In A Day's Work

"I'm just reliving a memory," I answered distractedly, as I continued to go through my recollection of recent events.

After all of us were clean - or as clean as we could get, considering the limited resources at our disposal - we started to get ready for the day's work. Occasional cries of "We're out of canned corn!" or "Can someone get the baked beans?" had Mira and Ernst scurrying all around the house while I shook dust off the worn tablecloths.

Lily was frantically searching for the teabags as Liz attempted to maintain some semblance of order, though the tray of eggs precariously balanced on her right hand detracted somewhat from her commanding presence.

By the time that Mr. and Mrs. Atten were ready, everything was in a chaotic sort of order. Somehow, a dirty but undamaged can of corn was found, and the baked beans recovered from their post on top of the cupboard. Lily had fished the teabags out of some obscure crevice and presented them to Mrs. Atten, who took them without so much as a word of thanks.

Mr. Atten assumed his post by the cashier box - a new acquisition that supposedly 'made the restaurant look posh' - though it clearly lacked a cash register. The sky was slowly beginning to brighten as the rest of London awoke to the sounds of chirping birds. In the kitchen, someone was frying scrambled eggs. As I settled in for another grueling day of work, the first customers trickled in through the creaky broken door.

Time to get started.

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A creaky groan of protest could be heard as I sat down on a small wooden stool. My arms hung limply by my side, as I leaned against the termite-infested walls of our home. I was tempted to fall asleep right there and then, but a sudden absence of light jolted me to wakefulness.

Louis, who was leaning over me, had blocked the light from the few dim bulbs that adorned the bare ceiling. I gratefully accepted his outstretched hand and struggled to my feet. Groggily, I stumbled in the general direction of the kitchen as Louis patiently hovered behind me in case I fell.

"Rough day, eh?" he murmured.

I gave a silent nod of affirmation when I finished processing the three words he said. It had indeed been an exceptionally trying day, with the unexpected surge in customers and my already leaden arms from yesterday's day of serving.

"I don't know how you put up with it… customers yelling all the time for a coffee or asking to confirm if their order went through. All I do is relay orders and remember which tables wanted what, but you need to carry all those trays and maneuver through that chaotic mess of tables and chairs," he wondered aloud.

"It's not that extreme… you do a lot too…." I said wearily.

Suddenly, I found myself before Liz and Lily, who were hiding something behind their backs. Suddenly wary, I turned to Louis, who had backed away from me some time before and now sported a knowing smile on his face.

"Well? Aren't you going to ask what I'm hiding behind my back?" Lily asked provocatively.

"Fine, I'll bite. What's behind your back?" I queried with mock interest.