10.30 AM,
Wednesday,
22nd November 1989,
Diorama Publications,
St Casper City,
Babylonia, Novus Stellar
"Layla, would you come here for a second?"
Felicity was still holding the hot mug when she pressed the button on her intercom. A few seconds later, there was a knock on the door.
"Yes, yes, just come in Layla."
A girl in big glasses, white blouse and long black skirt entered the room with a notepad and a pencil ready at hand.
"Yes Miss Kind?" She seemed a bit nervous but this was just another ordinary day for her. Her boss raised the mug towards her.
"Taste this will you?" said Felicity. Layla was puzzled.
"Err..You want me to drink your coffee?" There was a slight frown on Felicity's face.
"I said 'taste' Layla, not drink. Taste it."
Layla wasted no time putting down her stationeries and carefully reached out for the hot mug. Not a minute ago, she was the one making it like she always do for the past year since she started working there. This was the first time, her boss ever asked her to taste her coffee. Layla blew on it for a bit before taking a sip. She wasn't sure how to react.
"Er..Is it not hot enough Miss Kind?" Another frown on Felicity's face.
"You just took a sip didn't you, what do you think?" There was an awkward silence between them for a moment.
"Look, what I mean is, is it strong enough?" Layla took sometime to think of a good answer.
"Err..I guess it's ok..I used the usual coffee..powder.." Even her answer was less than affirmative. Felicity was still staring at her.
"Well it's not Layla. I don't know about you but that's not gonna get me through the night. Then again, you don't have to stay later than 5 right?" With an experience that was barely a year with the company, she was yet to see the true nature of her boss.
"I'll a...I'll make a you a new one..I'll try to ask if.."
"It's ok..it's ok..just..just put the mug on the table will you..I'll deal with that later. It's just that I have finish my work before my Thanksgiving dinner. Huh.." Her expression was enough to indicate the kind of work that she did and the sacrifice that came with it. Another moment of silence and probably even contemplation before she decided what to do next. She took another look at her assistance.
"Anymore good stories to tell?" asked Felicity with tiredness on her face. Layla instantly grabbed her notepad that was sitting on the table near the door.
"Er..Just one..something about.."
"Just tear it off and give it to me," said Felicity as she stretched out her arm. Layla was slightly trembling when she tore off the the piece of paper from her notepad before passing it to her.
"Hmm..ok..ok..hmm..ok..you can go now Layla..just leave the mug, in case I haven't said so.."
"Yes Miss Kind." Layla immediately turned around and left the room. As much as this looked like her first day, it was not. Sad but true.
Felicity grabbed her mug near the edge of her table and was about to take another sip before the intercom was buzzed.
"Miss Kind, your mother is on the phone."
"Oh God, not now, not now.." Felicity then proceeded to take a few deep breaths before pressing the button on the intercom.
"Ok, patch her through" There was a moment of hesitation before she picked up the phone.
"Hello mum..yes..yes I'm fine..work is fine..just that..I've been a little busy lately..yeah..yeah..how's everyone at home?..yeah..aha..ok..ok..yeah yeah I'll definitely be home for the dinner, just don't worry..hmm..hmm..aha..yeah well we talked about this mum..you know how I feel about flying..well..yeah..yeah but you know, I was never good at statistics at school so I'm not sure if that applies to me..yes mum..yes..it's a joke..but..but..yeah..but what I mean is, I'm still not comfortable with the idea of flying..I know..I know..yeah..yeah I know what they say about road statistics but at least I'll be on the ground...aha..aha..well she's married, mum, remember?..she has her own family to look after now..aha..that..that was long time ago mum..we're not in school anymore..yeah..that's true..aha..oh come on mum..that's not fair..you caught me off guard..well I'm only 23..lots of girls at my age are still single..it's the 80s mum..things are different now..aha..yeah..well I'll tell you what..I'll pick up the first guy I see on the way to Eden and just bring him home for Thanksgiving dinner..how's that?..see..you won't like that would you?..I know mum..I know..I'm sorry..It's just that I have to burn some midnight oil again but I promise you..I'll make it tomorrow..ok?..hmm..yeah..yeah..look mum I really have to go..I really have to finish this story if I'm gonna make it tomorrow...ok..yeah..yeah well I'll talk to you soon ok?..I'll give you a call before I leave for work..I promise..yeah..ok..ok..yeah say hi to everyone at home for me ok? Ok..ok..ok I love you too mum..ok..ok..ok bye..bye.." Felicity took another deep breath after she hanged up the phone.
The piece of paper was still in her hand when she laid her back on the chair before grabbing the mug and taking that overdue sip. It wasn't that bad, but then again it wasn't that strong either.
"Hmm..first a kid who thinks he was being chased by a 100 years old witch and now this. I swear to God they must have put something in the candies and soda drinks these days.." thought Felicity.
She turned on the radio that was sitting quietly by her desk.
"Sweet dreams are made of this..Who am I to disagree?..I travel the world...And the seven seas..Everybody's looking for something."
"Yup, everybody's looking for something alright..ain't that the truth.." as commented on the song that was playing on the radio while taking yet another less than invigorating sip.
