I was staring into the face of one of my best friends in the entire world, Beck Abner. He let out a small laugh as he looked me over.
"Rain got ya down, Rose?" he joked between chuckles. "You look like you've been mauled by a group of first graders equipped with water guns."
"Gee, thanks. That's just what I was going for when I got dressed this morning," I said sarcastically. But I couldn't help but grin a little bit before joining in on his laughter.
"Come on. Let's get you cleaned up," Beck suggested once we both recovered. He led me to the back room where we met Charlotte, my other best friend. She was already clocked in and preparing some scones, popping a couple in her mouth every once in a while. Yeah, that's Charlotte alright. It took her about two and a half seconds to notice my drenched physique and immediately started in with the sarcasm.
"You're truly an anomaly of science. I didn't think it was possible to get THAT wet walking from your car to the shop. Einstein's re-theorizing from his grave!" At that she began to laugh, but only for a short while before grabbing a towel from the counter.
"But that's why we're such good friends," she said as she began helping Beck ring out my hair. "I think I've got a spare pair of jeans in my bag," offered Charlotte.
"And I could probably find an old T-Shirt of mine somewhere around here," chimed in Beck.
"Thanks guys," I smiled. "I don't know what I'd do without you." Fortunately, Charlotte and I were about the same size and the jeans she lent me fit perfectly. On the contrary, Beck and I were not. The T-Shirt he gave me was a navy blue Coldplay concert shirt and hung low enough on me to be one of those tiny Hollister dresses. I tied my hair back into a ponytail, threw on my coffee shop apron, and attempted to look half way presentable.
"ROSE!" shouted my uncle. I could hear his heavy, impatient footsteps quickly approaching. Beck and Charlotte had gone to try to find me a hair brush so I was the only one left in the room. I hurriedly tried to straighten up the mess of towels and wet clothing that were still on the floor in the few seconds I had. Just as I kicked the last towel under the table the door slammed open with a bang.
"Rose!" exclaimed my uncle with a suspicious, almost angry tone. "What's going on back here?" He peered around the room inquisitively, his facial expression saying the words he didn't. I took a moment too long to answer.
"Well?" He said, waiting but not giving me enough time to start speaking. "All your bullshit is definitely not helping your situation, you know. I could fire you. I could fire you like THAT!" On the word that he stomped his foot and put his face only inches away from mine, still the same grimace engraved upon his aging skin. "What. Is. Going. On?" he demanded. I could smell his putrid breath as he snarled, much like that of an angry canine.
"I... I was j-just washing my hands, sir," I stammered, trying to come up with something believable. "I was just preparing for the day." He just stood there with that menacing look on his face and I couldn't tell whether he'd bought it or not.
After a few moments and a second look around the room, he spoke again, "Well your attempts have been for nothing. You still wreak like wet dog." He then walked over to where the time cards were hung on the wall. He picked up mine and his grimace sank about ten levels deeper. "Where you late this morning?!?"
I figured honesty was the best policy. Plus, he had proof right in his hand. "Yes," I said helplessly. "You see, I was..."
"ENOUGH!" he pronounced, cutting me off. "Ten minutes late is not, under any circumstances, EVER acceptable. Your shift will start twenty minutes earlier tomorrow."
I was furious at this point. "But that's not..."
"But that's not nearly as severe as the punishment you should be receiving," he said, cutting me off once again. "That will be forty minutes. Would you like to make it an hour?" His glare was uglier than ever before at this point. I was surprised steam wasn't shooting from his ears.
"No, sir," I replied, knowing there was no way of getting out of this.
"Good. Now I've got a customer out there waiting for you. Go. NOW," he said so forcefully that I nearly jumped. As fast as I could I scrambled to grab a menu and dashed out of the kitchen.
