Beggars CAN be choosers

So I learned an important lesson about standards today and why it is important to have them even when making friends.

I worked what we in the restaurant business call a "double" today where I worked two shifts in one day. On any other day or at any other restaurant this would call for a lot of exertion on my part but today was slow as hell so instead of working I got a chance to bond with my co-workers.

There were two people about my age working the first shift, Brittany and Jake. We didn't share our life stories or anything like that, but I feel like I am developing a healthy repertoire with them and will be able to joke and conversate more fully at later dates. After first shift I went home for a little break and headed back for second shift super excited to continue co-worker bonding. To my dismay neither Brittany or Jake were on the second shift.

Fortunately Sophia, the owner, is a very social and friendly lady. Unfortunately Charlie, the dishwasher, is just creepy. Throughout second shift Sophia and I got the chance to chat and learn more about each other, which is great. I feel like she is a person I can go to with problems. One problem being Charlie.

Charlie came in towards the end of my shift and was immediately smitten with yours truly. Charlie is in his late 40's, missing several teeth and has an accent so thick and slurred I can't understand half the things he says without asking him to repeat it and stepping closer to him (something I am trying to avoid doing).
When he first told me he wanted to "holla at me before I left" I thought, "golly, what a friendly guy, wanting to get to know his new co-worker" until it turned into "don't forget I want to holla at choo before you leave cuz we need to be hookin up sometime". I soon realized through his persistent "you're really pretty"s and his "let me walk you home"s that maybe Charlie wanted to be more than just my friend.

I learned this night, that no matter how much I want friends, not just anyone will do and some people will have to be turned away. I told Charlie that I wouldn't be able to hang out with him outside of work and if he wanted to get to know me, at work is the only time. I also learned that pretending to have friends is also a great tool because as far as Charlie is concerned I do have a boyfriend and me and all my new friends have plans to hang out pretty much everyday this month. Sorry Charlie, you just didn't make the cut.