Chapter 4: Vices

—Kinny—

As the next week flew by, I relished in the fact that I had a reason to bake more cookies. I'd baked two tubs this time and had them cooling out on the small countertop of my apartment. It was Friday, and my shift was already over, yet I still wore the bright yellow work shirt with the faded, white, Nona's scrawled across the back. I only had the energy to switch to my worn out, black boy shorts.

The soft music playing in the background cleared my thoughts of the previous shift, and baking was something that required all of my focus. Things that could occupy my mind, take its thoughts of past memories and shove them into a closet. However, once I placed the cookies into their tubs, and turned off the rusted stereo, I knew they'd return in the form of a nightmare or two. So, what was a girl to do in that situation?

—Vices, we all have them, whether we admit it to ourselves or not. I'll go ahead and admit one of my vices. Smoking, not a healthy option to cope, I get it. However, if a joint will allow me the smallest bit of peace at the end of the night, I won't argue with myself. She obviously knows best.—

The balcony of my apartment sat on the side of the alleyway, though the metal was rusted, and flaking off, it was perfect for ashing. The smoke filled my lungs with greed, and as I exhaled, memories begin to fade. The tiniest bit of peace encompassed me, and by the time the joint was finished, my mind was at peace. Like clockwork, the strike of midnight hit, I tossed the roach into the open trash can below, and walked to my room. After I settled into my pale yellow comforter, I let my head fell onto the lone pillow I owned.

The alarm clock next to the bed was beeping at me relentlessly the next morning. Mornings don't often sit well with me, but morning shifts sat well in my pocket. Six a.m. doesnt seem like an early shift, but having to get up an hour before to get ready was a real bummer.

By the time I'd gotten out of bed and showered, I only had fifteen minutes before my shift. My uniform was thrown on carelessly and my shoes could have been tied better, but I had to hurry if I wanted to be on time.

I walked pretty fast in Nona's direction, and I made it there almost in record time. The bell chimed alerting Nona of my presence, and she paused in the middle of cleaning a table to walk over to me.

"Kinny, dear, goodmorning. How did you sleep?" The same question she asks with such sincere worry. Each time my smile threatens to crack. She doesn't do it intentionally, but it hurts all the same. "Oh, same old same old, Nona. Let me get the rest of these tables fixed. You go count the register and call Frank. He called out yesterday, seemed like he was real stressed." I had answered the phone for Nona yesterday, and Frank, one of our line cooks called out, but it didn't seem right.

Frank hardly ever called out, at least in the four months I've been here. He was always on time and left three minutes early, claiming he was on a "smoke break" This was unlike him.

"Okay, Kin, I have Ashley coming in at 7am. Tanya and Danielle are comming in at 8am. Harlow called out about ten minutes ago. Said she was throwin' up." I figured, Harlow left early yesterday, same reason. Nona looked more stressed than usual, and my stomach had an icky feeling about it. "Are you okay Nona? Everything alright?" I could feel her worry dripping off her and it was starting to unnerve me.

"Everything is alright Kinny, darling, Frank is just in a bit of a tiff. Got in a bit of trouble with the law. Nothin' new around here." Her answer was more tight lipped than I would like to admit. I knew by the look on her face, she wasn't going to elaborate, nor did I want her to. I just wanted to work my shift and head to Rusty's.