Clouds Cover the Sun Because they like the warmth

Training

The television played in the background as Manon picked a piece from the bread loaf as she brought it up to her mouth. She had barely eaten much of it, nor was she really paying attention to the television. She was just waiting for the phone to call. It had been around a week. Now she was beginning to regret turning in her two weeks notice. She had been bombarded by Rebeca for the week about questions for why she was quitting. Manon just lied and told her that the job was getting a little too stressful. It wasn't really a lie. Serving customers almost all day with an annoying coworker making bigoted remarks and judging a friend. Manon knew it probably wouldn't be much different from what she had now, except maybe she would have more break time. Then the phone began to ring. Manon jumped up. She immediately regretted it as she felt a pin in her stitches. Manon grunted as she pressed a hand to her side before moving over to the phone as quickly as she could. Before quickly picking up the phone. "Hello?" She said, "Hello Marianne." Norman said from the other end. "Norman, hi. How are you doing?" Manon asked. She wasn't hiding her excitement. "I'm doing well. How are you doing?" Norman asked. "I'm doing good." Manon said. She wanted to ask how she did in the interview, yet she didn't want to seem like she was pushing it. "I got great news! You're hired!" Norman said. Manon let out a squeal as she raised her arms. Causing some stretch to her stitches. Manon let out another grunt. As she moved the phone back to her ear. "Are you okay?" Norman asked as Manon froze. "Yeah, sorry, just a bit excited." Manon replied as she moved a strand behind her ear. "It's fine, though I thought I heard you sound like you were in pain?" Norman said as Manon began to feel a bit on edge. "Oh I stubbed my toe." A quick and easy lie. He wouldn't be able to see anything from the other end. "Oh." Norman said. "Well, when do you think you can start?" Norman asked. "I can start next Monday." Manon said. "Very well. I will see you next Monday. Unless we bump into each other sooner." Manon let out a giggle. "I guess we'll just have to see." Manon said with a small tease in her voice. Was it even intentional for her to do that? Norman also let out another laugh. "Well I should see you next Monday then." Manon smiled. "See you." With that they both hung up.

A week dragged on to Manon's dismay. Making her all the more excited for Monday. When her alarm went off Manon slapped her hand down over it almost immediately. Resisting the urge to just shoot out of bed. She had stitched to mind after all. She sat up slowly before getting out of bed. Moving over to her bathroom she went through the routine of brushing her hair out before returning to her room. Looking through her wardrobe she was perplexed about what she wanted to wear. Sure it wasn't anything much different. As stated with her job she didn't really have a work uniform like the rest of her colleagues would. Even if that uniform was just business suits. She didn't even know why she was worried about it that much. She wasn't too concerned with what she was wearing at her previous job. Maybe she just wanted to impress her new coworkers. Surely that was the case. She decided she would settle for one of her favorite outfits that looked the nicest. A green-gray shirt with puffy shoulders, and long sleeves, a white vest, a gray-green plaid skirt, black socks, and dress shoes with a black scarf with a white heart pattern on it. She removed her nightgown and put her outfit on before making her way over to her dresser. She grabbed a black headband before walking over to the bathroom. Placing her hair behind it except for two strands on either side. Giving the appearance of a tied back look. She gave herself a smile before walking into the kitchen and eating one of the muffins she made yesterday for breakfast alongside a cup of coffee. With enough milk poured in to make it a light brown color. After finishing her muffin Manon made sure her purse had everything she needed. Wallet, a few items for make-up issues, tampons and pads, pain medication, bandages, and a needle and a ball thread. Satisfied Manon returned to the bathroom. Adding some massacre, concealer, and clear lip gloss. When she walked out she checked the time. 5:30 a.m. Still plenty of time to get to work. She walked out back into the kitchen. Double checking her purse before grabbing her umbrella from the umbrella stand, and her keys from a table by the door before exiting the apartment. She double checked the door was locked before making her way to the building. While her old job had required her to wake up earlier. Considering they opened at five. This job allowed her to get a bit more sleep. When she arrived she was feeling bits of nerves pooling in. She would be one of the first people there alongside CEO's, and janitors. From what she figured she would probably be the only person running the little cafe for a while. Maybe they would hire more people, but for now it was just her. Hopefully things wouldn't be too stressful. The lights were on. Giving a good sign that at least someone was in the building. Manon walked over towards the doors. Pulling on it to find they were indeed unlocked. She didn't see any receptionist, but did see there was a sign of someone sitting there, as the computer was on and logged in. Alongside a bag being on the floor. Perhaps they were just busy. Manon made her way over to the elevators. She was still a little uneasy about the last time she was there. Sure everything was fine in the end, but the way that blue-haired employee had acted gave her a few chills still. The elevator dinged and to her surprise some people were on it. An busty elderly woman, with tan skin, and a few gray hairs growing amongst some fresh brown ones. All in a curly mess that was tied back in a short ponytail. Strands fell over deep brown eyes, with black eyeshadow on her eyelids, and bags underneath. She was dressed in a blue-gray janitor's uniform, with a mop, and it's water bucket right next to her. The other person, well not entirely a person. They were also dressed in maintenance uniform. Except their color was more brown, and they had a pale gray button up shirt with a few dark stains on it. Rolled up sleeves that were barley any inch away from a pair of brown gloves. Though the most odd thing about them was well everything else. Their head was a speaker, with a red button on their chin. Their body was made of silver metal rods forming a human skeleton. Both had name tags on their clothes. The woman's read Lucy, and the speakers read Manuel. Both of them were in some kind of debate. "I told you Manuel, those stains get harder to clean out every time." The woman said as she stepped out of the elevator. Rolling the mop bucket with her as Manuel followed her out. Then the woman noticed her. "Oh pardon me." She said sweetly as Manon stepped out of her way. "Oh, you're fine." Manon replied as the speaker leaned over. "Forgive me if I am wrong, but I don't believe I have seen you around here. Are you new?" Manon nodded. "Yes, I was hired for the cafe. Today is actually my first day actually" Manon replied as Manuel brought a hand to his chin. His face turned over to Lucy's and her eyes drifted back. "Well, welcome! I'm Lucy, one of the janitors here. If there's any spills, or anyone's causing you any trouble, feel free to tell me." Clover said before looking over at Manuel. "I'm Manuel, head of maintenance, and security." Manuel said as he held his hand out to shake. "Marianne, pleasure to meet you." Manon said as she shook it. She could feel the outline of the cool rods beneath his gloves. "Now if you excuse us, we have to be off now. Have fun on your first day." Lucy said as she began to walk off. Manuel followed suit. "Thank you." Manon replied as she walked over to the elevator. Nearly missing the doors closing on her. Eventually cutting off the sound of Lucy and Manuel's heavy boots. Manon pressed the button for floor seven before the elevator began going up. Eventually making a ding before opening its doors. Stretched along the walls was a wall of windows. Several tables were over the carpeted floor with about seven chairs at each. Over on the left wall was an area blocked off by a counter. A glass display case showing several prepackaged baked goods lining the shelves. At least she wouldn't be having to make things except for drinks. Though on the far side near the windows was a singular stand. Made just for black coffee. That's when she noticed Norman sitting at one of the tables his right leg crossed over his left. With his hands held together on the table. It seemed he was waiting for her. "Good morning Marianne. I'm glad to see you made it on time." Norman said as he stood up. "Good morning. What are you doing here?" Manon asked as she walked in. "Well outside of just getting myself some coffee, I'm also here to give a rundown of what you are doing." Manon nodded, even if a few things would still be the same, this would be a different place. Norman guided her over to the counter. A trap door had been placed by that coffee machine. Even if it wouldn't really stop anyway from walking in it was still nice to have it there. "Every item is fifty cents, so adding prices is fairly easy. For the most part most employees may just ask for a regular cup of coffee. Refills are free with that over there, and we placed several pots near there just so it would be easier to fill up that one container. Though if the employee wants more creamer it would be an extra twenty five cents. We decided to go with prepackaged food mostly for time, and costs. Depending on how well this does we may consider adding actual baked goods, though we'll wait until we hire more staff to help run this. If any tray gets empty we do have boxes with more underneath for easy and quick refills, and if those run out we have more in a storage room c. It is down the hall to the left. Though the food boxes are hidden in an obscure corner, and don't look that much different so nobody tries to steal stuff from them. Are there any questions?" Norman asked. "Uhm I do have one actually. Do I have some kind of uniform?" Manon asked as Norman shrugged. "Kind of." he said before he turned around before grabbing a gray apron from behind him resting on the counter. "If you count an apron as uniform I guess it works. Though for any other clothes you can wear whatever you want as long as it is something appropriate for work." Manon nodded as he held out the apron. "Thank you." Manon replied as she took the apron. She moved to the side so Norman could leave. She unfolded the apron before putting it on. It went down to around her knees. A little bigger than her one at her old job. Though she wasn't complaining. Maybe she could sneak it home and tailor it down. Though she may want to keep in mind how much actual bandages would cost her in the long haul. She tied the strings around her back. Before noticing Norman standing in front of the register. "One black coffee please." Norman said as he placed two quarters on the counter. Manon smiled as she went to work. Grabbing the already ground up beans and throwing them to be made into coffee, letting one pot brew before moving on to the other two so she could go ahead and fill up the drip. When that one was done she grabbed a cup, and the pot before pouring it in. Placing a lid on top before bringing it over to the register. "That will be fifty cents." Manon said as she placed the amount into the register. Norman slid the quarters over. Manon took them and opened the register. A few coins were already placed there, and some slots made for dollar bills. Manon placed the quarters in as Norman grabbed his coffee. "I believe you're all set. I hope you have a good first day." Norman said. "Thank you, you too." Manon quickly slapped a hand over her mouth when she realized what she said. "I mean you have a nice day as well." She could feel herself get flustered as Norman let out a laugh. "I will, hopefully I will see you during break." And with that he was off. Manon felt a bit of relief that he didn't take it to heart as she watched him walk off before hearing the ding of the elevator. She didn't even notice until after she heard the doors shut that she had begun to lean over the counter, and onto her hand. By now a bright blush covered her face. But she didn't have time to worry about that. She had a job to do. She began moving around the area. Making sure everything was ready. Today she was going to make this one of the best first days of her job.