The Struggles of a Chicken Shop Job and the Enduring Agony of Repeat Music

When you're 15 and landing your first job, expect anything but glitz and glamour—especially if it’s at a local chicken joint. The job itself is far from luxurious, dealing with greasy kitchen duties and dishwashing. Yet, the real challenge isn't the work; it's the music that fills the space, on repeat, until it becomes unbearable.

The Chicken Shop Experience

The Clucky Chicken, a humble family-owned shop, offered a teen the chance to step into the workforce. Without the flashy uniforms of big fast-food franchises, the job required nothing but an apron over one's everyday clothes. There, amidst the aroma of roast chicken and sizzling oil, a veritable training ground awaited for those first steps into adulthood. Dreams of stylish jeans and the latest magazines drove the work, even as tasks like scrubbing rotisserie rods and mopping up grease consumed the hours.

Musical Torture on Repeat

What lingered long after the days at the chicken shop was not the scent of grease but the echo of songs played to death on the shop's radio. A single station, with a soft spot for the sentimental tunes of the 80s, looped endlessly. Hits by Lionel Richie, Elton John, and Phil Collins became the unwanted soundtrack to menial labor. Joe Cocker's 'Up Where We Belong' lost its charm quickly, only to be replaced by an irrational aversion as it played over and over again. In the chicken shop, music wasn’t a background joy, but a test of patience.

Over time, these melodies became the anthem of youth’s perseverance, a reminder of the resilience built in those early career days. It's a common experience now; we can’t escape the relentless pop hits from any store's speakers. But those who’ve survived the trial-by-tune know there's always an escape—sometimes, as simple as running for the door when that all-too-familiar chorus begins.

music, job, memory