Chapter 2: Now and When
My mind was relatively empty during my commute, I did my best to try not to think about yet another day at work. However, that peace was broken as soon as I started to enter the town center where I worked. People walking on the sidewalks with cars driving up and down the roads. I continued down the pavement when I finally turned the corner and arrived at my destination: Odale Town Mart. Outside was our crier, handing out free Potion samples. Being the only major grocery Mart in our town, we always had customers going in and out. If I worked register, I would've probably begged for death ages ago. Inside I walked into the employees room and checked in. There I saw two of my coworkers, Alena and Martin. We frequently speak to each other during break and during work but I don't think I'd consider them friends per say.
"Hey Lowen!"
"Sup, Lowen!"
"Hey guys, how's it going?"
"Oh you know, ready for another day of getting yelled at by a customer because their coupon expired two days ago." Alena says sarcastically.
"Ouch, there's a story there"
Martin stands up from his seat. "Ay, you should give 'em some attitude back ya know? Just a bit, eh?"
"As much as I'd love to do that, I don't think it's worth the risk of getting fired!"
Martin sits back down and crosses his arms. "I wouldn't let anyone give me that shit"
"Yeah and that's why you work in the back!"
Alena's smug response towards Martin gets a chuckle out of all us.
Suddenly out of the back door an intimidating figure approaches us, my boss, our boss!
"Alright, that's enough out of you three, we got a lotta work today, new shipment just came in so we need to take inventory and get them on the shelves." He boasts.
Sure, he was intimidating, but he wasn't all too bad. Since I'm the youngest of the staff that lived alone, he sometimes let me take home some produce like bread, milk, eggs, stuff that wouldn't really be missed or noticed I was freeloading off of. In that regard, he was very kind to me.
Martin turns to me. "That's our cue, dude. Let's get to it."
Martin and I make our way to the backroom.
"Good luck today, guys!" Alena says as she gently waves to us.
The backroom was dim and cold. Mostly due to the produce and freezers being everywhere. Boss wasn't kidding around, lots of boxes stacked up high with all sorts of items such as groceries, potions, and Pokéballs. Since we were mainly a grocery Mart, most of this was simply food.
I once again tried to get my mind off of work, maybe thinking about how I'm gonna get myself OUT of work. I felt bad taking a few days off when boss was so generous with me, and I'd feel bad leaving all this work to Martin…
"Hey man, you've been pretty quiet lately." Martin suddenly says as he's moving the contents out of his box onto the cart.
I didn't feel like being honest, Martin was a chill guy but he wasn't the type of person I'd really share my thoughts to. I didn't really know what to say, despite that, however. I quickly came up with anything that came to mind.
"Just been feeling a little sick, is all. Hoping to get this done quick so maybe Boss can let me go early you know?"
Martin looks up and stares at me briefly.
"You don't look that sick to me, man."
Several seconds of silence go by as we go to our next boxes to unpack
"Dude, you know what you need?" He stops unpacking to look at me with a wide grin.
"You need some action, dude. Meet some women, man. While you're still young."
Strangely, I wasn't offended or annoyed as I thought I'd be. I was way over my last relationship but it did have it's…benefits. I wasn't someone with many urges or cravings, life in general keeps my mind off that stuff, but maybe I should look into dating again.
"Bro, I could hook you up ya know? I know some girls who'd be into you, dude."
"Hah, I'll pass 'dude'" I say as I scoffed
"C'mon, we still got a lot of work to do, boss will kill us if we don't get this shit out soon"
"Pfft, alright dude suit yourself, but if you change your mind, I gotchu covered." Martin exclaims as he returns to unpacking and loading the carts.
After several hours, Martin and I finished unpacking and loading up the shelves with all sorts of products, making sure they're lined up neatly and priced accordingly. It was a bit satisfying, to be honest. Despite the hard manual labor, the payoff of having shelves neatly ordered and display was pretty rewarding. These are things I couldn't say about Martin's aisles but it made me feel all that better about my handiwork.
Finally, however, it was break time. Which meant it was time to put my plan into action. I make my way into the employees' room where I see Martin and Alena arguing about something over their lunches, strangely there wasn't many other employees hanging about. Towards the back of the room was the entrance to my boss's office.
I stop just before the door as I suddenly think to myself:
What do I say?
I've never been something to ask things from by boss…he was my boss; he's supposed to ask things of me. I was so deep in thought that I didn't even notice my boss's door opening.
"…Lowen?" a voice says.
Suddenly I snap back to reality right in front of him, not sure what to really say or do. I stammer on my words a bit unable to really begin what I wanted to say.
"Looks like you got something on your mind, why don't you come in?"
His office was as neat as an office in a Mart could be, flyers and notes on the wall, delivery invoices and forms scattered about his desk. Spreadsheets on his computer monitor showing schedules and records of shipments. It was a surprising amount of work, so surprising that I almost felt bad for asking for a couple days off, I mean, I just open boxes. However, I didn't want to disappoint Latona, she deserved this more than I did after all.
Boss sits down and begins typing on his computer, filling out some information off a note on his desk.
"Ya know, I wanted to see what all that ruckus was about, when those two butt heads I'd wish they'd at least keep it down a bit." He says as he continues to fill out the entry.
I could still hear Alena and Martin arguing about whatever it was they were going on about muffled through the walls.
Suddenly he stops.
"So." He turns to me.
"What can I do for ya?"
I sit down on the chair on the other side of his desk. It was a very sudden question but I needed to just be plain about it, after all…what was the worst that could happen?
"Well…you see…I was wondering if I could maybe take a few days off?"
"Hmmm." He says, rubbing his chin.
A few seconds of silence go then looks back at me.
"Sure!" He exclaims.
"Wh-…just like that?!"
Boss starts laughing. "Lowen, you're one of my hardest working employees here, low maintaince and always on time. We value people like you, but it's important to know when you're getting overworked. Sooner or later I was going to talk to you about taking a day off or two, but you beat me to it. "
The irony hit me like a truck…
"So yes, just like that. But…the soonest I can let ya go is next week, were getting several shipments all at the same time this week and I'm gonna need my full platoon. Sound good?"
"Yes sir! Thank you! I appreciate the favor."
After that I walked out and decided to spend the rest of break with Alena and Martin.
Several more hours pass by, much faster than usually. Probably because I was actually excited for once, and to tell Latona the good news. It was about 8pm when my workday concluded, my co-workers have already gone home by then so it was just me and the night shift crew, some of which were Pokemon like Machops and Vigoroths.
On my way home I realize that I forgot to pack a jacket, it was Fall so nights were becoming legitimately cold and here I was walking home in a collar shirt. As I leave the town center, the light pollution fades and the area around me becomes very dark, saved only by the lights of nearby homes and passing vehicles. Thankfully, this was a relatively friendly town with only a crime or two every month or so. I was more afraid of running into wild ghost Pokémon, honestly. However, after about a 10-minute walk I finally arrived at my apartment complex. I was shivering a bit at this point so I hastily grab my key from my bag and insert it into the lock. I open the door to find the place relatively dimly lit. On the far corner, I see an all-familiar face watching television.
Latona perks up. "Master!"
She suddenly teleports from the couch to about 2 feet in front of me.
"Welcome home!" she says as she curtsies.
"Hey Latona, how was your day?" I respond.
Suddenly her expression turns from happy to alarmed.
"Master! You're freezing! Allow me to bring you some warm clothing." She exclaims.
"No no, don't worry Latona. I was gonna go change anyways…maybe a hot shower while I'm at it."
"You must be more careful Lowen, it's getting colder and I'd be upset of you caught a cold…"
"Don't worry Latona." I say as I start walking towards my bedroom. "I won't forget next time. I'm gonna go sho-" I stop myself mid sentence.
Did she just call me Lowen?
"What was that, Master?"
"I uh, said I was gonna take a shower. I'll be out soon to help make dinner alright?" I say as I walk into my bedroom.
"Of course, I'll get it started!"
Inside my bedroom, as I get undressed, I couldn't help but feel caught off guard, it's been so long since she's called me by my name. Why now? And just like that? So randomly. I decided to ignore it for now and just relax. The shower melted away thoughts from work…and the cold! I began thinking about what to make for dinner. It was pretty late so maybe something simple. Ultimately, however, Latona usually decides for me, and how could I protest, she is the cook after all.
After the shower was done and I usually sit on my bedside for a few minutes after getting dressed. I had sent a text to my mother letting her know I was home. I do this on most nights just to let her know I'm doing fine, it gives her some peace of mind since it's always difficult having your children leave the nest. Now that that's all said and done, I should get to helping Latona with dinner. I had quite a bit to talk to her about.