boredom

Chapter Three, Overwhelming Memories

It was the grand reopening of the pizzeria. After about a month of paperwork and all nighters, they were finally ready. Aspyn decided to reopen, with approval and reassurance from their dad, Daniel. Daniel was proud, seeing his baby bird fly high from the nest.
Aspyn was still cramped in the office, going back over paperwork. They weren't required to work with the customers. Unless some stupid Karen wanted to complain about her "precious angel" not getting the toy they wanted at the prize corner. They looked up at the door, thinking about what it would be like to be dealing with patrons and running around serving food. They were both grateful to be alone in the office away from the noise yet yearning to be out and social.

Jasmine dashed between the tables, holding trays of pizza in each hand. It was her first real day of work, and she was eager. Even with angry parents and running children, she was enthusiastic. She placed pizzas on tables and got more pizzas, and other foods, from the kitchen. She continued to do her job as the customers walked in and out. The place was packed.

Conner watched the packed dining room from the hallway, semi-hiding. He felt..disgusted. Disgusted at Jasmine's enthusiasm, it almost made him feel sick to his stomach. He didn't understand how anyone could be happy in such a stressful situation, or at least didn't know. How could Jasmine just be happy? Was he jealous she was looking to the bright side? For Conner, there was no reason to feel that way. He walked away, to go back to the safe room. He wanted to, of course, be alone.

Kenneth was sitting at the prize corner, giving out prizes to the kids. Sometimes having to turn away a kid that didn't have enough tickets or no tickets at all, who usually went away crying to their parents. Kenneth rolled his "eyes" with every whiny child. They were stressed and just wanted the day to end, questioning why they took the job. One of the children threw a tantrum, spilling their soda all over the floor and front of the counter. The said child was soon dragged away by their mother, who was way more apologetic than the little hell spawn. Kenneth let out a

glitchy sigh of frustration and furrowed their fake eyebrows that were displayed on their screen.

The janitor quickly approached the prize corner, mop and bucket by his side. He gripped the mop and brought it out of the bucket, water dripping from its bristles. The janitor began mopping, bringing the wet broom down onto the sticky soda stain.

Kenneth looked over at the janitor. The janitor was a man, seemingly entering his mid 40s. He was dressed in a black, long-sleeved shirt, a red scarf wrapping his neck, and dark green overalls covering his torso and legs. Golden earrings were pierced through his ears' flesh. His jet-black hair rested around his shoulders. Stubble surrounded his soft jawline. Black glasses laid firmly on his nose, covering his brown and green eyes.

He wore a name tag. "Francesco". That's what it read.

Francesco looked up at Kenneth as he cleaned up the soda stain. Kenneth looked back at Francesco, their "eyes" tiredly staring at him.

"Hi there!" Francesco said, smiling at Kenneth.

Kenneth waved at Francesco, not wanting to use their voice box. It hurt, obviously. With how glitchy their voice box and other eternal parts were fucked up, there would clearly be some pained involved.

Francesco tried to start a conversation with Kenneth but Kenneth ignored the janitor's attempts, waving him off each time. Francesco still tried, he kept persisting. Kenneth eventually gave in. The two talked for a while, Kenneth explaining why their voice was glitched and Francesco talking about his younger days and childhood.

"Ⓐ K!d Hr⍷W @ h@Mm3R aT m3 wH3n ! W@s 12" (A kid threw a hammer at me when I was 12)

"Oh my.."

"Ⓨ3@h..!T hμRt, @ ι0T" (Yeah..it hurt, a lot)