The Dragon King

Blu Water Green Lake was more than just a restaurant nestled in Midwest City—it was a place that had, for better or worse, become the backdrop to Katharine's life. Known for its family-friendly atmosphere and thoughtful touches, like paper and crayons handed out by servers to restless children, it was also fully wheelchair accessible, welcoming a diverse crowd from the community.

She found herself tethered to Blue Water Green Lake, not by ambition but by circumstance. The regulars all knew the stories—how her father, Thomas Smith, had squandered their savings with reckless abandon in the haze of gambling and alcohol. Rumors rippled through the dining room and echoed in back corners, painting vivid tales of his late-night escapades and the mounting debts that gnawed at their family.

Yet Katharine persevered, refusing to allow whispers and pity to define her. She was trapped by the reality that few employers would tolerate the volatile presence of her father. On more than one occasion, he'd shown up at a new job, shouting and causing a scene, forcing managers to let her go. The Blue Water Green Lake was the only place where she could work undisturbed, even as she felt the walls of circumstance closing in.

This evening, as she prepared to close up, the sky outside had grown wild, illuminated by jagged flashes of lightning and shaken by the relentless thunder. The restaurant's windows rattled with each boom, the storm outside echoing the turmoil that churned within. Alone in the dim glow, Katharine moved from table to table, her mind heavy with memories and worries, unwilling to abandon her post until every last chore was done.

She could never shake the anger that simmered after her mother abandoned them, vanishing overseas and marrying a stranger she’d met while visiting a friend in England. When her mother returned, it was only to file for divorce—she left with almost nothing, except the paperwork proving her freedom from Thomas. That final, abrupt departure left Katharine feeling betrayed, forced to pick up the pieces her mother had left behind and shoulder burdens that were never meant to be hers. To make matters worse, all the money in their bank account had vanished. She made the tough decision to forgo college. In order to care for her father and prevent him from getting into any more trouble. With his reckless gambling and the constant calls from the banks about the loan, he had taken it out. Even the loan sharks started showing up at their apartment multiple times. Eventually, the landlord had enough, and they were forced to find a new place to live.

The sound of her ringing cellphone interrupted the silence, and she reluctantly answered, already aware that it could be the bank calling about her payment. She checked her phone, and it was her boss calling.

“Katharine, make sure you clean the bathroom because someone got sick and now there’s vomit all over.”

“Why not assign that to James before he left for the