Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
ii. the expedition
IN THE KITCHEN appeared a tall woman with unkempt chestnut brown hair and big hazel eyes. That woman wore black shoes with strapping, long white socks that were browning, long tight purple skirt that clung tightly to her lower knees, and a light-yellow blouse that almost matched the color of her dirty apron. Upon entry, the floors of the cafeteria kitchen were grimy from the spills that had been trodden upon and left to dry. The once gleaming stainless-steel surfaces were tarnished with greasy smears and sticky residue which were littered with dirty dishes, half-empty containers, and spilled food remnants that grew mold. A foul odor lingered heavily in the air, mixing with the unpleasant stench of unwashed dishes and stagnant water in the sink.
"Hey, Antha," Remy saluted. She always wondered why Ms. Wilburn never went by Sam, a normal nickname for a normal person - but after seeing Ms. Wilburn's poor hygiene sprinkle in an extra ingredient on the day's food, she knew Ms. Wilburn wasn't... normal.
"Hey, hey..." Ms. Wilburn threw a drying towel over her shoulder and confusingly smiled at the unfamiliar girl that strutted inside. "You!" The smile turned brighter on her lips, dusting her hands by clapping them together. "Heard you're with this fine lady for a while."
Ms. Wilburn proceeded to list Remy's duties for the hours they would spend together, treating her like it was her first time working in a kitchen; duties consisting of cleaning, organizing, and restocking inventory. First, she directed the younger girl to the sink that was piled as high as the towers in Boston. As she rambled about the rusted pipes dirtying the water, she noticed Remy's clothes weren't skin-tight like the other girls at the school. Ms. Wilburn tilted her head at the sight. "Can't find any clothes that fit you, darling?"
Remy shook her head untruthfully.
"You look like a boy! Don't you want to be a lady like me?" She flipped the mop so the side tasseled side collided with her face as she posed with it like one of the women Remy's seen in those fashion magazines.
Remy rolled her sleeves to her elbows as she looked away with surprise. "Uh..."
A boisterous laugh erupted from beside the girl, tearing through her ears immensely. "I'm just kiddin'," she snorted.
Remy spent approximately forty-five minutes cleaning the week (or more) old dishes and scrubbing the build-up in the tiles on her hands and knees. Her face cringed at the amount of grime coming out of the creases that seemed never-ending. She was so caught in the moment, she didn't realize Ms. Wilburn was chatting with a soldier as she made him his lunch.
"...Dean got some girl named Ellie washing the trucks that got caught in crossfire. Now, I'm just takin' it easy..."
Ms. Wilburn threw her head back with her mouth wide, raucous laughter and gingivitis exposed. She handed the foiled food to the man with her large hand. "That's all that matters, Raj! Alright, now, you have a good one."
