Is It Safe To Be Bored?
Hotstuff: that sounds like a good plan.
He sent me this text early in the morning, I had just opened the store on the busiest day of the week; Sunday.
Truck was scheduled to arrive on Monday, at 1 pm. It would come earlier, but the people who supply my stock are located at the bottom of the mountain.
Luckily, Sans worked that day. So, putting the things away shouldn't take long. And I don't have to close for 30 minutes to get it finished.
Me: I'm glad you think so. Now is just the problem of creating and designing the cards to be aesthetically pleasing enough for people to like them.
Hotstuff: I could put you in contact with someone who helped me out when I came to the surface if you're interested?
Me: oh absolutely! Send them my way.
Placing my phone upside down on the counter I tried my best to continue with work. To keep things up to date on my servsafe certificate. Making sure everything was in order. I still haven't gotten my audit for this year. And the time was drawing to a close. So, they're bound to show up any week now.
I sighed, filling out the end of the 6 month temp-log book. Boredom aching through every fiber of my being. Everything was stocked, cleaned, dated, at temp. If the person walked in right now, I would be set.
Drumming on the counter I waited for the next customer. It was halfway through the day already, exhaustion filled my soul.
When was my last day off anyway? It's not like I would spend it doing anything besides working.
Thinking like that tends to send me spiraling down a dark path. So I quickly stopped it in its path.
A glance at the clock showed my rush would be here any minute. As soon as one person appeared, the rest would follow.
So I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
A person walked by the windows outside. They kept walking. And I waited.
I watched the second hand of the analog clock tick away the seconds of my life I would never get back. I stopped my thoughts. Cleared it away.
And waited.
I checked my phone once more, no new messages.
Standing I glanced around, my stock was ready. A look into the kitchen showed the timers on the ovens haven't gone off yet.
I stood back up front and watched out the window.
And waited.
Getting lost in a daydream where I finally grew my cafe empire, big enough to tear down Starbucks. Taking over as a cafe in a bookstore. I didn't hear the bell ring, staring off at the menu. Someone cleared their throat, declaring their existence to me.
Jolting in place I turned.
"Hi, welcome in. What can I get you?" And the rush began.
After this one came four more.
The store was empty for a few seconds before six more arrived.
My heart swelled with pride as people kept coming in. Ordering more and more from the menu, cups running low, new muffins and other delights creeping to the end of their respective trays.
By the end of it, the sun was low in the sky. And the streets looked empty as people fled to wherever their lives continued on.
My existence is already fleeting in their minds as they throw away their trash. And finished their delights.
I checked my phone.
No new messages.
I restocked the items in their trays, the cups. Lids. Cleaned the mugs, used by a few people who actually stayed.
I stocked my napkins, the spoons. Sugar, different milks, the very few tea products I provide.
My container of coffee was half full. I knew already it would last for the rest of the night. So, making more would be wasteful.
I placed the muffins that weren't used in the discount bin, ready for the next day. A dollar off, just for the fact that it was a day older.
Those were always a hit.
Cleaned and prepped for further business and I waited.
And waited.
Buzzing drew me out of my waiting trance, my eyes flickered around in order to find the source.
My phones screen, lit up with an incoming call. I check the ID. It wasn't a number I had saved before.
I answered regardless of my usual rule to ignore unknown numbers.
"Hello?"
"Oh muffin, I was beginning to wonder if I got the wrong number!" A familiar voice paired with the deep rumble that always caused my heart to do somersaults rolled through on the other end.
I fell silent, debating whether to hang up or not. He has been messaging me nonstop. This asshole was no longer the main thought on my mind anymore. He can't hurt me any. more.
Curiosity and anger won in the end.
"The hell do you want?" My voice lowered, practically growling into the phone myself.
"Now now Peach, you know what tone I want from you."
I decided not to dignify that with a response.
"I know it was you who snitched."
"You-"
"I'm not done. Stop interrupting. " Instead of somersaults, my heart dropped and my stomach churned.
"I'm willing to forgive this indiscretion. You know that. I've always been able to forgive your shortcomings before."
"I-"
"Enough." My jaw clicked shut, a shock of pain shot into my temple with the force and speed of the action.
"I want my stuff back. And then you'll have my forgiveness, little nutmeg."
He paused long enough for me to gain the courage to speak.
"How did you get out?"
"They didn't find enough evidence to convict me, dear."
I fell silent again, but instead of fear. It was unbridled rage coursing through my blood.
"I'll be there in four days. Have my things ready. And I'll give you my forgiveness."
My hand was shaking as the call ended. Tears sprung to my eyes and a million thoughts ran through my head.
I changed the lock on my doors.
He can't hurt me in public.
I could have someone there.
I could call the police.
He can't be out.
He can't.
He can't.
Not after what he did.
The bell rang and I shot up in place, my hand instinctively grabbing the nearest item as a weapon.
It was a spoon.
"Hey, whoa uh.. you okay? You look pale." It was just B.P. I nodded. Willing my emotions away, trying to hide the tremor in my hands.
"Hey B.P. been a minute. What can I get you?"
"Um.." he watched me carefully, looked as if he was going to say something but changed it at the last minute. "I got a big order for ya.".
I smiled shakily, but it didn't fool either of us.
He handed over a slip of paper and I got to work.
The monotonous action of preparing his fourteen drinks eased my mind ever so slightly. One by one they lined up on the counter, I laid out large drink carriers for him to use. And slipped each meticulous drink inside. Each labeled with their respective order inside.
"Alright, that'll be $61.04." I grimaced at the large amount totalled up. B.P. didn't even flinch, he pulled out a fifty and a twenty.
"And, y'know. Could you put this change to nicecreams drink if he comes in?"
"Of course." I grinned, the action coming easier than it did before. The shaking of my hands faded.
"Cool. Have a good one." With his arms balancing the drink carriers, he left.
The silence folded over me. My mind was desperately trying to find something else to focus on, something that wasn't the recent phone call.
Something that wasn't the terrifying concept of him knowing where I work. Where I live. Where I sleep.
Something else. Something kind. Something work related.
Creamers. Creamer orders. Right.
Paperwork, fill out paperwork.
Hands shaking softly, I pulled out the proper papers that should help me sign on monsters as partners in my endeavor to broaden my businesses capabilities.
The words and numbers blurred together, but I willed myself to read it anyway.
By signing this l, _______ _______ agree to- Okay, sign my name here first.
A deep breath in, hold. Then out.
By honoring this agreement ______ will hensforth.
Wait what. I missed something.
My eyes jumped down the page, I scanned the first line again. Unable to process what it said.
By signing this I, _______ _______ agree
to-
Agree to what.
By signing this I, _______ _______ agree to partner with-
My eyes swam, the words played on repeat, over and over and over again.
By signing this I, _______ _______ agree to partner with-
By signing this I, _______ _______ agree to partner with-
By signing this I, _______ _______ agree to partner with-
By signing this I, _______ _______ agree to partner with-
Nope, can't do this right now.
Defeated, I slid the papers away and held my face in my hands. Fingers covering my mouth, I watched my phone in silence. My mind drew blanks as I forced the memories from my head.
There was a reason I called the police.
There was a reason I compiled a list of evidence to incarcerate his ass.
There was a reason I blocked his number.
There was a reason I changed all the locks on my apartment, on my store.
There was a reason I have a gun under my counter.
My eyes were unfocused, but they snapped back when the phone began to buzz again.
I watched as it slid itself, a number I didn't know danced on the screen.
Buzz. buzz. buzz. It stopped.
Buzz. buzz. buzz. Stop.
Buzz. buzz. buzz. Stop.
Buzz. buzz. buzz. I picked up the phone.
"..." I couldn't speak. Fear gripped my throat.
"Hello? " A voice on the other end asked when I didn’t say anything. This wasn't him.
"Yeah?" I replied, my voice impossibly soft. The person on the other side, the gender unknown to me. Called asking my name, saying Grillby had sent them my number.
"Oh, you're the graphic designer?"
"Of sorts. Yeah."
"Grand. I was waiting for your call." My voice grew more confident the longer the talk took place.
The conversation only lasted maybe 10 minutes, at the end of which. We scheduled a meeting on Wednesday of next week. At 3 pm. A perfect time for me to dip out of the store and meet them somewhere.
The dial tone beeps when I hang up. I place it upside down and watch out the window. The sky was dark, the time read 8 p.m.
And I really didn't want to be there anymore.
I didn't want to be anywhere anymore.
Time passed by without my interpretation of it. It was both the slowest it's ever been, but also faster than I was expecting. A few more people popped in at the last minute to get a late night coffee.
One of my regulars, Tim. And his brother. The poor kid went to college further down the mountain and found time to make his way up here for a cup.
He always claimed I make the best kind, and never questioned the amount of espresso I put in there.
I do, just not out loud.
And a few newer customers I haven't seen before, my mind was too exhausted to mark any identifiers. So, I probably wouldn't recognize them if they came in again.
At 9:30 pm. I decided to close early. My bones feel heavier than they have in months. And my mind wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and forget I ever existed.
—----
"hey boss, where do I put the uh… this?" I look over at Sans, he was holding the mix for the pumpkin spice muffins.
"C'mon Sans. Think outside the box." I grinned. He snorted and shook his head. Gesturing with the item once more.
I rolled my eyes. "It's over in the corner, next to the blueberry and sweet potato ones."
Placing a date on another product I slid it away from the back entrance as the man rolled in with another dolly in tow.
"This'll be the last one."
"Thanks, you're a doll." I signed his clipboard and he groaned as he left the building. Muttering something like ' as if I don't hear that forty times a day. '
I grinned anyway and locked the door after him.
Placing the last items from the truck away, went by even quicker with sans by my side. No one else came in to order anything. And conversation with Sans always seemed to pass time well.
After I got home the night before, I promptly passed out face first in my bed. I hadn’t even kicked off my shoes yet.
Woke up two hours earlier than usual from an uncomfortable dream about him. And decided to go to work early, just to make sure everything was in order.
Sans leaned on his elbows against the counter next to me as I flipped to the correct page in my book.
“question.” He said.
“Answer.” I replied.
“how come you had to make that trip down the mountain for the coffee. but, not for this stuff?”
“Oh, well my coffee supplier is a different company than who I get the rest of my product from.”
He nodded like he understood, but with the blank expression on his face i decided to continue for him.
“I buy my coffee in bulk from my brother who grinds the beans himself. It was a way to save money at the beginning while also knowing the quality and helping both myself and him when we started out. Now, it’s just ‘ my coffee’ yknow?”
He took a seat next to me and continued to listen. One of my favorite things about this employee is how kind he looks while listening to me ramble.
“And I signed a contract with some people who create some items I wanted to sell, like the muffin batter, and flavored syrups. Then, through them, I found a way to design my logo and place it on items I needed. So, I got napkins, muffin sleeves, bags, cups, and so on. And now I just get it all at once from the same guy. One truck a week.”
He laid his head on his hand and continued to watch me. I decided to put my book to the side and face him fully, I didn’t expect him to be so interested in my business.
“My coffee creamers are a different story. My friend Mike, he’s a guy i knew in college, he wanted to start a business no one’s heard of. I mentioned something about coffee creamers, and now he gets his work supplying local business with powdered mixes. Now I’m working with him to get some flavors that some locals might like.”
“right, like fish and snail.”
“Yeah!”
“cool.” I couldn’t help but smile at him. He seems so genuine about everything we talk about.
“what are you going to do about the cards?”
“I’m meeting with a graphic designer that Grillby sent me, on Wednesday.”
“ah. neat.”
“Yep.”
“and who-“ sans didn’t get a chance to say anything else before the door burst open. Interrupting him. The metal frame slamming the wall before the bell even went off. I think it startled the sound along with everything else in the store.
I snapped my head in surprise towards the commotion. It was a very tall skeleton. Sans usually wears some vest and kahki pants, maybe some dress shoes. Like he has something to prove when he comes in. But, this other unnamed skeleton was dressed as if they were a designer.
Slick black jacket, scarf around their neck, button down shirt, steam pressed pants and pointed black leather shoes.
“SANS!” And now they’re yelling.
“oh, hey paps.”
I look between both of them. Sans had such a calm demeanor so it probably wasn’t a problem. But, the other one seemed tense.
I could have sworn I've heard Sans talk about a ‘paps’ before.
“SITTING ON THE JOB?! YOU WERE LAZY EVEN DURING YOUR SENTRY DAYS!”
My eyebrows furrowed. What the hell is this one even talking about?
“Excuse me?” I tried not to make my tone incredulous. That’s just how it came out.
Sans must have noticed something because he was standing. Maybe he also didn’t like the tone this other skeleton was giving and decided to remedy it.
I didn’t like anything about this interaction.
“And who the hell are you? Storming in here, slamming my door, and yelling at my employee?”
“no, no no. it’s fine.” Sans tried to garner my attention from this stranger. Calling my name softly a few times. “this is my brother. he means well. promise.”
“OH, MY APOLOGIES MA’AM. SANS FORGOT HIS LUNCH, I CAME BY TO DROP IT OFF. I DIDN’T MEAN ANY OFFENSE.”
I watched this stranger warily, my eyes flickering between sans and his brother. I nodded and sat down, when did I start standing?
Taking a deep breath as I did so.
I used to have a good relationship with my siblings. Not anymore.
“Sorry, I’m protective of my employees.” I tried to remedy.
“AND MY FIRST INSTINCT WHEN I SAW THIS LAZYBONES SITTING WAS THAT HE WASN’T BEING A GOOD EMPLOYEE.”
I tried really hard not to snort at the lazybones thing.
“Yeah, but I’m right here. If he wasn’t allowed, I wouldn't have given him the seat in the first place.”
“right. uh, paps, this is my boss.” The way Sans gave my name to his brother was soft. “ ‘n this is papyrus.”
“THE GREAT PAPYRUS.” Papyrus seemed to whisper as he reached out his hand to shake mine, I’m not usually a touchy person but I did it anyway. This skeleton shook my very soul out of my chest with the way he shook my hand.
Damn.
“Nice to meetcha.”
“AND YOU AS WELL. SORRY ABOUT YOUR DOOR.”
I shrugged. Glancing at said door, it looked fine. Still opened and closed, it seemed. And the wall didn’t look as though it took any damage either.
“No biggie, want to order anything?”
“NO.”
I couldn’t help but snort at the delivery. A glance out of the corner of my eye showed Sans had placed his hand on his face. Sort of hiding himself from this interaction.
“Alright. Is there anything else we can do for you?”
He seemed to think about it for a second before shaking his head.
“WELL I’M OFF, I’LL SEE YOU LATER SANS. HAVE A GOOD DAY!”
“yeah, you too paps.”
And with that, the tall skeleton took off with a flourish.
Interesting.
“Well.” I tried. Sans’ shoulders shook with a silent laughter.
“no.”
“Okay, then.”