Mary: "If I didn't know for a fact that we have no food at all in the house, I'd suggest we just leave."
Emily: "Not to mention that I just don't feel like cooking tonight."
Mary: "Is everything ok? You seem a little off. Was the therapist creepy or something?"
Emily: "A little, but I think I'll give her another session or two in case the problem is with me and not her. I dunno, I think right now I feel worse for having gone."

Mary: "Oh Em, I'm really sorry. Are you sure you should go back?"
Emily: "If I don't I'll just end up feeling like an even bigger loser than I already am."
Mary: "You're not a loser."
Emily: "Mary, I'm nearing thirty. I'm still single, I don't own a car, and I'm unemployed. I'm a loser."

Mary: "You're not a loser until you're at least thirty-five and still living in your parents' basement collecting Star Trek figurines."
Emily: "I don't exactly have parents, remember?"
Mary: "You can borrow mine if you really want to reach the top of loserdom. I'm sure they'd love to have you."
Emily: "Thanks. So how'd your job search go?"

Mary: "It was yet another spectacular failure. I mean honestly, you'd tell me if I smelled bad, right?"
Emily: "You smell really good!"
Mary: "I think so, too. Oh well. I picked up an application for you from the new market like you asked."
Emily: "Thanks. At least it'll be something, right?"

Bellie: "Here's your pancakes, girls. Sorry about the delay, it's just crazy in here tonight."
Mary: "So I noticed. Did you tell people you were giving food away?"
Bellie: "I'm not sure what happened, but I'm not really complaining. It's been like this for a few weeks now! Normally I'd have my niece in helping out, but she's gone back to school in the city."

Mary felt the beginnings of an idea starting to form as she looked around the over-stuffed eatery.

Mary: "Hey, any chance you might want to hire a waitress? You know, someone to help out during peak hours?"

She promptly ignored Emily's sudden burst of laughter from beside her, looking up at Bellie with a huge smile.

Bellie: "Are you volunteering?"
Mary: "If you're paying."
Bellie: "I can't offer much hourly, but you'd get to keep all your tips. You ever waitressed before?"
Mary: "No, but I'm a fast learner."

Bellie: "Good enough for me. When can you start?"
Mary: "Tomorrow?"
Bellie: "Consider yourself employed, little lady."