Page 19 of Break Room

THE DALLERGUT DEPARTMENT STORE RUSH HOUR

It is Penny’s first day of work, and she is already running late, gasping and panting, with beads of sweat on the bridge of her nose.

She had a celebratory dinner with her family yesterday before chatting the night away with her friends, hence the oversleeping.

The call with Assam went on for an especially long time as he was very keen to know every detail about how helpful his book had been.

‘So when you said that, how did his face change again? Oh, my goodness, that book was indeed the silver bullet! You know, the book I gave, right?’

Penny promised to treat him well, finally making him hang up the phone.

Today, the city is especially swarming with locals and sleep customers.

Penny quickly pushes through the crowd, frequently bumping into their shoulders and apologising.

She finally catches her breath when she arrives at the back alley of the DallerGut Department Store. It looks like she can make it on time.

The alley is filled with the savoury scents of roasted fruits and boiling milk. Having not eaten today, Penny looks around to see if she can pick up a fruit skewer on the go, but the line is too long.

‘What’s up with today? So many people,’ says one of the food-truck cooks, overwhelmed.

He is flipping over fruit skewers on the grill using one hand and whipping a massive pot with a ladle with his other hand.

Caramelised onion milk is boiling inside the pot.

It is a popular recipe known for helping people fall into a deep sleep.

Several customers are already sipping onion milk from their mugs in front of the food truck. Some older people look relaxed and satisfied, while some kids have a sip and immediately scowl. One kid deliberately spills milk on the floor.

‘No waste on the floor, please!’ A Noctiluca appears out of nowhere, shaking his furry paws as he steps in between the kids and Penny.

A lot smaller than Assam, he starts wiping the milk from the floor, grumbling.

Penny quickly moves away so as not to get any milk on her socks.

She is not wearing shoes today, as she wanted to run fast and comfortably.

It is not uncommon to walk without shoes here. The street has a strict sanitary policy to ensure it is as clean as indoor floors because sleeping customers rarely wear shoes. Naturally, the locals have also taken to walking in socks for a quick stroll.

But this has caused an unexpected crisis for the Leprechauns, who have been artisan shoemakers for generations.

People now shop more for socks and less for shoes, which has led to less business in their shoe store.

The Leprechauns have since ventured out to expand their business areas by boldly tapping into the dream-production industry too.

Assam told Penny that their revenues soared by 1,000% after their business expansion.

That sounds believable, given that the Leprechauns’ shoe store has just moved from the cheap corner spot to a bigger space in the main street.

As she passes, Penny glances at the Leprechauns’ store window display, located right next to the DallerGut Dream Department Store. It has a big sign and lots of other product posters here and there, making it hard to see the inside of the store.

Looking for Winged Shoes, Lightspeed Skate Shoes, and Special Flippers for Graceful Swimming?

Come inside! Interested in a Flying Dream, Sprinting Dream, or Swimming Dream that harnesses the essence of the Leprechauns’ master technology?

Visit us in the DallerGut Dream Department Store next door, on the third floor!

‘Papa, can I have winged shoes?’ a girl asks her dad.

‘Those shoes can break quickly, sweetie. The best shoes do not need additional functions, just strong soles.’

‘Wah-wah! I won’t go if you don’t buy me the shoes.’ She flops down, throwing a temper tantrum.

Penny passes the father and daughter and finally arrives at the Dream Department Store.

She pulls out a pair of loafers from her purse and does a last-minute check on her face with a palm-sized mirror.

Her bobbed hair looks especially poised today.

With her tiny nose and big, gentle eyes, her first impression doesn’t seem too bad.

The only downside is the wrinkled blouse she forgot to iron, but she can do nothing about it now.

As she steps inside the department store, she is instantly enmeshed in the enormous throng of customers. At the lobby’s front desk, an employee is making announcements with a microphone. It is the same middle-aged woman Penny saw yesterday, who was busy on the phone.

‘Attention to the outsiders only. All costs are deferred payments! You may leave once you receive your dream! Hey, Dojicom siblings! That doesn’t apply to you.

You guys come and pay first!’ A young, freckled brother and sister get caught trying to sneak through the back door. They trudge toward the front desk.

Penny is confused about whether she should go to DallerGut’s office first or just change into the employee uniform, an apron. Dilly-dallying between the crowds, she is instantly grabbed by the hem and pushed behind the front desk by someone.

‘You’re new today, right? Nice to meet you.

Now keep on your toes. We have a busy day today.

’ The middle-aged woman who was just giving announcements smiles at Penny.

‘My name is Weather,’ she continues. ‘I am the manager of the first floor. But these titles are useless, so just call me Weather. I have a daughter around your age and a baby boy. Been working here for thirty years. Should be enough for my introduction!’

She seems genuinely bright and cool, except she looks exhausted today. Her red curly hair is drooping feebly, and her voice has gone raspy.

‘Hello, Weather. I’m Penny. Yes, today is my first day here. And so . . . What should I do first?’

‘DallerGut asked me to give you a guide to the store. As you know, each of our five floors sells different genres of dreams. You don’t need to worry about the first floor – DallerGut and myself, with other veteran employees, handle the customers here.

From the second to the fifth floor, you will go upstairs and meet each floor manager.

They will explain their floors to you. Then, you will tell us which floor you want to work on.

But if none of the managers like you, well, you may have to go home . . .’

Penny is all wound up, blinking her large eyes in shock.

‘I was just joking.’ Weather shakes her hand. She looks hot, and as she takes off her jacket, her shirt is drenched with sweat, even with the air conditioning. ‘Now, off you go. I must get back to work. So many people today.’

Penny heads out from the front desk. Weather quickly disappears out of sight, hidden by a flock of customers pushing toward the front desk.

But Penny can hear her yelling, ‘How about “The Reunion with an Old Friend” product? There is only one left in stock on the second floor! Were you asking what kind of old friend it would be? I have no idea! Possibly one of your childhood friends that you still remember?’

‘“Three Nights in the Maldives” was out of stock as soon as they came in.’

‘I’m sorry, but this dream is already reserved. No ripping the package!’

‘Chuck Dale’s “Five Senses of Sensual Dream Series” was just taken a minute ago by a group of teenage customers.’

‘All floors will be sold out soon. ALL SOLD OUT SOON!’

Away from Weather’s desperate calls, Penny turns toward the elevator.

There is already a long line of people waiting, so she decides to take the staircase next to DallerGut’s office.

She wonders if she should stop by and say hello, but decides to return later after seeing a handwritten sign that reads ‘Temporarily Away’.

DallerGut’s printer must still be broken.

The wooden staircases are so steep that by the time Penny reaches the second floor, her thighs already feel numb.

At least she won’t need any additional workouts if she uses these staircases for work.

At first glance, the second floor looks clean, without a speck of dust. With a simple wooden interior style and evenly placed lighting fixtures, even the product tags look as consistent as clockwork.

Most of the display stands are empty, but the few items still in stock are placed at exactly the same angle, each with the same ribbon tied to them.

The employees in their aprons walk around the display stands, extremely conscientious and anxious as they look after the customers, who are examining products and then putting them back in a disorderly fashion.

While the first floor sells only a handful of high-end, popular or limited-edition, pre-ordered products, the second floor sells more generic dreams. Also known as ‘The Daily’ corner, the second floor displays dreams of simplicity, like going on quick getaways, hanging out with friends, and enjoying good food.

In front of the staircase where Penny stands is a display stand marked ‘Memories’. Inside it is a luxurious leather case labelled: ‘No Refund Once Unsealed’. Only a few dreams remain inside.

‘What is this dream about?’ After looking around at the products, a woman calls for an employee.

‘It’s about childhood memories, where one of your favourite memories will replay in your dream!

The stories may be different depending on the dreamer.

In my case, I had a dream where I lay on my mother’s lap while she cleaned my ears.

Her scent and the languid atmosphere – it was all so real.

It was wonderful.’ The employee stares into space, daydreaming.

‘I’ll have it, then. Can I buy several of them?’

‘Of course. Many of our customers buy two or three a night.’