Firework of happiness

3

Julia was about to turn on the washing machine when her cell phone rang.

Her cousin was on the other end of the line, wanting to know if she'd be interested in helping out at a wedding on short notice. Of course, the young woman agreed spontaneously because it was always fun and well paid. Her cousin ran a catering business and was always grateful. Pouring drinks and handing the guests little things on various platters wasn't too much effort either, and one was given smart work clothes.

And since everything had been a bit hasty anyway and the two lovebirds had decided to take it easy, Julia didn't think it was necessary to tell him either.

Why? It was a wedding and not some bar where he could join.

On the said day ...

"Another Bacardi-Cola," a girl slurred, shaking the empty glass in front of Julia's face. The red-haired woman had already seen too many alcoholic corpses in her professional career. The girl with the long black hair, whose eyes were already looking in different directions, didn't seem to be able to stand on her feet anymore either.

"Don't you think you've had enough?" Julia asked cautiously.

"No, you serve here, so serve me!" she screamed.

Julia would've put her at fifteen as skinny as this girl was. The straps of the light blue dress kept slipping off her shoulder, and somehow it looked two sizes too big.

...

Young people and alcohol were such a topic, but Julia wasn't in a position to say anything. So she poured a new glass so as not to start an argument.

This girl danced in place with some other teenagers, screeching, laughing, and almost tripping to the tune of Purple Rain.

"Where are her parents?" her colleague murmured busy slicing lemons. Julia had only a shrug as an answer.

Then the first glass shattered on the floor, which only got the girl a giggle, and since it seemed so much fun, she grabbed her friend's glass and just dropped it.

Provocatively she looked at Julia, after which the young woman bit her lip and then tensed everything in her body before closing her eyes with a deep sigh.

"One more," the teenager grinned cheekily, but Julia shook her head and asked about her parents instead. "I'm alone here."

But before the parents were judged, Julia thought back to her own youth, and although she certainly hadn't acted like that, she'd enjoyed this freedom.

"That's enough!"

The third glass smashed on the floor, and Julia angrily crawled under the table at the front of the bar, grabbed the girl's arm, and pulled her out the door amid her screeches and the guests' looks. It wasn't difficult to keep the skinny girl under control, and all attempts to resist failed. Hysterical giggles mingled with various curses, but it took a lot of effort to calm the girl down.

After five minutes, she suddenly burst into tears, and Julia was surprised by this mood swing and a little overwhelmed.

After another minute, the black-haired teenager stormed into the lady's room and locked herself.

Julia took the opportunity and went looking for her cousin to tell her to take care of this girl. The guests were on their way home anyway, and the staff would manage without additional help. Armed with the jackets, Julia knocked in vain on the door – after all, it was winter.

So the young woman just let herself sink to the floor and listened to the sobs, repeatedly interrupted to vent problems.

Her mother was an alcoholic, and at this point, Julia figured the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Her father left them when she was almost seven.