Chapter 10: Tiger's Kitchen

When I showed up at the kitchen, I wheezed out, "I'm sorry. I'm late." I scanned the kitchen and realized that it was only Mrs. Gailon and Nick frowning at me. "Where's Ruth?" I asked.

"She's gone, Kelsey," Mrs. Gailon replied. "She finished early and stormed out."

"Yeah. She left like an hour ago," Nick confirmed.

"Oh…" I said in a deflated voice. I stumbled over to the dishes and began washing.

Mrs. Gailon wasn't done with me though. She added, "I hope you have a good explanation, young lady. I'm not happy with you either. I told Ruth you wanted lessons and now you've made me a liar. Really, Kelsey, you haven't even been here a week and you are already being unreliable. You should know better than this. It could mean real trouble, especially since we're still in your hometown."

"This circus is my home," I said cutting off whatever else she planned to say. I refused to let Sarah, Mrs. Gailon or anyone else make me believe I belonged in Oregon. It wasn't my home.

I heard Mrs. Gailon sigh and she asked me. "Do you understand what I'm saying?" At the change in her tone, I turned around to face her and the rest of the kitchen. Both Nick and Mrs. Gailon looked grave. Then it hit me. Ruth could have me fired before my first show, before I even left Oregon. All of that sense of purpose I'd felt with Lisa felt silly now. Why didn't I stop when my alarm went off for dinner? I had just endangered my position here. I could lose my home again just like that.

My throat was dry, but I rasped out, "I just forgot the time. I ran over here when I realized how late I was. I mean, how upset was Ruth? I messed up, but the lessons were optional right?" It wasn't much, but it was all I had.

"True," Mrs. Gailon said in a voice that said it really wasn't, "But those lessons were for your benefit and were a gift from your boss. You didn't tell anyone you weren't coming. It's poor showmanship, Kelsey, and Ruth will take it personally. Mark my words."

"She said she was going to cook your butt tomorrow and force you to eat it," Nick whispered to me as he filled the dessert fruit bowl. He looked dead serious. I gulped. I was seriously screwed.

The next day, I found out how screwed I was. I showed up extra early, but it didn't help. Ruth was sharper than a kitchen knife. "Kelsey Hayes," she said as I entered. I braced myself, but she said nothing else.

I began, "I'm really sorry. I-"

Ruth sliced through my explanation by saying, "I don't want to hear it today, Kelsey Hayes. Just shut it."

So, I did and we ate in silence. I found myself praying for someone else to show up and finally Chris did. I didn't like Chris all that much. His humor was a little too inappropriate for me, but he was better than nothing.

Even with Chris, KP was oddly quiet. I could feel my armpits sweating. Chris didn't even try to mess with me. The 2 hours went by slowly, but they passed. As soon as my phone read 8 am. I headed to the door.

"Hold it right there Kelsey Hayes," Ruth said still chopping some vegetables and not turning around. Chris grinned. He had been waiting for this I realized. But then Ruth said, "Get out of here, Chris. I need to have a word with Kelsey."

Chris frowned. "I just-"

"Out!" Ruth said. Chris reluctantly left. Ruth put down her knife. She turned and looked at me, "And you." I swallowed. Here it was. "I got some words for you. And you're not leaving till I'm done. Your animals can wait."

I wanted to object. I did, but her glare stopped me. "I'm tired of you acting like you belong here just cause your parents worked here. You think making up with your old girlfriend and entering the show is more important than your job, Kelsey Hayes? Well, you've got bigger problems. You can't cook, you can't show up on time, and you can't be trusted. You're lucky you're still here and it's time you start acting like it."

She continued, "You can forget what I said about the afternoons and the dinner shift. Wednesdays you're here with me all day so you can't be late more than once. I don't have time to deal with excuses, Kelsey Hayes. I need a worker who can work. Until I get that, your free time on Wednesdays and show days and any other days is mine. I'm not going to ask if you understand. Either show up or pack up. Now get the hell out of my kitchen!" Ruth whipped around and went back to her work. I was dismissed.

I stared at her. She couldn't be serious. My schedule had been hard enough and now no free time? Did that include personal development? Lisa was finally better. I was ready to start practicing in earnest. "I'm really sorry that I was late again, but you can't-" I began.

"I can and I have. You don't have time to be talking with me, Kelsey Hayes. Clean up that poop and be back here by 9 am," Ruth responded.

That meant no personal development time. "This isn't fair!" I argued, "Just because I missed one lesson that doesn't mean-"

Ruth whirled around, knife in hand. I took an involuntary step back. "I thought I said to get out of my kitchen." Her eyes had something dark in them as she held that knife. My whole body screamed danger as I left the kitchen.

Then I was out of the cafeteria. I felt myself breaking into a cold sweat. Ruth was scary. I always knew that, but knowing and seeing were two different things. As angry as she was, I wasn't just going to lie down and take it. Her idea of punishment was overkill. I couldn't not train. That's what I came here to do. She might not see it that way, but I had an idea of who might.

By the time I had reached Mr. Maurizio's RV, my hope had turned into desperation. I banged on his door. He swung it open. When he saw me, all of the jovialness evaporated out of him. "Ah," he said. "Kelsey, I was expecting you."

I sped through the words. "Ruth wants to take away all of my free time, including my personal development which is the only time that I get to practice."

"Ah yes, Ruth, she did tell me about that," he said.

"And?" I exclaimed.

"Well…you see, Ruth is-"

"Mr. Maurizio," I cut him off. I knew the man liked to appease both sides, but I didn't have time for BS, "Please don't tell me that you approved this new schedule. It's ridiculous. Just because I missed one optional lesson, doesn't mean I should lose all my time to practice. I didn't even come here to cook. I came here to perform. And I can't perform if I can't practice." My voice was rising involuntarily.

"Mi patatina, please calm down," Mr. Maurizio said. He stepped down in front of me and closed the door to his RV. "I understand you are angry, but Ruth, she is angry too. You've upset the cook and she has upset your stomach as they say." He gave a false laugh.

I glared at the man who had founded this circus with my parents. He was trying to get me to see reason, but I wasn't having it. He wasn't speaking reason. "You know this isn't right, Mr. Maurizio. So, are you going to help me, or not?"

Mr. Maurizio looked uncomfortable for a moment. He sighed and for the second time, since coming here I saw the twinkle in his eyes vanish, "Kelsey, it is not that simple. I am not the king of the circus. I cannot command Ruth to undo your punishment. I must speak with her and convince her it is too strict, but that will be hard work. She is very angry with you. She believes you are not taking circus life seriously."

"Me? Of course, I'm taking it seriously. That's why I'm so upset," I said.

"No, mi patatina, that is not what she means. The circus is a family. You must do your chores in every family, yes? We help each other here. I know you know this. Even as a child, you did your chores. You remember, yes?"

I did. I mostly went to school, but I would feed the cats, serve food sometimes or go grocery shopping. During shows, Cathleen, Keith and I would do the merch tent like Bob and Bradley did now. Everyone had to chip in in the circus. I had never minded before. But this was different, I thought. I couldn't perform as a kid but I was still able to practice a lot.

Mr. Maurizio took me away from my thoughts and continued, "Ruth, she is trying to help you and you…Well the thrill over preparing a new act, it is intoxicating. But it was not the time. Cooking is how you will join the circus again. Then I shall make sure that you are in the big top with the rest of the family." His eyes came alive again.

I frowned. I got what he was saying, but, "Ruth is absolutely furious. I don't think just cooking will help."

"Just cooking is the only thing that will help. Ruth is fiery, yes, but if you work hard, I will too. She will come around if we try our best. I have seen it before." There was certainty in his eyes. "Will you trust me, Kelsey, and do as Ruth says in the meantime?"

I wanted to protest. I wanted to tell him that he was wrong, but I couldn't. I had lost. "Alright," I said, "I'll do my best."

Mr. Maurizio gripped my shoulder, "That's it, mi patatina. You'll get through this. Just work hard!"

I just nodded and pretended to listen after that. It was over.

Soon, Mr. Maurizio went back into his RV. Then I took a deep breath and went to the enclosures.

Once I got there, I glanced at my phone. I had less than 45 minutes. I'd have to be quick again today and tomorrow and the next day and for every day in the foreseeable future. I stifled a groan. Work hard, he had said. Hard work is right.

A/N: Week 2