Craving Purity

07

Work was the last place Levi wanted to go. He didn't trust those psychopaths to leave him alone and work was an open facility where anyone could come and go, so he was tense as he started his early shift.

"Do you feel okay, Levi?" the shift manager, Fredi asked in his thick Italian accent.

"Yes," Levi said in a stiff tone, going back to making a hot chocolate and ignoring Fredi's follow up questions.

He didn't mind his manager, but Fredi had a bad habit of talking and going on when he didn't need to, and his accent made it hard to understand him, so Levi felt bad whenever Fredi waited for him to answer and Levi had no clue what he said.

Fredi handed him another cup with the order scribbled on the side. "Are you sure?" he pestered, making change for the lady at the desk. "You seem like a board."

"A board?"

"You are uptight like a board."

"Stiff? Tense?" Levi tried, searching for the word that Fredi was trying to use.

Fredi smiled. "Yes! Stiff! You are as stiff as a board!" he exclaimed.

Levi couldn't hold in a small laugh over Fredi's excitement. "I've had a bad weekend," he said, and Fredi gave him a sorrowful look.

"You need the spa," Fredi said, poking Levi's tense back and wincing. "No, you need a massage. To get the board out of your back."

"Maybe I'll look into it when I have enough money for a massage and to pay rent," he muttered, handing a lady her iced coffee, only for her to push it back.

"I said I wanted it with almond milk," she spat, glaring at Levi.

Levi glanced at the milk he used, which was still sitting on the counter. "I did use almond milk, ma'am," he said, trying to convince his mind not to roll his eyes.

"No! I saw you use whole milk!" she screeched, and Levi was about to fight back, but he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"This hag does this every week," Fredi mumbled, grabbing the drink and holding it out to the lady. "You take the drink or you don't shop here anymore!"

The lady glared at Fredi. "Now I know why it's messed up!" she exclaimed. "You shouldn't work here unless you speak English, idiot! Remake my drink!"

Levi picked up the almond milk from behind the counter and opened it. "One almond milk special, coming up," he said, pouring it in a sixteen ounce cup and splashing it on her face.

"Let's hope this is not that TV show," Fredi said, scared of Levi's sudden and impulsive reaction.

"What show?" Levi asked, as the lady wiped off the almond milk in horror.

"Hidden leader," Fredi said. "Where the leader of the company hides and later shows themself."

Levi felt a smile tugging at his lips. "Undercover Boss?" he asked and Fredi nodded excitedly.

The lady finally got over her shock and tried to grab the cup of coffee, but Levi took it away. "Give me that, now! It's the least you can do!" she yelled, now drawing the attention of other customers seated at tables.

"No, you're harassing workers in attempts to get free coffee and being culturally insensitive. You can feel free to get out and never come back," Levi said, holding the coffee in his hand. "Get out or I'll give you wave two of your almond milk special."

The lady stomped away.

"Feel free to complain to your hag friends on Facenovel!" Fredi complained.