Patty’s Charcoal Drive-In

Patty’s Charcoal Drive-In

Patty’s Charcoal Drive-In

“Sixteen and college-bound”, the teen-aged girl in the poem Patty’s Charcoal Drive-In learns the challenges of having a first job: hard work for little pay. Her role is to serve, to accommodate customer’s needs by “presenting each tray as if it were a banquet.” Then after working hard hopes to merely earn tips from loose change “flung carelessly as the stars.”

I can understand the challenges of hard work for little pay. I work for Starbucks Coffee Company as a shift supervisor. I have to wake up at three in the morning to prepare the store for the busy day and I am not morning person. I have to coordinate partners, assign daily tasks, and deal with customer issues. I have to be nice and cheery, regardless if I am in a bad mood or ill. After smiling, chatting, and serving my hope is the customer puts their change in my tip jar.

In our high school year and early college years, many students work the undesirable jobs with the goal