Life of a commoner: 3
" WELCOME TO THE QUEENS MUSEUM OF NORWAY! " An enthusiastic voice boomed throughout the old building with a bunch of people barging inside in excitement and pure curiosity.
" This way! Yeah! Nancy! I need help with the art section! " A woman in a dark blue shirt with her hair loosely hanging down on her back yelled to her colleague, who was also welcoming numerous visitors, who were flooding through the entrance glancing around curiously.
" This stands for the beauty of the ocean. Our artist has shown... " The woman was explaining to the visitors pointing at the crystal blue painting. With plenty of people moving by, the woman often looked around searching for someone.
" Where's she? Nancy, didn't you tell her that it was an important auction today!? " she hissed like a Timebomb waiting to go off into the earpiece, glaring at her colleague Nancy, who just gulped down from the other corner.
" I'm sorry, ma'am. I did remind her that today was the auction. But I guess— " Before Nancy, the short blond could apologise in worry, she was rudely cut off in the mid-sentence by the Timebomb-like lady.
" I don't need your silly excuses, Nancy! If she fails to attend the auction within ten minutes, get my word. I'm getting both of you out of the museum. " she gritted her teeth while smiling at the visitors innocently.
" Girl, I'm going to sue you if you get me thrown out of the museum! " Nancy internally hissed to herself when the grey-haired woman they were all searching for from the morning, huffed inside the museum ducking behind a cardboard box to which Nancy had her eyes glued, absentmindedly.
Nancy didn't notice the big blue eyes staring at her from behind the cardboard until the grey hair suddenly shone brightly due to the ceiling light and both the co-workers made eye contact.
" AVA! " Nancy didn't even wait to scream as she was sure that no one would find her abnormal in the middle of the auction while all the others were bidding their prices on many other things they wanted.
Ava, the big-eyed woman popped out of the cardboard, quickly taking her place in the arts section, standing like an apple-shaped mannequin posing for a photo shoot, as if she couldn't see her blond co-worker screaming her lungs out like a mad woman on fire.
The woman, who constantly threw the blame on Nancy spotted Ava in the middle of the auction after the ten minutes countdown she gave to Nancy.
Both co-workers didn't dare to look at each other nor did the woman and quickly slipped away with any chances they got.
It was soon their lunch, Ava was politely bowing to some visitors, who passed her stand to go to the lunch hall when she was suddenly yanked back into the dresser section of the workers, only to get her head flicked by Nancy.
" Do you know how the Timebomb was staring at me like I just killed her dog and made him a soup?! Can't you come in time for once, Ms Ava Winslow?! "
Ava Winslow, the lazy co-worker of Nancy Debrew had short grey hair with foamy blue eyes. She's 5'5 with chubby cheeks that always stand out for her appearance. She lived with her elder brother, Xavier Winslow. They're currently in their Grandparents' custody as they lost their parents a long time ago in an accident.
Ava dropped out of her studies when her brother got on a job as an archaeologist, they moved out of their Grandparents' house, hoping to lessen their burden. Though Xavier urged his sister to continue her studies, she gently rejected the offer confessing her desire of doing something for herself.
She then successfully got a job in the Queens Museum where she met Nancy, one of her childhood friends from middle school.
" I'm so sorry, Nancy. I just overslept. " Ava quickly tried to run away from the angry woman, knowing she wouldn't let her go without a long spicy lecture about how irresponsible she was.
" You always do! I told you today was the auction, yet you overslept?! If I hadn't constantly made calls to your brother time by time, as you already have your mobile on mute, you wouldn't have woken up until tomorrow's important exhibition while I'd be thrown out of the museum with both of our resignation letters! " Nancy jumped up and down, her bun jiggling meanwhile where Ava was just blinking innocently, thinking of some believable excuses which could be so lame like: She got late because her sausages didn't come out right.
" Fine, fine, I'm here now. Don't worry. Tomorrow, I'll be on time. "
" I don't believe you. " Nancy snapped.
" But you believe my brother, right? Yeah, you do. So, he'll make sure to wake me up in time. Now, I have work. " Ava quickly escaped from Nancy's grip in the short span of time, running into the dining hall.
Ava fished out her mobile from her skirt pocket and dialled her brother's number once she was away from Nancy's view.
" Hey, have you reached in time? " Xavier immediately asked not even answering with a hello.
" Hello to you too, brother, yeah, I practically made it on time before the Timebomb gave both mine and Nancy's resigning letter, "
" Thank God, then, just stay in Nancy's house tonight, don't come home. " Xavier said walking around his small cabin with a small paper clutched to his other hand.
" What? Why? "
" Because Nancy said there's an important auction tomorrow and I can even assure you that the sun would rise in the West but I definitely can't lie that you'll wake up on time. " he pasted the small paper that contained a small copy of an old abandoned lake.
" Then cook your own food today! " Ava grumbled in complete irritation.
" I'm doing it every day, you don't have to remind me. "
" Ahh, just get off. bye, "
There's no use arguing anymore. She had to stay at Nancy's tonight. Nancy was more than relieved to hear the matter because she did need not to be the victim of several attacks tomorrow by waiting for her friend to show up.
Then the evening, the friends departed together to the nearby cafe to get their usual takeaway coffee. Nancy gave a warm smile to the counter guy and gave him their order while Ava rolled her eyes and looked around for a while before sneaking her hand into a cookie jar and stealing a cookie without the counter guy's notice.
A slightly fat and short woman handed them their takeaway coffee cups before slapping Ava's hand which had the cookie.
" Oh my, Grandma! " Ava whined on impulse, rubbing her hand with the other forearm, slightly glaring at her grandmother for slapping her hand.
" If you want a cookie, then ask Felix, don't steal. " Ava's grandmother, Margret Jonathan pointed to the counter guy who only chuckled at Ava's scowl and handed her a tiny paper bag which she snatched from his hold immediately, mumbling incoherent words about how they should not stop her unconditional love for those cookies.
" How's your brother then? He told me he'll get you to dinner this weekend at our home... "
" Dinner? Nah, I'm not available, Margret, I have many things to do, " Ava quickly shook her head.
" I'll cook your favourite food. You never attend the lunches at least come to the dinner, " Margret only pleaded with soft eyes while Ava munched on the cookies from the paper bag, completely unbothered by the adult.
" What is she saying? " An old man wearing a pastel green apron came into view from the kitchen slightly rubbing on his reddened neck while trying to fan himself.
" Oh, hello, old man, I said I'm not going to come! " Ava yelled to her grandfather, Grey Jonathan, who only frowned with a sigh.
" Why don't you attend the dinner? Xavier too agreed to come, Ava, "
" No, I'm not coming I have plenty of work to do at the weekend—
" Which is to sleep from dawn to dusk with your blanket covering you from head to toe, is that right? " Grey rolled his eyes while his granddaughter from his daughter just shrugged.
" Sorry, not sorry, "
" If you're not coming by yourself then the dinner will be at your place— " Before Margret could threaten the young lady, she quickly placed some dollars over the counter and tossed the remaining cookies into her bag before walking to the exit also dragging Nancy with her.
" Never going to happen, Margret! Best of luck though, take care, guys and you, take care of my old people! " she bid goodbye to everyone in common before pointing at Felix with an order, who chuckled nodding.
" Hey, wait, coffees! " Nancy came running again and snatched the takeaway cups from the counter after flashing the old couple a smile.
" Remind him to apply his ointment and stay away from peanuts, old man! " Ava finally yelled before disappearing into the crowd and leaving behind her old grandparents.
" This girl is always stubborn, just like her father, " Grey grumbled rubbing his neck again with an annoyed sigh while Felix, the counter guy smiled searching for an ointment from his drawer and handing it to the old man.
" Put it on before she calls us again just to yell if you applied it or not, " he gave him not bothering about Grey's previous comment.
" Don't even talk bad about her father like that, Grey, if your daughter was alive she would have made you a broccoli soup which Xavier could also do. " Margret warned Grey, who looked shaken up.
" And stay away from peanut, you should've just told me if there were peanut sandwich orders. " she gently applied the ointment on her husband's neck as Felix only smiled and went to look after his work again.
Felix was one of Ava's old schoolmates and a good guy, who had been helping Ava's grandparents with all their work in the cafe though he had a lot of work at night as an intern in the nearby medical center.
" This song is nice. Ava, can we dance for a bit? " Nancy asked when she entered her small comfortable apartment as Ava clicked on the music player on her mobile.
" Not interested, lady, I just want to— " Before Ava could refuse with probably any silly reason, Nancy had pulled her into the middle of the tiny hall and urged her to vibe with her. Ava huffed but smiled, moving along to the music while Nancy held her hands and danced as if they were couples.
Nancy always liked dancing and dance was everything to the woman when she was in high school. Nancy was a professional dancer from her very childhood and had participated in every interschool and outer competition. She might've gone to national levels if she hadn't stopped her studies in the midway to help her elder sister move out of the city.
About Ava, she was completely useless and a human-sized sloth that do nothing even if it was to move her own limb an inch. She never really liked dancing but just moved her hands and hips for Nancy's sake.
Nancy guided her to the right steps but Ava got everything wrong and often stepped on Nancy's foot and as time passed by, they just laughed it off and fell on the couch.
Ava made herself home in Nancy's place and took a long shower with some music playing in the background after dinner. Nancy went to sleep long ago after almost choking Ava to sleep, nevertheless, the night owl escaped from her hold and got into the shower in the mid of the night.
Her mind was empty when she stepped out of the bathroom in a bathrobe, her wet her wrapped in a big bundle over her head. She moved straight to the small balcony without disturbing Nancy's sleep.
The ever lasted busy roadway was still illuminated by dimmed and brightening yellow lights while the red ruby lights on the road moved like a ray to their destination wherever the people were headed to.
Ava shuddered in the feeling of the cold night wind hitting her face gently, her eyes sparkling at the road as she gently wandered her eyes around the wide city with a small smile.
" Xavier... " she mumbled under her breath and stepped inside the room again, searching for her mobile which she spotted under the cookie paper bag. She settled on the cosy armchair and clicked open the mobile as the screen too flashed her brother's message as expected.
(Message like texts are mentioned without double or single quotes. )
God of history:
Hey night bird go to sleep soon. Don't stay awake.
I hope you had your dinner.
In case if you haven't or planning to binge watch any series, there's an apple in your bag.
At least eat that and keep the auction in mind.
I have a meeting tomorrow. I won't be home until late night
Sent 10:08 PM
Hey! I forgot to tell you
I found something related to the Bristol Civilization I have to tell you everything so don't go to sleep early tomorrow. Wait for me
Bye, sleep tight!
Sent 10:26 PM
Hopefully Adopted:
Fine bro
I ate dinner and I met old man and Margret today at the cafe. I'll tell you everything tomorrow.
Yeah yeah I'll wait
All the best for the meeting
Night night!
Sent 11:51 PM
Ava smiled and turned her phone down, straightening to take a deep breath before making her way into the room while the bright moon glistened far away from the young woman.
Ava rested her head on the pillow and closed her eyes instantly drifting off to sleep without bothering about anything.
To be continued
DhiraDhi_Writes