Silent

Chapter 17

I take a deep breath and open the door, to my surprise though no one is there; I'm relieved I don't have to face anyone but heartbroken at the same time, I really am too late. I just wish I could restart this day and have this nightmare really be a dream. I check the clock hanging on the wall above one of the dryers. Its 8:42, it's hard to believe all of that happened in only 12 minutes, seriously in 12 minutes I pretty much ruined my life, and I'm not even being overly dramatic, which is extremely depressing.

I look around the empty room. The rhythm of washers and dryers humming is such a soothing sound. I realize how exhausted I am and decide I don't feel like walking down those stairs, moving, or even standing anymore. I just plop down on one of the benches and mope.

Everything is just too much, I need to just stay in one place for a while, and that's not going to happen until I find where I belong. I think at least one day I will, so until that day I'll just have to live with whatever is thrown at me. I just start to relax and my eyes flutter shut.

"I apologize for being so late." I hear, and my eyes pop back open immediately, I'm quite startled and confused. "This is a poor example to be setting and I can't even begin to tell you how incredibly sorry I am, you must have been waiting here a while. I would have been here much earlier; I was on my way when something quite peculiar came up with Mr. Otoroka... well, I don't want to concern you with problems that aren't you're responsibility to handle, besides we should get started right away." She says and I realize that she doesn't even know I was late, and she ran into Mr. Otoroka, figuratively at least, unlike me, and he must not have said anything.

If he did it must not have been about me in specific anyway, he didn't fire me yet in any case, and he had a chance. I think, and a slight glimmer of hope suddenly appears. "So, did you have any trouble with your uniform?" She asks snapping my attention back. I shake my head no, other than the painful amount of time it consumes to put on, there was no trouble.

"Well, this one is a formal uniform; an important guest will be arriving today so everyone has to look their best. You'll have a more casual uniform for other days; I'll have it sent to your room. " She informs me and I feel like hugging her, since she walked in she's just been full of relieving news, in fact now that I think of it, the fact that she walked in at all was even good news.

It's like a million weights have been lifted of my shoulders and I'm floating in the clouds. "Now, if you don't have any questions, we'll go over your daily routine." She says and I nod my head comprehensively, hopping up from the bench into a stationary position, showing her I'm ready.

"Over here is where you're task schedule will be." She say leading me over to a wall covered in panels of whiteboards, some have writing on them, but some don't and she points specifically to one that is blank, besides a few small letters at the top, that read Desiree Soto.

"Every day, the list of things you'll have to complete will be written here, some tasks may have specific times they have to be finished by, but if not, you just have to be sure to complete it before that day is over, which is 7:00 every night." She says pausing for a moment before continuing to make sure I'm getting everything.

"These are your utility room and house keys." She says handing them to me on a small, silver, ring. "You'll have lunch from 11:00 to 12:30; you may either stay here at the estate or go anywhere off the premises, if you choose to stay here though, do not just wander around, try to restrict yourself from anywhere farther than the service halls, and when going outside stay in inconspicuous places, never accompany any of the Otorokas or their guests in any of the rooms or even outside, unless specifically ordered or invited, you may just like to join most of the other staff in the staff lounge, which I highly recommend doing."

It takes a while for everything to sink in but once it does it sticks with me. "When you're working, also avoid entering into any rooms that the Otorokas or their guests are in, if it's unavoidable, just apologize and go about your business as quickly and quietly as possible" She starts again.

"Keep a tidy appearance. One of the Otorokas or their guests may ask you to do an extra task as you go about you're daily work, make sure to put that task before everything else, most any other work can wait. Here is a list of all the basic rules and guidelines." She says pointing to a sheet of paper taped to the wall.

"Every day, first thing in the morning, you will come immediately here to hear announcements, it is very important you do not miss them. You must help make breakfast at 7:00, our cook will be retiring in a few weeks and you will be taking over his job along with this one, he will try to prepare you as much as possible beforehand, you will serve breakfast at 8:00 sharp, do the same for lunch at 12:30 serving at 1:30, and dinner at 4:30 serving at 6:00. It's you're responsibility to juggle the time between." She tells me.

"Some tasks may require for you to leave the estate, such as picking up a few things in the city or running errands, you shouldn't have to go by yourself for a while, and by then, the butlers will be here again and one of them will be put in charge of driving the truck. Always come here before and after going out during the work day, this is your in and out card." She says handing me a blue and white card of plastic with a magnetic strip on the side; she then directs my attention to a small black machine on another wall.

"Scan it immediately before you leave and immediately when you arrive back so that we know when you are gone. It can be difficult at times, you might have to scan it a few times before it works, and you'll know when it does because this little light will blink green." She points to a small, lifeless, bulb in the upper right hand corner.

"This may all seem really hard and confusing, and being the only downstairs maid, there are bound to be many extra tasks that come up, you'll have to work hard but once you get into a routine I'm sure you'll do just fine." She assures me, although I'm not too sure about it still.

"Do you have any questions?" She asks one last time and I shake my head no. "Alright then, I told the cook you would be starting late today, but you should get down to the kitchen as soon as possible, you're tasks will be up when you return and if you have any questions I'll be in my office down the hall most of the day with paperwork. There are maps in that container, they may come in handy." She says pointing to a grey container on a shelf above the bench I was sitting on. "That's all; I hope you have a good day." She finishes grabbing a map for me and opening the door. I take it and give a quick nod to thank her, she returns it and I walk out.

I stop at the landing were I had been laying, seeing it, the scene replays in my mind, I hit the heel of my hand to my forehead trying to make it go away. I pull out my map and focus on it, it's really confusing at first but I eventually find the kitchen. Through the main hall, the same one I had been in last night, then under the right side of the large staircase, through the door straight ahead, down the short hall, and into the door leading into another room then another door at the end.

The kitchen is large and very modern compared to the rest of the house, absolutely all the appliances look extremely expensive and fancy. Not even aware of my presence a relatively short man, with grey hair, who's dressed in white rushes around muttering to himself. I walk a little closer and give a little cough to get his attention.

He abruptly turns to look straight towards me. At first he looks a bit irritable but quickly his eyes become soft and friendly, his lips and mustache curling up into a big, sweet, smile. "It's about time they sent a pretty, young, girl to help me." He jokes happily. "Desiree?" He asks and I confirm with a nod, making his smile lift higher.

"Well then, let's get started." He says motioning with his hands for me to walk over to him. "Today, Mr. Otoroka's dear friend is arriving; they haven't seen each other in a long while, and they are very close." He informs me. "He will be right in time for lunch, so we'll have to work extra hard, to make them something special." He suggests thoughtfully. "For breakfast though, Mr. Otoroka will be eating alone, he doesn't feel well either, so we won't be preparing anything big, I guess this is a perfect way to start you off." He concludes and I start to feel really sick.

He still feels bad. I must have ruined his day and it's supposed to be a special day for him even. "Are you okay?" He asks, sounding concerned, and I quickly shake the depressed look of my face with a nod. "Let's cook then!" He says cheerfully.