Routine [SHORT STORY]

Routine part 1

I used to work at a bakery.

Well, I almost did. Truth is, I didn't get the job. The interview was going well. It all went downhill when I mentioned a story about a bakery attack that no one had heard of. Excitement raced in my voice as I told the story. I was there when it happened. It was a rather strange bakery attack. No one was injured and classical music was involved. Nonetheless, it seemed interesting and I wish I was closer when it had happened. Close enough to be noticed by the attackers.

I work at McDonald's now. It drives me crazy at times; the routine. Grill the burgers, put them in buns, wrap them up, and serve the customers. I can't stand it. I work at the register most times. Which is worse. Nothing ever happens at the register. Just people who come and go. Smiling or not. As they leave with their meals in hand.

"Watch out!"

A woman yelps from the kitchen and everyone turns their heads in the direction of the sound. I was in the middle of taking another Big Mac order, but curiosity took over. So I end up sprinting to the kitchen to see what the commotion was. As it turns out, it was a burnt burger lying on the tiled floor. Its colour was black as coal, with smoke surrounding it. People were relieved and thanked god that it didn't cause a fire. Something in me wished that the burger did start a fire. 

I could get out of work and get the routine to stop. How do people deal with this? The procedure I mean. Or the routine that we repeat. The world seems like it knows what it is doing with no complaints. While I'm here, confused about what is going on.

I'm just doing what everyone else is doing.

What I'm doing is no different from them.

Things like this happen all the time. I always seem to miss the excitement. Whether it has already happened, or whether it has already been resolved. Crazy to think that routine can drive one this mad. I just want to experience what I felt before. Like during that bakery attack.

The woman who burnt the burger appeared alright. The manager seemed unhappy though. However his face nor attitude wasn't all that to be scared of.

Our manager just isn't a 'scary' person.

Everyone seemed to settle down and resumed what they were doing. Grilling burgers, putting them in buns et cetera. I continue to take customer's orders. I didn't need to think while taking orders. I never did. I always end up drifting into my own thoughts. I began to think about the bakery attack.