Smiled through a whole shift after my car got towed from the employee lot

Last Tuesday, I came out after a 10 hour day to find my car gone from behind the restaurant. It got towed for a permit I forgot to renew, costing me $350 to get it back. I had to go straight to a friend's birthday dinner, so I just plastered on a smile and acted like everything was fine while I was totally broke and stressed inside. It felt like I was acting in a play for three hours straight. I mean, how do you even start to explain that kind of drain to people who are just trying to have a good time? Has anyone else had to fake being okay when a big, sudden expense just wrecked your week?

3 comments

3 Comments

betty_wells26d ago

Yeah, I read something once about how faking happiness can actually make you feel worse later. Like @spencer_park26 said about the face hurting, it just adds another layer of stress on top of the money panic. It's such a draining way to get through the night.

lewis.terry26d ago

My dog once ate my rent money right before a fancy date, so I feel that fake smile deep in my soul.

spencer_park2626d ago

Oh man @lewis.terry, that's the worst kind of panic. It's that moment where your brain just SHORTS OUT. You're trying to act normal for your date while mentally calculating if you can tape the cash back together or if you're just totally screwed. The fake smile gets so tight your face hurts, and you're just nodding along to conversation while your mind is replaying the shredding sound over and over. Absolute nightmare fuel.