babydolls (h.s)

two

MACI

The day has gone slow. Even though there hasn't been an overwhelming amount of customers, the ones that have come asked for a lot.

"Hey, can you take the order for stall ten for me? I've got five through seven to still do." Dominic says. I nod as he walks out the door.

There was only Dominic, Lilly, and Maddison working with me today. Lily is new, so I have been training her for the week. She gets the drinks together and puts them on my tray, following me as I push open the door. I skate my way over to stall number ten. After giving the man his food and giving his change of eleven cents back, I throw the change in my coin pouch and head my way back.

"Why does that blinker turn from green to red? Can you still use it?" Lily asks, pointing to the fryer. I go over to it.

"Green means it's at the right temperature and ready to cook. Red means it's too hot and needs the temperature adjusted."

She nods. "Ohh."

I smile at her as I hand her the tray on the counter. "Your turn. Stall twelve."

She takes it and skates out the door.

As the little bell rings and she exits, I hear someone clear their throat. I look behind me and see Mr. Oswald's glare on me. "Maci, Maddison, I need you both in my office, please."

I look over towards the drink section and see her blonde hair flick towards us. She looks at me and back at Mr. Oswald.

I set my things down and skate towards the little door in the back after Maddison.

When we walk in the small office, I follow Maddison and sit in one of the chairs. She crosses her legs stares me up and down.

"Please, sit." Mr. Oswald speaks.

I sit up straight. My heart is pounding; something is up.

"I called you in here because you two were the only ones working last Friday between 5 in the evening to closing time. Now, I was here early that morning. When I left, I accidentally left my watch on my desk. I decided to wait until Monday to come retrieve it. When I got here, I unlock my office and see none other than my watch missing. Now I know exactly where I left it, and I know it was here. What happened to it? I don't know."

My eyes got big and my mouth dropped open. I look over at Maddison and see a shocked look on her face also.

He fiddles with his pen. "Now I know you two are stupendous workers and trustworthy, but something just isn't adding up here."

I furrow my eyebrows.

"Mr. Oswald, I'm not trying to be too blunt here, but can't you just look at the camera footage?"

He shakes his head. "The power was cut off Thursday by the storm that blew through. The system failed to power back on and hasn't been recording since then."

He looks down at his hands. "Now, this wouldn't be such a big deal if that watch wasn't so sentimental. My wife gave that to me before she passed. So, getting that watch back is very important to me. With that being said, do either of you two have anything to say?"

"Well," Maddison spoke up, "I asked Maci to close up around ten and left before her. My head hurt, so I left early."

Mr. Oswald directed his glance to me. "So you locked up, Maci?"

I nervously nodded. "Yes sir. I locked up, but I never came in this room that day. I swear."

I watch him slide over a sticky note and write something down. My stomach churns.