Fancy's Not My Name

Dottie Williams, You're Mine

Dottie had grown very thankful for Jake over the past few weeks. His bright smiles and constant flirting were a welcome distraction from the dark cloud that seemed to hang over her house.

Her parents ignored each other. Her Pa's temper seemed to have a much shorter fuse lately.

And now her mother's began disappearing during the day like her father—although not every day like him—and that's left only her to watch over her little brother.

Though she didn't want to do it, Dottie was standing before Joe's closed office door, a nervous sweat coating her palms. Joe's temper had been flaring this past week, which was always frightening.

She heaved a large breath before knocking three times on the solid wooden door.

"Come in!"

She swallowed past the lump in her throat and turned the knob.

Joe was sat comfortably in a large leather chair behind his desk. He was bent over some papers with a chewed up pencil in his hand. His focus was locked on whatever it was he was doing as she walked in.

She was unsure if she should sit or stand. She opted for the former choice as her knees began to wobble.

"Mister Marner, I would like some time off." The request came out as no more than a whisper. Joe paused his work and looked up.

"What was that?" He asked. Dottie swallowed and sat up straighter.

"I was wondering if it was possible to have some time off." She repeated, only louder this time.

Joe fixed her with a blank stare, before his eyes narrowed. Dottie shifted nervously and struggled to hold his gaze.

"You," He pointed his half-eaten pencil at her. "Want time off."

"I do." She responded. He didn't say anything for a moment, and Dottie could feel her heart pounding in her toes.

"It's almost the Fourth of July—our biggest party rush besides Mardi Gras and Christmas—and you want time off?" The words grew sharper and more clipped the longer he spoke.

Dottie opened her mouth to speak but was cut off.

"We'll be understaffed as it is. Besides," He jeered. "Can your family even afford that?"

Dottie blinked as the blatant stab at her family's situation registered. It was no secret her family lived in poverty, but it was rare that anyone at Marie's commented on it. Much less made fun of her for it. Her mouth opened and closed repeatedly; she was at a loss for words.

"Fine, you want time off? How about three weeks. And when you come back, don't expect a good paycheque. Now get out, I'm busy."

Dottie nodded and closed the door softly behind her. She rushed to the bathroom in the employee locker room and slammed the door. Anxiety and panic clogged her throat. She pressed her hand to her mouth to quiet her panicked sobs.

Three weeks without a paycheque. Three weeks without the one thing her family needs to be able to survive.

She'd only wanted a day, maybe two. But when Joe was in a mood, whatever he said couldn't be contested. She wouldn't work for three weeks, and that was final.

~&&~

At the end of her shift, Dottie ignored the tip jar and went straight for her locker. She kept the few tips she'd earned hidden in her pockets. She hadn't earned much in extra, but her family would need it.