A Different Point of View

1. A stranger in the night

Street lamps were lit and I increased the pace. I had no watch; still I knew I was very late. I crossed the empty street and hurried past several dead workshops towards the only lit window on the street. I didn't need the light to guide me, but it surely helped when I took out the key and unlocked the door. I stepped inside quickly and shut the door behind me. I heard footsteps and I closed my eyes in a quiet prayer before I spun around.

"Sorry I'm late, Ms Sykes. It won't happen again. I swear I'll do better next time", I said and stared at the woman in front of me. Ms Marleen Sykes was (by look) a very sweet person with her colorful knitted sweaters and blonde curly hair, but once you got to know her she could be described as the devil itself. Her narrow grey eyes always made me feel like I was doing something wrong, which most of the times wasn't true. But hey, nobody is perfect...

"It's okay, dear Rose", Ms Sykes said with a poisonous voice. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. She continued, "Preferably, I'd like you to be in time, as you very well know, and if you don't work you won't get any food. So... GET TO WORK!" She shouted out the last words before she strode away and disappeared through a door behind the counter. I sighed. No work, no food. That was one of many rules if you lived with Ms Sykes. I yawn and walked over to the door and turned on the open/closed -sign in the window which now said that the café was open. I strode back to the counter, pulled out a chair and sat down in exhaustion.

As long as I can remember I had been living with Ms. Sykes. I was about one year when she found me on her doorstep. Ever since that day she has been taken care of me. Well correction, used me as a worker in exchange for food and shelter. Don't ask me how she convinced the authority to accept her as a suitable foster parent, because I have no idea. Anyway, I'm still here... It hasn't exactly been easy, but I can't complain, much. Today I'm eleven years old (ish), small for my age with long dark red hair and bright green eyes.

I leaned against the bench and tiredly rested my head in my hand. The café I worked at was originally a family business started by Ms. Sykes great-great grandmother or something many years ago. The aim was to compete against other cafes by having open 24/7. Completely idiotic, if you asked me. I mean, who wants a cup of coffee half past two in the morning? I snorted and closed my eyes.

I hadn't had many friends during my childhood. I wish to say that I didn't had enough time to make any because of all the work, but unfortunate that is not the case. One thing you must know about Ms. Sykes is that she's literally in love with money. I think that is the main reason why she doesn't have a boyfriend, either that or her disgusting personality. I guess it's a mix of both. Anyway, she wouldn't spend any money if it wasn't for something really important, and obviously I was never classified as anything even close to imortant. Okay, to get to the point, my clothes looked like rags, literally. They were too big, old, with dozens of holes all over the fabric. To be honest, I looked like a street rat. Once again, can't complain... much. Secondly, I have never attended to any school. Ms. Sykes hasn't let me. Big surprise...

'Schools are very expensive, you see. And besides, you do need to work if you want a proper meal,' she replied with a disgusting smile which normally made me wanna puke my guts out.

Despite the fact that I was different and a completely outcast, I had luckily enough made myself at least one friend. His name was Justin Antov and he has been my friend since the first time he and his parents visited the café five years ago. I wasn't working at the café back then, obviously, but Ms. Sykes wanted me visible for the costumers... for sympathy tip, probably. I know, the devil itself... But Mr and Mrs Antov were very kind to me from the second they stepped through the doors at the café. They've helped me more times that I can count: with clothes, food and sometimes even money if I'd let them. I didn't like the idea of being in debt to anyone, but I appreciated the gesture. Mrs Antov was a school teacher and every Sunday she invited me over and helped me with my lost education while Justin did his homework. I have multiple times wondered why I wasn't dumped outside their doorstep instead of Ms Sykes. A trick from fate, I guess. Or maybe just bad luck. Either way, it sucked!