Standarding Up

Chapter Four: I Want You To Want Me

   Jojo gathered us all around after a long break I called the weekend. Even after a break, I was looking forward my next two days off. Plus, the entire weekend I did laundry. Which was no fun at all. Wrinkles lined Jojo's forehead and around her eyes. Her face was pale and so was her lips. No make-up for Jojo today. Something was up, I didn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.

   "Girls, I have something important to tell you. I have to uh, get some tests done. I've been feeling really tired lately and can't keep anything down. The doctors want to make sure I don't have, uh cancer after the results of minor illnesses came back negative. So, until I come back, my sister is going to run over this establishment." Before the last word could even come out of her mouth, a young lady with a business suit walked out. Her mouth was moving too, but she was talking to someone using her ear piece.

   She clicked a button, quite possibly to end the call. "Hello ladies. I'm your new boss, Mona. Until Joanne gets done with her mid-life crisis that is." Her voice was monotone but still cold, enough to create icicles.

   I looked over at Jojo, who was silently picking at her fingernails. Her pretty, round shaped face looked pained. I couldn't let this new bitch talk badly about her while she was within range. Who cares if she was younger? Who cares if she's richer? No one needs to be talked to like that. Jojo was going through enough as it was.

   "Um, Mona," She turned towards me, a frown plastered on her face, "look, Jojo's going through a lot and I think she'd appreciate if you'd talk more kindly about her to her employers."

   Compared to the look she was giving me, Satan looked like an angel. "That's no way to treat your new boss. If Joanne does not like the way she is spoken to, she can tell me herself. Do you understand?"

   "That's no way to treat the people that bring you money." I hissed back. Holding my ground was something I'd always been good at.

   The other girls had slithered behind Jojo, their faces frightful. If I could in any way ever look back on this, I'd laugh at how closely we resembled a shoot-out in the old western days. All we were lacking were sand, cowboy boots, and pistols. "Look, you're just one of the girls making my daddy rich. You would not be missed at all. You're just a little slut and that's all you'll ever be."

   "You weren't even needed. And, by the way, you're just a huge fucking bitch! I'd like to see you try half the shit I do for a living."

   "That's it! You're-" Jojo cut her off.

   "Mona, you know the rules. You can't fire or hire any of my girls. Daddy said so."

   "Daddy, daddy, daddy! You're a nut job, but I will respect his wishes darling Joanne." With that, she left with the sharp click clack of her stilettos.

   As soon as she was out of hearing range, I turned to Jojo. "Please don't tell me I have to listen to that thing for more than a day."

  She let out a long sigh, "Please Wynter, for the sake of this business and the girls, be civil towards Mona. Our father made her and she isn't too happy about the new position."

   "Well, that sucks big dick, but that doesn't give her any right to be rude and disrespectful to us. Can I like take a sick leave until you come back?" I begged her.

   She walked up slowly and kissed my cheek. She then went to the other girls giving them farewell kisses too. She waved her goodbye and off she went. No tears were shed until after we knew she was long gone. We didn't want to give her a bad, lasting memory of crying women. We needed to be strong for her. Even though she wasn't my mother, she pretty much acted as one. She was kind and gentle some things my mother was never.