Despite the negative views people have on district 10, it is quite a beautiful place. Very lush greenery, breezy weather, and a shining sun. Some days it can be overbearingly humid, and hotter then the pits of hell. But when it rains, it's a beautiful sight. Even more so after it rains. We get left with dark storm clouds, where a few small sun rays peak out. And rainbows dancing across the valleys.
But he weather had nothing on the beautiful girl who works beside me. My best friend Brandy. She's a firecracker for sure, and won't take anyone's shit. But is one of the best people you will ever meet. That is if she lets you get to know her. She is my favorite person, and the most beautiful girl (but I could never tell her that).
I met Brandy when we were both 8, and about to start working in the slaughterhouse. We both got trained alongside each other, and have worked together ever since. Our friendship both started by the mutual disinterest in slaughtering animals, and it just developed more over the years. We got used to working there, and could care less now. But we still look forward to seeing each other every day. She is the light of my life.
"It's hot as balls out today" Brandy tells me, as she finishes off dividing the pieces of what was once a pig. "Surprised Mr. Jankins hasn't passed out again. He usually does when it gets to this time of the year."
"Yeah it's kind of surprising he hasn't. He's too old to handle the heat. Too bad they won't let him retire, I don't how many years he can still do this." I tell her while starting on removing the organs from the goat in front of me. "How old is he now?"
"No clue, but he must be older than 65. It's fucking sick that they still force him to work at this age." Brandy spits out, with irritation on her tongue. Brandy has always been fairly bitter about cruelty. Which is fair, but no one but her is willing to openly talk about.
"It's truly awful, but not surprising. I mean they have us start working when we are 8, and they teach us parts of the job before that even. It wouldn't be far off if he dies here even. They won't care unless it gets in the way of their precious meat." I tell her.
"Yeah. I wouldn't be shocked to find him dead at work soon. With the heat increasing, and his clear arthritis. It's only a matter of time." she mutters.
"What a shame. I liked his presence. But death is a better fate than the torture of working here." I say aloud.
"Hey! It may be torture, but I wouldn't have met my favorite person if it wasn't for this." she tells me. I feel a blush spread across my cheeks. I look up to see her already looking at me with a smile.
I smile back at her and say "I owe them a lot for that. Life would be so boring without you." I see a rosy tint on her face, and he looks back to her work.
Some time passes, and we continue to work alongside each other. Dismembering animals, and exchanging casual small talk. We share some laughs, and talk about life. She tells me about her cousin Tanner, and how much he prefers being a ranch hand than working in the slaughter house. It's not a common thing to let us change jobs, but some how he managed to make the switch.
"He adores those damn cows! When I have to wake him up in the mornings, I sometimes can't find him. Then after some searching I find him in the stables, passed out next to his favorite cow Millie. I swear that cow is his best friend. He loves her a lot." she says through laughs.
"That's really sweet actually. I am glad he is enjoying the stables." I say to her.
"Oh he loves it! He hated the slaughterhouse more than anyone. He is such an animal lover, so he prefers taking care of them. Luckily for him Miss Millie is a dairy cow, so he won't have to worry about sending her here. He just has to make sure she produces milk." she says to me.
