Glamorous Slavery

Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.
John F. Kennedy


This interview sounded strange straight from the beginning, but when I saw in the ad that they are looking for a waitress who speaks English, French and Italian and that she has to be no more than 165 centimetres, I thought "Hey, this is my cue!" and I gave it a chance.
I'm an exaggerate punctual person so I've got there earlier and I was asked to take a sit cause Luca, the owner of the restaurant was going to be a bit late. OK, so far so god, I'm used to people getting late, unfortunately.
Have you ever noticed how people tend to get used to bad things instead of having the courage to change them?
So back to this restaurant, which was rather a bar than a restaurant,located, let's say somewhere in the Mont Blanc, doesn't really matter the name, cause I heard it's the same everywhere, while I was waiting sir Luca I changed a few words with the waitress there, but only a few, cause she was very disappointed when she found out that I was Romanian, but when I asked her where she comes from, she answered very astringent:
- I'm from Moldavia, Republic of Moldavia and don't even dare to say it's the same thing as Romania!
I swear I couldn't believe my ears. When did we become enemies? If she had known at least the basics of history maybe we could have had a decent conversation, cause in fact, Romanians and Moldavians speak more or less the same language, and it's true that this has been long long time ago, but our lands where once without borders. Anyway I wasn't in the mood to explain her, that in fact, we have the same roots, if she bordered her self in such a barbaric way.
- Our chef is Romanian and our "do-all" boy also! she cast in my face while she was brooming the floor.
- That's nice! I've replied... but it seems that she didn't quite agree...
Hey, what ever happened to old fashioned brotherhood, what ever happened to being nice to people for no reason!?! Why so much chauvinism? When are we going to get it that the fight for power is between politicians and not between us...
But I'm deviating from the story, and this is not about that girl, of whom name I can't even remember...I guess that's because she never introduced her self, she started the conversation by saying:
- So you're Mirela!...
Until the famous Luca got there I also got to hear how the employees were praying to have time to take a decent meal at least tonight.
This restaurant called " something from the Tunnel" ( I can't say it's real name for security reasons) was starting to seem more and more like the Adams family, the mystery with the hight (165 cm) was solved when I saw the bar, which wasn't higher than 165 cm, and everyone working there was more or less midget, I guessed I was going to interview for the position of Snow White. A wish come true!... until the Dragon Luca came in and my prince charming was out buying cigarettes, so I was on my own.
- Would you like a coffee?
I had to say "Yes", cause Italians have nothing else to offer you but coffee, this is driving me nuts, for a change I would like a scotch on the rocks, but if I tell them that maybe they'll think I curse them so I don't wanna take any risks, I'm on their territory, and my mum always says "Make your self friends with the Devil until you cross the bridge!"... whatever that means, cause I crossed so many bridges and... whatsoever ... I replied to Luca smiling:
-I'd love a coffee!... to pour it in your lap, was my subtext.
It's like I anticipated that the conversation would wanna make me do this and many more to Mr. Luca.
He sipped from his coffee and he started bombing me with all this information about the job, hoping maybe somewhere along the road I would miss some key phrases like the working hours, the salary etc.:
- So, basically, this is a easy job, I see here that you speak 3 languages... good. Is there any chance you know also Russian?
-I'm sorry sir, I only started to, I know only a few words... but...
- No problem. No problem! The working hours are the NORMAL ones... every day from 9.30 till 15:30 and from 17 till midnight or till the last client. During the high season you work every day, 7 days out of 7, cause' that's the way it works, you'll share the room with your Moldavian colleague and the salary is 1000 euros.
- What????????????? that was the only word I could came out with but I guess that the abomination on my face said it all.
-Oh, well, 1000 -1300. It depends, it's all up to you!
I had to take a sip from my coffee cause I was on the verge of fainting even if I was sitting down. Martin Luther's King " I had a dream" seemed so far away for me in this moment, for me and for the million of workers who have to put up with this kind of attitude ever day, I like calling it Glamorous Slavery.
I barely opened my mouth:
- But I have a fiancée and we live together and I would like...
when slam-bang I saw Luca grabbing my cup of coffee and throwing it with noise in the the sink behind the bar, coffee from which I really needed another sip in this nightmare of normal work conditions, in his opinion.
-Well, think about it and call me, OK?
- No, it's not OK you IDIOT, what's to think about??? I wouldn't be your slave not for all the money in the world! and he almost threw me out in the cold, I had to put my coat on walking.

I know that you always have two choices: to Stay or to Leave but I can't stop thinking of those who stay even if I leave... I have a dream!...