Page 25 of The Good Char
Running a frustrated hand down my face, I debated whether I should just throw her into the grill’s vortex to be rid of her or run my tongue down the valleys that taunted me, shining with perspiration from the work day.
“What the blasted hell is wrong with you today?Why are you acting differently?Is there something I need to know?Something you need to—” I narrowed my eyes once again in suspicion, still unconvinced the master didn’t plant her here for my destruction.“—tell me.”
“I-I don’t know what you mean.I’m just working as hard as I always do, Mr.Dzik.I promise.If I’m failing at something, just let me know and I’ll rectify it.Did you see how happy our customers were?We’re such a great team.I bet we’ll sell out all of our prepared supplies today, don’t you think?All in a good day's work, right?”
She laughed awkwardly and averted her gaze to something behind me.I turned and saw nothing that would interest her, leaving me baffled as to what exactly was transpiring.
I leaned in, trying to stare into her soul to see if I could force the truth out of her.“I don’t like what’s going on, Kimmy.I’m going to ask you to leave work early today and return when you get your head back on straight,” I threatened.
Only, she didn’t see it the same way.
“Really?”she gasped, clasping her hands in front of her with a hidden smile I couldn’t decipher.“You are always so kind to me, Mr.Dzik.I am feeling a bit frazzled today because I just got this new place and there’s been some complications.I’m just trying to get control of everything that's happened in my life and I guess I’m not in control as I thought I was.I mean, I don’t know exactly how to explain it but I can’t give up, you know?And every time you’re kind to me like this, my heart just wants to explode.You don’t know how much it means to me to be able to have a few moments to slip away and… sort things out.Even if it's just in my mind.I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you but I promise I will.Thank you.Thank you for being there for me.”
My mind was still trying to catch up with her rapid fire words when she caught me by surprise, pressing her soft lips to the flesh of my cheek.I froze, confused, befuddled, angry, irritated, then furious as I straightened… only to catch a glimpse of her mess of a mane and her back as she left me standing there alone once again unsure of what just transpired.
Chapter16
KIMMY
The next daystarted the same.My boss had already set everything up upon opening before I got there.All I had to do was sit behind the register obediently, waiting for customers to line up.We didn’t say much to each other this time around.I was embarrassed at my behavior yesterday and couldn’t find the courage to start a conversation.
You practically told him your whole life already.It was a good thing the burn wasn’t bad, even though he treated you like your flesh was peeling.It was beyond adorable.
I giggled to myself and schooled my features when he walked by, avoiding looking at him.
It was the weekend and the early mornings brought in more patrons today.People began to gather in the food court sporadically, the voices of children whining and some babies crying floated through the air.It was going to be a long day, I could already tell.
Usually, I was excited to start the day but something was off.Perhaps it was the residual feelings from my parents who still gave me disappointed looks when they were home and the strange reaction I had to Mr.Dzik that threw me off today.
I leaned over the counter and gave everyone around us a welcoming smile the way I always did.A few of the shoppers caught sight of me, smiled back and made their way over.The first order was four corndogs and two pink lemonades.
I yelled over to Mr.Dzik who was concentrating on stirring the batter again.“Four dogs to the front, please!”
The sheer amount of customers lining up didn’t allot for me to write down the orders quickly enough on my little writing tablet.I began to make the cups of ice and added the lemonade, handing it to them to give Mr.Dzik time to complete the orders.
It was hectic but we were able to get all of the orders out in a timely fashion when Nicole showed up.I smiled at her while trying to keep everything professional.I didn’t want Mr.Dzik to think I was messing around with friends while I was working.
“How are you holding up, Kimmy?I know you and Cindy were really close.”
I did a double take and really looked at her, bewildered at her tone of voice.It looked like she had been crying.Her makeup was smeared and her clothes were wrinkled—nothing like the beauty queen I was used to seeing when she hung out with us.
“What are you talking about?”More people were beginning to line up behind her and she stepped aside.
“Excuse me, can I have a corndog please?”someone asked.
“Get the orders,” my boss butted in, his first words to me all day.I continued taking orders and passing it along to Mr.Dzik, handing people their meals quickly without spilling their drinks on their trays.
“You mean to tell me you don’t know?”Nicole said again as I filled another order.“No one told you?”
“Can I have a lemonade?”another person asked.
“Told me what?”I questioned as I took in another order.This was beginning to feel a little strange.
“It just doesn’t feel real,” she choked out and began to sob, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, smearing more mascara down to her snotty nose.
This has to be something serious.She would never be caught dead looking this bad.When I finally got a reprieve from the customers, I took in a deep breath and fully turned to her.“What is going on?Tell me.”
“Can you get the crying girl from the counter?She is detouring customers,” Mr.Dzik growled.“Hey girl, this is a place of business!If you need therapy, call a therapist!”
