Page 9 of The Good Char
She placed the pencil behind her ear and stuffed the writing tablet in front of her apron pocket.
I stood there, contemplating what she said for a few moments.I never had an employee so diligently want to learn before.My lips twitched in a slight smirk.This could work out well for me.
“Why don’t you use that writing tablet you have and take down orders as they come.Then hand it to me and I can prepare the food.I cook and you take the money and put it in the money box and give change.You can count, can’t you?”I asked after giving some thought to the fact she never told me how old she was.
“Of course, I can count, Mr.Dzik,” she giggled, covering her mouth with her dainty little hand.
Why would she think she could stop herself from laughing with her hand that far from her face?The best way for anyone to stop something from coming out of a human mouth would be to slap their hand entirely over their face and shove them into the flames?—
“I graduated highschool five years ago and I have just been working for my parents,” she continued while going over to sit down on the stool.“But sometimes you need to make a life for yourself, ya know?Not for my Mom or Dad, but me.”
I looked at her, perplexed.How in the world did the conversation route itself in this direction?
“I really didn’t need to know all of that.The only thing I needed to know is if you could count.”These humans were too much.It was a wonder they managed to stay alive this long.You ask them one simple question and they will tell you their entire life story.“You better enjoy that break of yours.It’s nearly lunchtime and we’re about to get swamped.Today, we’ll see how much you really want your job.”
“Oh, yes, Mr.Dzik,” she replied obediently, straightening her back, her face showing nothing but pure determination.My eyes flicked below her face involuntarily for a second and then back.All this positivity was causing me to itch.I wanted to scour my skin in acid and peel it from the overload of her upbeat attitude.It was humans like her that were causing a shortage of souls back home in the underworld.
Right on cue, I could hear the crowd begin to gather as the mall became alive with chatter.I could feel a line begin to form in front of the counter.The presence of a human crowd always made my skin prickle with the need to torture something.
I looked over to her with a wicked grin.“It’s showtime, Kimmy.Take your time and it will be fine.”
I wanted to break her, show her that working under me wasn’t going to be as easy as she thought.
As if possessed, she stood up with a fire in her eyes, wrapped her hair into a bun and walked over to the front counter like she owned the place.With her pad in hand she leaned over the counter with a large smile and was bombarded immediately by the first customer.
She happily took orders with giggles in a meticulous manner, handing me the notes and quickly taking the next order.I stood there dumbfounded as I watched her, running the register like a pro.
Where the hell did she learn to handle orders like this?She acted like she never had a job before despite her ramblings about whatever it was the humans that birthed her did.
There was definitely more to this girl than meets the eye.
“Mr.Dzik, we need to push!”she called out boldly.“We got a bigger crowd coming.”
She walked back and grabbed the first couple of completed orders and calculated the change before handing them their food—all the while humming cheerily as if she was in her element.
To my dismay and wonderment, my business had never run this smoothly before and it was only her first day.I could get used to this.Other than all of that humming and smiling, she was actually… okay.
I narrowed my eyes.This may work out after all.I was one of the smartest demons there was!And the master needed to see that for himself.
I nodded to myself at my own brilliance.
I had been in the human realm long enough.It should be time for me to come home!
Chapter6
We worked tirelessly togetherin perfect unison.And after a few horrid hours, it finally slowed down.I took a seat on one of my folding chairs and so did she on her little stool that was much too tall for her short legs.
“Phew!That was quite a rush, wasn't it, Mr.Dzik?”she pretended to wipe her brow but I saw no perspiration.What was she playing at?“But we got everything done,” she prattled on with a bubbly expression.
And there goes the hives again.This girl was either going to be the death of me… or make me rich in the realm of men.
After sitting for what felt like less than a minute, she hopped up, walked to the fridge, quickly came back and handed me a soda.Time stood suspiciously still as I stared at the water drop on the outside slowly sliding down.I should let it hit the floor and watch her slip to her death, but instead I hesitantly took the syrupy can of liquid and observed as she drank one in inhuman gulps while walking herself back over to the counter.
She began to clean all of the trash, then placed the trays on the counter and ran hot dishwater in the sink.
The little menace wouldn’t stop moving long enough for me to figure out what she was up to.Slamming my can on the counter furiously, I stood up and glared at her.
“What are you doing?”I snarled.“I didn’t ask you to clean up.”
