More Than You Know [Mildred Pierce - Rosa Moline]

She Came From the Backwoods

Although finding a job turned out to be quite the stroke of luck, finding an apartment quickly showed to be a way more difficult task.

Everyday after work, like clockwork, I would go on a hunt. After skimming the classifieds and finding some places to rent I would invoke on the journey to go and check out the places I had found. Most of the time, they were pretty far away, in sketchy neighborhoods, or with poor maintenance; some even came with the additive of small, unwanted guests with too many legs to count that I could definitely do without. Then, with a select few outliers, I found the extreme opposite, where the amount of reduced space was nowhere near equal to the exorbitant price. I should have expected it but by the second week, it was getting quite frustrating. I needed to find something, and quickly. I couldn't keep living in that hotel room, it was suffocating at this point and I was nearing my threshold of patience.

Though, when it came to my new job, everything was going almost perfectly, if I could say so myself. I quickly fit in the position and became acquainted with the rest of the staff. There was always a great atmosphere at the cafe, making it easy for me to blend in with the rest. I rapidly noticed that this was primarily thanks to Joyce. While as a manager she was always in control, she was a warm person to everyone and promoted this attitude to the rest of us.

Although, while all of this sounds lovely, which it is, most of the time there's always someone who is just not in the same tune as the rest. And that someone is Rosa. The peculiar woman talked only when she needed to, short and straightforward with no room for petty discussions. Always accompanying those minute conversations was a serious stare in her eyes that most of the time, showed not an ounce of emotion. All of this makes her extremely hard to read and makes one wonder if she really wants to be there in the first place. As a matter of fact, oftentimes I do talk a lot with the other waitresses whether it be to discuss general topics or crack a joke about a nasty customer. Even though Donna and Maggie are way younger than me, they too always seem interested in starting a conversation with me. But, concerning Rosa, she never joins in.

One Wednesday, in the middle of my second week as the new waitress, I was talking to Maggie beside the bar. It was almost the end of our shift and we didn't have many customers. In a state of desperation, I asked her something vital that had been worrying me for days and days: "I've been trying to find an apartment to rent, do you know any place around here that's available?"

The girl with the brown eyes took a few seconds to think about her reply as she pursed her lips. "Huh... Not that I know of. I never search for them, since I live with my aunt so..."

"Right..." I answered, almost boiling with frustration at this point.

"I know. It's not easy to find, but I can ask around... Wait, Donna..." She stopped the other young waitress, who quickly had her attention. "Do you know any apartments available to rent? Maybe in your building?" Maggie asked.

"No dear, mine is full, and honest to God even if it wasn't, I wouldn't recommend it. It's filled with screaming children and the neighbor plays the violin all goddamn day and night..." Donna joked before she walked away.

I turned around as I saw that Nancy was coming our way. Once again, I asked the same question and she replied no to me with an accompanied sigh. "But if I hear about something, I'll tell you"

"Thanks" I half heartedly smiled, still wildly disappointed.

"But good luck in your search" I mumbled a quick thanks before she walked off into the kitchen.

"We should ask Rosa, maybe there's a place in her building..." Maggie expressed. I wasn't too keen on asking her, knowing she probably would say no to me. But before I said anything to Maggie, she had already stopped the brunette on her way to the kitchen. Again, she asked the same question. The young girl made a gesture, indicating that she was asking for a place for me.