Brewed to Perfection

Part 1

"How many darn times do I have to tell you that you are not just allowed to sit in the stock room and hide from customers Maeve."

Jerry, my manager of three years, spoke in an exasperated sigh, whilst signalling for me to get out of my favourite hiding spot.

My hiding spot was the best part about my job.

Not only did the stock room have an extremely comfortable chair, it also smelt amazing. You'd think having made multiple coffees nearly every day for five years would make someone despise the smell of coffee beans but somehow I've never grown tired of the smell of rich, fresh coffee.

What I had gotten tired of, was my fifty something year old manager kicking me out of the stock room.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't mind Jerry as a person, but as a boss he was such a pain in the ass.

He had one of those faces I couldn't read at all... Was he angry, or was he joking? I could never tell.

The only slight give away Jerry had was that when he was annoyed, more often than not, he'd use my name at the end of the sentence.

"Did you lock up properly last night Maeve?" or "Did you give the customer the right order Maeve?" And the very common "get out of the gosh darn stock room Maeve!"

Oftentimes when I wasn't getting told off, Jerry would call me 'chick' or 'lass' and I knew he was in a good mood.

But Jerry hasn't called me either nickname for nearly a month. Whatever had gotten up his butt had no intention of moving and that meant all the employees of 'Brewtiful' had to deal with pissy Jerry.

I eased off the stock room chair slowly, whilst simultaneously pretending I was looking for something extremely important.

Another sigh escaped Jerry's mouth. ''Don't you start with this performance again Maeve, we both know the only thing you're looking for in here is an excuse!'

I pursed my lips slightly before replying, "Actually Jerry, Benjamin asked me to find some more napkins." I stated a little unsure whether lying was just going to make him more mad.

The red tinge slowly appearing in his complexion told me I should have just shut up.

Most of the time I wish I'd shut up, God knows how everyone else must feel.

"Out!" Jerry almost shouted. I didn't reply that time, I just headed straight to the stock room exit.

There was only one slight problem. Jerry, who was leaning against the door frame made it almost impossible to get out.

He wasn't that tall, if I actually thought about it he was probably the same height as me, so around 5'8. But, Jerry was a well-built individual.

I never missed no meal, but Jerry never missed no second or third servings of said meal.

I sucked in my stomach as I tried to squeeze through the tiny area of the door Jerrys body wasn't blocking.

I made sure to hold my breath too. Jerry at the best of times smelt like someone had sprayed a hard boiled egg with cheap deodorant.

I had nearly squeezed entirely through the little gap, when Jerry moved out of the door and started heading in the direction of his back office.

"You can't hide from him forever you know Maeve", Jerry scolded. " You're gonna have to forgive the poor lad eventually. "

I didn't respond, I just stood and watched the back of Jerry's bald, shiny head slowly disappear as he moved further towards the back office.

There was no point in responding anyway.

You can't forgive someone who hasn't asked for forgiveness.

And even if he did. I'd never give him it.