Off
on the
Wrong
Foot

"Hege, bring water and a menu to table six" Reyna calls.

Reyna. That's the fox's name. She also works in the restaurant and she's awesome.

Things are actually going okay so far. Hege is getting into it. He's not so nervous any more.

"You've got this" he tells himself as he grabs a pitcher and a menu from the counter.

Standing by the kitchen away from the tables, he scans the floor. Which one is number six again?

His eyes move from table to table. When suddenly he realizes.

It's Hendrix!

Sitting right there at table six, looking straight at him.

And with him is... HER!

Hege's world starts spinning. There's water all over the floor now. He must have dropped the pitcher.

Oh. My. Hog.

"Sorry... I-I... don't know what happened" Hege stutters as Reyna comes to the rescue with a fresh pitcher and a towel.

"Don't worry Hege, it's just water. Go on, bring the menu and ask the couple what they want to drink." she says.

Reyna's calm helps Hege find his footing again. He approaches the table, still in shock.

"W-welcome to the Hegilton, I'll be your waiter for tonight. C-can I get you started with anything?"

Hege's uniform is soaked. But he's still too shocked to realize. The drops form a small puddle on the marble floor.

"Hege!? You work here?" SHE says.

"Hi Hegena. Actually it's my first day today and I'm--"

"Yea, yea, how do you do." Hendrix cuts him off.

"We'll have the steak with peppercorn sauce and sauteéd spinach, roasted halibut for the lady, red wine for the table and hegini on the rocks. DRY. If you think you can manage that."

He orders for them both, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Hegena looks like she's about to say something.

But then she doesn't.

As Hege returns to pour the wine, his hands are still shaking.

Hendrix is quick to notice.

"Careful shit-hands, this suit is worth three months of your salary. I can't believe they're actually paying you for this."

Hege tries to pretend he didn't hear.

"Pull it together, it could have been worse. At least SHE isn't making fun of you, you can still save this."

He peptalks himself on the way back to the kitchen.

Reyna cheers him up through the evening.

Don't worry about that asshat, she says. He comes here all the time and acts like he owns the place. Just because his dad is friends with the bossman.

That helps a little.

But inside, Hege's world is still spinning.

"What's SHE doing back with HIM?"

There are so many thoughts, but so little time to think right now.

Hege has to focus. He's bringing menus, carrying water, taking orders, slinging plates.

The evening turns into a blur.

Until finally it's time for dessert.

"Of course! He ordered the FOUNTAIN" Reyna chuckles as she rolls her eyes.

"Hege, you got this?"

The Hegilton Chocolate Fountain.

Hege doesn't know what to make of it. It's BIG. The biggest dessert he has ever seen. It's nearly as tall as he is.

It's almost too big for him to carry.

But if anything Hege is determined, and he slowly wobbles towards the table.

But today is not Hege's day.

As he steps to the table, he slips.

He watches helplessly as the fountain goes airborne.

A rainbow of chocolate, strawberries, peaches, marshmallows.

Moving in slow-motion through the air.

"Who the heck spilled water on the floor?"

That's the only thought that pops into Hege's mind.

Then everything goes black.

...