Page 15 of The Good Char
I caught Mr.Dzik looking at me curiously and I sheepishly shrugged my shoulders.I couldn’t help it.
My excitement was able to simmer as it was a slow morning, the weekday keeping a lot of patrons away until they got off work.
The silence between Mr.Dzik and I made me replay everything that happened with my parents last night in a loop.The longer I thought about it, the more frustration seeped into my being once again.I didn’t like this feeling.I just wanted to be happy.
“Hey, Mr.Dzik?—”
“It’s Dzik.”
“You’ll never believe what my parents said about me working here.”
“I don’t care to know, just work,” he said coldly.He must be tired from opening up the store.I didn’t blame him.
“They called you Mr.Dick, and they just couldn’t understand that I enjoy working here with you.I appreciate having this job, truly.I look forward to coming in all the time, to, you know, work here, with you.”
Embarrassment washed over me.I sounded like a dork.Good job, Kimmy.
He gave me a puzzled look, his jaw clenching and nostrils flaring.What I thought was a constipated look, I had come to find was something else.It must be his serious look.I liked looking at his face.
“Just work.I don’t need to know,” he gritted out again, completely ignoring what I was saying.
It reminded me of my parents.And now my frustration amped up a little more, my mouth rambling before I could control myself.
“They just want me to work at their restaurant and be under their thumb non-stop.I’m a woman and I don’t need their approval to work where I want to work,” I huffed, rolled my eyes and placed my hand on my hip.“I’m not a little girl anymore.No, sir.I am all woman.You know they asked me if I was on drugs and if I was pregnant?They had some nerve.I’m actually a really good person, Mr.Dzik.”
His nostrils flared again and I blinked back my unshed tears.I didn’t know why I was so emotional about all this.I shouldn’t even be thinking about it.I should just enjoy working beside my nice boss and go about my day.
“Is your stuff ready for the lunch rush?”he said dryly.A quick glance at the clock told me we had about thirty minutes before it was time.
Why was he ignoring me?Maybe he was trying to keep things strictly professional and I could understand that.I know he hears me and he cares about me.I can tell.
Mr.Dzik went to the other side and began working the batter with the giant spoon.I watched as the muscles on his back and arms flexed.He was a very fit man.The more he worked the batter, the more I became lost in his rhythmic movements.
Look at him go!That was a man who was proud of his work.I admired that about him.Actually, I admired a lot about Mr.Dzik.My face flushed when I caught myself staring at his profile, hoping to catch a smile.I bet he had an amazing smile.
Get it together, Kimmy.You don't need to be looking at him like that, he's your boss.
Mr.Dzik’s back tensed up right before he snapped his head over his shoulders to look directly at me.I blushed and giggle-coughed, before turning away, pretending to be busy dusting off the register.
An idea crossed my mind and I spontaneously went for it.I dropped my pencil onto the floor and slowly bent down to pick it up, to see if he would check me out the same way I did him.I mean, I think I had a nice, firm butt.Why wouldn’t he look?When I finally picked it up and looked over my shoulder, he was already back to doing whatever he was doing on the other side.
Ugh.That was a major fail.Maybe I should just get back to work.Serves you right, Kimmy.
Embarrassment now laced my prior frustrations as I pulled up the stool, sat down, placed my chin in my hand and watched the patrons of Hellfire Mall make their way toward the food area with their arms full of shopping bags.
A couple of young boys came toward the counter.
“We should eat before we go meet the girls,” I heard one of them say.
I straightened in my seat and offered them a kind smile, waiting for their order.
“Speaking of girls, how are you doing, pretty little thing.Do you have a boyfriend?”the second, older looking boy threw my way as he swaggered toward the counter and leaned in.He gave me a smirk that made his face look weird and I frowned in confusion when his demeanor immediately changed and he backed up.
Did I smell or something?I know I showered this morning and I didn’t think I sweated too much on the ride here.I pretended to wipe my brow to discreetly smell myself.No, I smell fine.
“Either put in your order, or move out the way,” came a deep, gruff voice over my head.I tilted my head back to see Mr.Dzik standing right behind me, focusing a laser glare directly at the two boys in front of me.
“Oh, Mr.Dzik!Did you want to take this order?Did you want to switch places?”I asked chirpily.
