Wolfdale

FOUR (Iselen P.O.V)

"Well, now you know where everything is in the studio. You can start by checking every cabinet and workstation, writing a list of bottles of inks and other supplies like gloves or needles you may need to restock them and bring all that from the stockroom. Then you'll sweep the floor and sort out the receipts from that folder. Oh! And don't forget that the delivery boy will be here in a few minutes with new inks I've ordered: you'll have to sign the delivery note, catalogue them and place them in the stockroom shelves. Customers will start arriving soon too, check my appointment book where all the details about the tattoo they want are noted down; I need you to get ready the workstations with the specific supplies I need for each customer... and tidy them up when I finish. You'll have to answer the telephone too. If you have any questions... I'll be in the office. Let me know when my first appointment arrives."

With those words my boss says goodbye and leaves me in the middle of the studio blinking in surprise. Apparently, I have a busy day ahead of me, I don't mind working hard... the problem is that I feel a bit lost, I don't even know where he keeps the broom. Actually, my day has been horrible from the moment my lovely neighbour Anna woke me up half an hour before my alarm went off... who would've thought that the sweet old lady loved listening to opera at full volume before 7:30 a.m. Some delivery trucks joined the soprano honking the horn nonstop and one of those almost ran me over when I crossed the street. Then I got into the studio and my boss started talking at full speed, explaining where everything was... at least, that's what I think since it was difficult to understand him and remember all those instructions he was giving me at the same time, till he finally went to his office leaving an immense burden of work over my shoulders. Only two good things happened: Anna gave me some homemade cookies as a 'welcome breakfast,' they're the only thing I've eaten today, and a guy who is a fan of classic cars came out of nowhere to tell me that he was Grey's cousin and that he wouldn't mind to take a look at my old wreck. I told him that I wouldn't be able to pay him for fixing it but he didn't care.

"What a pity considering that my day ended very well yesterday!" I think while I start listing the supplies I need to restock each cabinet before going to the stockroom. I forced myself to eat slowly the sandwich and apple my neighbour gave me despite I was starving, this isn't the first time I spend some days without eating and then I stuff myself chewing big bites to finally vomiting everything. I charged my phone while I had the longest and most wonderful hot shower of my entire life. I also washed and soaked some clothes, I don't know where the closest laundry is but I don't mind to hand wash some T-shirts temporarily as long as I can wear clean clothes. I've even found a little iron inside one cabinet so I wouldn't go to work with my T-shirt wrinkled. Everything was perfect.

As soon as I turned on my phone, several texts from my friend Sebastian started to arrive. He seemed worried and I called him despite there wasn't much money left in my prepaid card. We only talked for two minutes but it was enough to calm him down when I told him about my new job, my boss, my lovely neighbour and my new studio. The only thing I couldn't tell him was the name of the place where I was living... because I had no idea of what was the name of the city. I frown when I realize I still don't know, I turn around and walk to the reception desk where I start to rummage in the drawers... it must be written somewhere... here it is! The address of the studio on the delivery note of a package: 'Red Maple Street... Wolfdale.' Well, the name of the street makes sense since there's a park with those trees down the block. The name of the city... I've never heard about this place in my life and I wouldn't be able to find it in a map. I shrug it off... I can ask my boss later about it. I'd better go to the stockroom to collect those supplies before customers start coming.

Last night I was tempted to call my mother just to let her know that I was okay, I want to believe that she's worried about me instead of just being relieved now that the bone of contention between her and her husband has vanished, but I eventually decided against it. I don't want to give her a clue of where I am, the pastor would be able to come for me with the cops... I don't forget that he tried to declare me crazy and locked me up once.