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R&R Please

January 5th

Dear Diary,

Ow. That's all I have to say. Remember that fight? Yeah, well lets say three drunks versus one Melissa and one Mr. Renkin, who was trying to solve everything peacefully, is a recipe for me having a black eye and bruised rib. I have to wear these annoying bandages for the next moth or so. I'm proud to say, though, that I'm not the only one with a black eye! (Ok, so I didn't get to fight, but I still have my battle wounds to prove it!) The drunks we're fighting over Diana, as usual. She's very pretty, and the only young female working here. She has long strawberry blonde hair (We dubbed it strawberry blonde when we determined it too light to be red, but definitely not blonde). She always pulls it back in a high ponytail, with her bangs hanging just above her eyebrows. Her eyed aren't emerald, like most people with red hair, but a pure peridot. Most unusual. Also, she has a lovely face. Round, tiny nose, innocent eyes, straight teeth (a rarity here, believe me), and a rosy round face. No wonder the drunks usually fight over her. I wish they wouldn't though, not because fights are bad for business, but because Diana is very timid. You wouldn't know it if you saw her as a waitress, but when there's a fight; she tends to cry a lot. I don't like it when people make me friends cry. Well, I have to go to work now, so I'll write when I get back.

Melissa

January 5th, still

Hey diary,

Note to self, never go into work while hurt. When working on the assembly line today (I put the outer wrapper on the candy. Oh! Glove update, I chose neon green today, instead) someone elbowed me in the rib (purely on accident, mind you! Also, I later learned his name was Pieter) which, of course, caused me to cry out. In turn, the-man-who-I-would-later-know-as-Pieter realized I was hurt (besides my black eye, I'll get to that later) and went to inform Mr. Wonka! So, he left whatever he was inventing, led by the-man-who-I-would-later-know-as-Pieter, and he led me out of the "wrapping wroom" as it was so aptly named, into the hallway. The interrogation went as such (which, as you know, will never be normal where Mr. Wonka is involved)…

" You're…uhh…Meloney, right?"

"Melissa"

"Yeah, that. Well Meloney,"

"Melissa" I Intervened

"…what happened?" He continued as if I hadn't said a thing.

"I got hurt," I stated simply.

"How?"

"A drunk punched me."

"In the eye?"

"Yeah."

"Then why did you cry out when that guy…uhh…P-Pah-,"

"Pieter?" I suggested.

"Yeah, him. Why'd you cry out when he hit your side, if you got punched in the eye?"

"Because I kicked the drunk who hit me, so he threw a chair at my ribcage."

"Wow, you're really mean."

"So was he, for hitting me first," I countered.

"Why'd he hit you in the first place?" he asked, although I was strangely quiet.

"Because I was trying to protect my friend. He tried to take her away. How would you like it if someone tried to take away you're friend?"

"I…I don't have any friends." He said, growing softer with each word.

I has paused for a moment. No friends? It was here the conversation turned.

"Well... if you want," I murmured quietly, "I'll be you friend." His eyes grew unusually large at this statement.

"You will? Really weally will?"

" Sure! But…" He seemed to be scared, "My name is Melissa!"

"But that's such a looooooooong name," he whined.

It occured to me, that, when spoken, it was no longer than "Meloney" but I chose not to point that out. I wasn't willing to get into an argument at that point.

"Well then…you can call me…uhh…Mel. Yeah. You can call me Mel. Now, if you'll excuse me, although you are my friend, you're also my boss. It's by second day, and already I've caused trouble, so, if you don't mind, I'd like to go back to work."

"You want to work? Hehe, you're really weird"

"Yup!" I said with a smile, "good day Mr. Wonka!"

I went back to the "wrapping room" and was bombarded by questions about what happened to me. I was fortunate enough to have Pieter fend them off, saying it was the least he could do after getting me pulled out of work for the day.

I like Pieter, he reminds me of my father. Always caring about other people. Also, his eyes smile. Just like Papa's…

Well, I have to go to sleep now. Hopefully I'll get to put in a full day at work tomorrow. Plus, it seems, I have a new friend by the name of Mr. Willy Wonka. This is so weird.

Melissa (now known as "Mel")