"Dad, I am leaving with Jace for work!" I tell my father as I enter the kitchen, walking toward the front door. "After work, we are hanging out with friends."
"Okay son," dad replies, turning his head to look at me over his left shoulder as he cooks breakfast for himself and my two younger brothers. "What time do you think you will be home?"
"Um, probably around nine since I have an 8 a.m. class in the morning, and then work at noon," I answer as I give him a wave, and a verbal 'bye' before walking out of the house toward Jace's red, Ford F250 truck.
"Hey man, thanks for picking me up, so I do not have to ride the bus," I greet my best friend of five years with a bright, thankful grin.
"No problem, dude," he replies with his own bright grin as I buckle myself in after placing my black backpack onto the floor between my feet.
He drives us toward the coffee shop where we work, and have for the last five years. That is where I am a barista, and he is a cook/baker of yummy food. Our bosses are an older, cute couple in their sixties named Samuel and Sonya Jackson.
I am 22-years-old, 5'7" with short dark brown hair, bright blue eyes, and a small amount of facial hair. I am gay, and live with my dad Leif, who is 44-years-old, bisexual, and the best dad I could have asked for. He raised me, my older brother, and two younger brothers by himself since we were young children because my mama died from a brain aneurysm.
My older brother is Lyric, he is 24-years-old, straight, and has graduated from university two years ago with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and he lives with his girlfriend, Alyssa. Lyric is a crime analyst, and Alyssa is a financial analyst, and they have been together for six years, and living together for almost six months.
Lake is 20-years-old, bisexual, in his second year of university to study psychology. He wants to work with children. Lake's boyfriend Axel, who is 21-years-old is in his third year of university for childhood education as he wants to become a preschool teacher. They have been together for almost two years, but do not live together.
Lochlan is 18-years-old, gay, in his last year of high school, and has a boyfriend of four years. His boyfriend is named Warren West, who is also 18-years-old, and also in his last year of high school.
"Are you still down to hangout with us after work tonight?" Jace asks curiously, pulling into the back parking lot of our job where the employees park, and parks his truck in an empty space.
He turns off the engine to pocket the keys before we climb out to head to the back door to enter the kitchen where we greet Samuel and Kerry who is the dishwasher.
"Heads up, today has been busy already," Samuel warns us as we clock in, and pull our black aprons on, and tying the strings around our backs at our waists.
Jace and I nod in understanding as I walk toward the front to help Sonya and Micah as Jace works in the kitchen.
"Hi Sonya, hi Micah," I greet them as I take in the packed front area of the cafe, and let out a sigh - Samuel was not joking when he said it was busy.
"Thank goodness you and Jace are here," Sonya sighs as I hop right into filling orders along with Micah as Sonya hands out or delivers filled orders along with taking new orders when she is still behind the counter.
Two hours later, the constant stream of people starts slowing down, but this will pick back up again at 5 p.m. for the start of the dinner rush. Micah's shift ended an hour ago.
"Are you doing okay, Larken?" Sonya questions after we have served the last of the current customers.
"Yup, I am fine, how about you?" I reply with a quirked left eyebrow in concern.
"Just a little tired," she says with a soft sigh as she sits on the edge of bar stool she keeps behind the counter in a corner out of the way.
The doors open, and she lets out a soft sigh, but I stop her from standing; "Take a longer rest since I have this."
She gives me a grateful smile as I move to the register to take the man's order.
"Hello, welcome to 'The Bean,'" I greet the man with a toothy smile. "What can I get for you?"
The man stares at me silently for a second before he flatly answers; "I will take a black coffee, large, and a croissant."
Frowning lightly at him as I punch his order into the computer before saying; "That will be $7.50, please."
The man hands me his debit card for me to process his order payment before I hand him his card back with a slight smile. He takes the card with his flat expression still in place while he slips his card back into its slot, placing his wallet back in his back right pocket.
"May I please have your name for the order, sir?" I ask as I grab his cup to write his name upon the outside with a dark purple sharpie.
"Mason," he flatly replies as he moves off to sit at an empty, two person table.
Rolling my eyes after I have turned around to make his coffee, then plate his croissant before walking from behind the counter to his table. Placing both items down on the table top in front of him with a fake smile, and a bubbly 'enjoy'.
As I turn to leave, he asks in a surprised tone; "You wear a prosthetic leg?"
Turning around to give him an emotionless expression and answer; "Obviously."
Walking back behind the counter, irritated at his rude question when it is obvious I have a prosthetic leg from the knee down because I am wearing a pair of khaki shorts. Sonya gives me a sympathetic smile while telling me she heard his question. Busying myself with cleaning behind the counter until someone clears their throat behind me. I know it is not a new customer, and I hope it is not the guy who asked about my leg. Turning around, my hope is dashed when I am faced with him.
"How may I help you, sir?" I ask as politely as I can manage.
"I wanted to apologize for my insensitive question earlier," Mason confidently voices, but his eyes seem to hold guilt.
YOU ARE READING
Shark Strike Survivor
RomanceLarkin Carrigan is a 22-year-old gay man who lost his right leg from the knee down from a shark strike. He wears a prosthetic, and lives at home with his dad and two brothers while he works, and attends university.
