress shorthand and gave the chit to Mr. Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan looked doubtfully at the old woman. "I'll cover it." Julie said to him quietly.
After several months, Julie's father found a job in another bank and she was able to quit her job and return to school. Mr. Sullivan said she could come back and work for him anytime, but Julie told him that she already had plans to be a teacher.
