"life on the line"

There is a tension, an anxiety when the time approaches. People file in after their day of work, or at this time of year, travelling, ready to relax and have a nice meal. In the back, on the line is where their supper fantasies come true.

In the back, out of the public eye the  pressure is intense. Even though the table of four think they are the center of the universe, the line tells a different story. It's a juggling act of time and quality. With orders coming in every two minutes from three waitresses the pressure build quickly.

Plates are going out, tables of two to twelve are being served meals of their moment. But the line is jammed and fresh gravy has to be made, take-outs have to be completed.

And then, with all the chaos going on an order like this comes, and all that tension is expelled in laughter.

This is a brutal, volatile environment. When that tension is broken by a simple prank or joke the rest of the evening goes so much better. Life on the line.