Helper Sibling Turns Pro

Ethan stood in front of his reflection, giving himself one final once-over. His cheeks were dusted with a rosy blush and his lashes flickered with mascara. His sister Emily's flannel shirt was knotted right above his navel, and her denim shorts gripped his hips snugly. The cowgirl hat with fake braids rested on his head. Ether had worked hard to transform himself into "Emily." Emily had been thrilled to land her job at the western-themed restaurant, enjoying the energy of the lively crowds and the regulars' familiar faces day by day. This was not a typical waitressing gig; this was an experience where the staff interacted with the customers as if they were in the Wild West. And unfortunately, catching the flu forced Emily to bedrest, rendering her job at risk. Ethan couldn't let that happen. He shuffled quietly, grabbing Emily's purse and the jingling set of keys gently, determined to help his sister despite the somewhat absurdity of the plan. Walking into the restaurant, Ethan instantly felt a ripple of anxiety. Would people recognize him? Would anyone notice? The scent of grilled steaks and roasted veggies filled the place. Rustic tables and walls adorned with old wagon wheels and horse saddles set the perfect ambiance. Regular customers were already trickling in, recognizing familiar staff greeting them with cheer. "E-M-I...uhm, Emily?" Susie, the head waitress, barely glanced up, occupied with scribbling orders. "You're here early, good. We have a busy night ahead!" Ethan gave a little nod, careful to mimic his sister's cheery smile, and made his way to his assigned section. He recalled how Emily often described her duties: serving drinks, taking orders, and most importantly, interacting with the customers with a friendly flair. “Howdy, partner! What can I get for you tonight?” he forced himself to say, faking the enthusiasm that Emily wore so naturally. Every order he took was done diligently, if not a bit awkwardly, but customers never seemed to catch on. The regular crowd barely skipped a beat, and newcomers never suspected a thing. Susie was pleased, and tips were flowing generously for "Emily". The first night ended with Ethan collapsing in a heap of exhaustion on Emily's bed, transitioning seamlessly to the second and third days. Each day, Ethan perfected his walk in those tight boots, his fake high-pitched tone, and pitching the restaurant's specials. During one shift, one of the regulars, a friendly elderly man named Mr. Jenkins, who was a keen observer, watched Ethan keenly as "Emily" served his order of buffalo wings and sweet tea. "Y’know, you look a bit different today, Emily," Mr. Jenkins said, adjusting his glasses suspiciously. Ethan's heart raced. "Just trying a new look, Mr. Jenkins!" he joked, trying to channel Emily’s charming composure. Mr. Jenkins chuckled, "Well, it suits ya." Ethan sighed silently in relief, continuing with his duties. As the days moved forward, his confidence grew. He noticed the twinkle of delight in the customers' eyes, feeling fulfilled in holding up his sister’s cheerful service. By the end of the week, Emily had started to recover. She was bewildered and immensely grateful when Ethan revealed his adventurous endeavor to her. "Ethan, I can't believe you did that for me!" she said, her eyes misty. "You’re my hero." “You’d do the same for me,” Ethan replied, smiling warmly, admiration evident in his voice. When Emily returned to work, she was met with a grand show of appreciation from the staff and customers, who jokingly commented on her "new look" the previous week. Ethan stood tall at the back, quietly pleased with himself, having not only saved his sister’s job but also having discovered a new depth to their sibling bond. The Wild West adventure in the restaurant had cemented itself as an unforgettable chapter in their lives. And who knew? Maybe Ethan had a hidden knack for waitressing after all.

Once at the restaurant, he carried his sister's purse over his shoulder and walked with as much grace as he could muster, given the cowgirl boots he wasn't accustomed to. Everyone was too busy to notice him and he felt a sigh of relief. As he walked further into the restaurant, he realized the floorboard noises were louder than usual due to the high-heeled boots. He reached the bar, greeted with the familiar smell of alcohol, barbecue, and the natural scent of wood. The manager glanced up, squinted in what seemed like confusion, and then shrugged. "You're ten minutes late," he said, mistaking him for his sister. Thinking in his sister's voice, he simply said an apologetic, "Sorry, boss." From the corner of his eye, he could see a few of the regulars squinting at him, but none said anything. Out on the floor, his height became an advantage, adeptly maneuvering between tables with trays laden with food and drinks. He was known as a tenacious worker, so seeing his supposed sister do the same wasn't so surprising. The hard part was dealing with the patrons who occasionally got flirtatious. Whenever that happened, he'd simply blush and quickly change the subject, keeping his voice in a higher tone, imitating his sister's. The day went surprisingly smoothly. He was grateful for his bartending experience since it helped him multitask efficiently. However, as the day progressed, his heels started hurting and his back ached from the unusual clothing and the continuous hustling. As he was about to wrap up his shift, the manager approached him. "You did great today," he said, a little too harshly, "But don't push yourself too hard. I thought something was off today about you, now I see you're sick. You looked paler than usual." Surprised that his efforts were mistaken for illness, he thanked the manager, vowing to take that as a lesson to apply less makeup next time. All in all, the day had been successful. He got home, tiptoed into his sister's room and gently woke her up to brief her about the day they had 'shared'. His sister, weaken from the flu, but smiling thanked him for his crazy but unconditional love. They shared a moment of sibling solidarity before he left her to rest. For the following week, he alternated between being a cowboy bartender and a cowgirl waitress tirelessly. His dedication paid off when his sister recovered from her flu and was ready to return to work. Looking back at the mess of dresses, pantyhose, and makeup scattered in his room, he grinned sheepishly at his reflection in the mirror, thankful for this overly adventurous experience that brought them closer together as siblings.