A Second Rival

"So your name is Lesley right"? The manager asked.

"Yeah".

"Ok here's your uniform, you're to wear it always whenever you're on duty ok"?.

"Yes sir".

He handed over to her a black shirt and a black trouser. Pointing to a door, he beckoned her to change as that was the dressing room for the ladies..

Lesley wore the uniform and it fitted her perfectly, like it was made particularly for her. She actually kind of liked it.

Standing in front of a large mirror in the dressing room, she turned around to get a better look at the uniform.

She smiled and gave her reflection in the mirror a thumbs up.

Stepping out of the dressing room, she coughed to get the attention of the manager. He turned around, and complimented her on how the uniform fits her well.

"So Lesley, I'll assign you to a guide that'll put you in place and make you familiar with your work here".

"OK sir".

He stretched his hand and beckoned for a guy in the same uniform as Lesley to come over. Lesley watched and examined the guy strode over to where they were standing.

Lesley had the habit of judging people she just met, so yeah, she judge him too. He was a tall black guy, a little bit light skinned . He had beautiful Afro curly hair which Lesley admired. It was so beautiful that she had to resist the urge to stretch out her hand and touch it.

"Spencer, this is Lesley, she's new here so I want you to be her guide and put her through with all what needs to be done"

"Hi I'm Spencer" He said extending his hands towards her.

She reached out and took his hands, shaking him.

"Lesley by name, I'll trust you'll put me through well"

"I'll leave you two, and hurry up, more customers are trooping in. We need more hands".

"Yes sir" They both said in unison.

He left leaving them both together.

"So our work is not that much of a hardwork..... Okay..... I take that back, it's a hardwork and sometimes can be frustrating too".

"Really"? Lesley didn't need a work that would be frustrating, as school was already frustrating for her.

"Yeah, you get to meet different kind of customers or people. Some customers are not much of a big deal, but some will make you want to quit your job".

"Oh God".

"But you can get past that, you just need to learn how to handle such people and keep your calm".

"Have you been doing that? Handling such people "?

"Of course, how do you think I'm still on this job after many months"?.

"Wow".

"You'll probably get to meet rude customers that's always demanding to see your manager".

"And how do I handle those type of people"?

"If you can't succeed in pacifying them, then let them meet the manager as they want. Our manager mostly take our sides because he knows how frustrating they can be".

"That's good cause I don't want to be scolded everytime a customer doesn't like me".

Spencer smiled and replied "Don't worry, he won't do that".

'Oh, what a beautiful smile' Lesley thought.

"So whenever you take the order of a customer, make sure you get the orders right. You'll be given a little book and a pen to write so as not to forget".

"OK, noted".

"And if you end up getting an order wrong, please apologize with a sweet voice, and get the person his/her right order. But if the customer is the type that doesn't let things go easily, I'll step in for you since I'm experienced in situations like that".

"I would really appreciate that".

"So as for where to get the order from, you'll come to the kitchen and the person in charge will get you what was ordered. You just need to wait to get it. If a drink is ordered, there's a shelf containing all the drinks we have. Just reach out and take the one that was ordered".

He looked at her, and thought she was confused.

"If you don't get what I'm saying, I could explain myself in a more understandable way".

"No, no, no, I totally understand what you're saying".

"OK, then are we good to resume our work"?.

"Yes we are".

Spencer was the first friend Lesley made at her workplace. He actually made her job very much easier and she got to be comfortable around him. He was a jovial and cheerful person. He actually made her first day of work enjoyable cause he engaged her in small conversations and helped in any aspect he could.

During her closing hours he waited for her to get changed so they could go home together.

"Um, Spencer, why are you still here? I saw you changing like two minutes ago". Lesley said after stepping out of the dressing room.

"I was waiting for you".

Lesley let out a confused face.

"Why were you waiting for me? Did I forget to give you something "?.

He chuckled.

"No you didn't. Just wanted to walk you home since it's late already and it could be dangerous for a young girl like you to be walking home alone".

Lesley raised both hands and waved it frantically at him to signify she was against the idea.

"No, no, no, you don't have to bother yourself about that. I can handle myself"..

"I insist, you're new here so it's much better if I walk you home. Within time, you could go home yourself".

"Um, OK, but won't it be stressful to walk me home and then turn back to go to your home"?.

"Not really. You see, I mistakenly saw your address in your job application and your home is like only two blocks away from mine".

"Wow really, that means we live quite close".

"Yeah".

"That's awesome, I get to have a coworker living close to me".

"So why don't we take off".

"Oh sure, let me grab my backpack" She said grabbing her backpack which was lying on a chair.

On their way home, they engaged themselves in conversations and got to know each other more.

"So you haven't told me much about yourself apart from your name's Lesley" He said to break off the awkward silence.

"It's actually the same with you, I know nothing about you apart from your name's Spencer".

Spencer laughed at her words.

"You're copying my words".

"Which is not a bad thing" Lesley replied.

"OK, why don't you start first, then I'll follow suit".

"Ok. So I'm Lesley Thompson, which you already know".

"I don't mind hearing it twice". He replied.

That statement sounded so familiar to Lesley. Yes, it was the same thing Julia had said when Lesley told her her name for the second time when they first met in class. She was getting Deja Vu hearing Spencer say the same words.

"I have a younger brother named Ethan" Lesley continued.

"He's 11 and the cutest little best thing I have".

"Awwwwn, seems like you really love your brother ".

"I do".

"I'm guessing you guys are quite close to each other ".

"Yeah we are, doesn't mean we don't fight and argue. I always win though" She said making him laugh.

"I bet you do since you're the older one. What of your parents"?

"I stay with my mom, she's very much alive...but... my dad's gone".

"Gone?..... In what way" Spencer asked genuinely.

"He's dead".

Spencer soul literally left his body. He was feeling guilty that he couldn't take a hint on what she meant by "He's gone".

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize that's what you meant. I probably shouldn't have asked".

"No, it's not something to be apologizing for. You didn't know".

"I'm really sorry".

"It's okay. I still miss him sometimes but it's actually doesn't hurt like the first time. I'll probably not ever get over his death".

"And that is okay. It's okay not to get over him completely because he still has a place in your heart" Spencer said.

"Thank you so much" Lesley said.

"So enough about myself, Its your turn to tell me more about yourself".

"Let me introduce myself again".

He stopped walking and turned facing towards her and then stretched his hand out. She giggled and took hold of his hands.

"Hi, I'm Spencer David, nice to meet you Lesley".

"Nice to meet you too Spencer David". They said laughing at each other.

They continued walking towards their destination.

"So I'll love to say I'm an only child but unfortunately I'm not".

"Why would you wish to be an only child"?

"Cause, my siblings are annoying AF".

"They are"?

"Yes they are, you're lucky you have just a younger brother. Unlike me having two older siblings and a younger sister. My older siblings are fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, and they try to use their superiority on me".

"And what of your younger sister"?.

"She's a cunning rat. As the Last born, she has the backup of both my parents even when she's in the wrong".

"But I'm sure it's not that bad, right"?.

"It can be sometimes, but sometimes they can be loving. It's confusing".

"I think that's how siblings are. Take a look at me, I told you my brother was cutest little best thing I have, but I'll never say that to his face and I'm pretty sure he'll do the same. But even though I love him a lot and he knows that".

"Well I guess you're right".

They walked in silence for some seconds before Lesley spoke up.

"How old are you Spencer"?.

"I'm 17. You?".

"I'm 16".

"So I'm older than you. Then you'll have to start addressing me like an older brother".

"You wish".

Spencer eventually reached his home first and they parted ways.

"See you tomorrow right"? Spencer asked.

"Yeah tomorrow " .

"Are you good to go by yourself? I could escort you down to your home, and come back to mine".

"No it's fine, you've done enough. It's just like a twenty minutes walk down to my home. Thank you though".

"OK then, Goodnight Lesley".

"Goodnight Spencer, Bye"....