Page 9 of The Good Char (Soul Taker)

The sun’s rays hit my face with a gentle warmth and I snapped my eyes open before blinking some of the sleep away.

It was time.

Biting my bottom lip, I rubbed my eyes and jumped out of bed, quickly going through my morning routine and peeking out my bedroom door.

The house was quiet. I strained my ears for a few more moments, making sure my parents had already left for the restaurant. Their hours of operations were much earlier than The Good Char and what once used to annoy me now worked to my advantage.

I wasn’t sure if my mother would stay behind for another talk and as I tiptoed down the stairs, I was glad she didn’t.

“Oh, I’m so excited. Another day as an independent woman!” I whispered to myself as I put on my helmet securely. Grabbing my bicycle, I walked it toward the sidewalk and hopped on, humming as I rode along the street, headed to my job and to see Mr. Dzik.

I had work to do and a job that I actually enjoyed. I spread my arms wide while pedaling, enjoying everything life had to offer. The sun was out and the air was fresh. It was a weekday and many of the neighborhood cars had already left their homes, leaving my neighborhood quiet.

The closer I got to the mall, the more the traffic picked up and I swerved as best I could away from them to make it to work safely.

When I arrived at Hellscape Mall, the door was already unlocked for me by the friendly security guard.

I gave him a bright smile and waved. His smile was a crooked one but it lit up his face as he welcomed me in.

I quickly made my way to the food court and watched as the other workers began to set up their bays. With a little skip to my step, I made it down to the very end, to my new little corner of joy.

“Hey, Mr. Dzik!” I called out, quickly grabbing my apron and putting it on with purpose.

“Hey. Get stuff prepped for service,” he instructed gruffly without looking at me.

He put the wieners on the grill and I watched them rotate over and over, glazing until they got that good char. I couldn’t help but notice that Mr. Dzik was wearing all black again under his apron. I wondered if he had any other colors in his closet.

Though, I shouldn’t be wondering what was in his closet at all because now I was wondering what he looked like under his?—

“There’s a uniform for you in the corner. Put it on.”

My eyes widened. I’m official! This is it! I jumped in place with my hands clasped in front of me, trying to contain my excitement.

I quickly excused myself to the back room and put on my uniform and hat. It fit me like a glove. How did he know my size so well? I came back out to the front and set up the cash register with more passion behind my movements.

I caught Mr. Dzik looking at me curiously and I sheepishly shrugged my shoulders. I couldn’t help it.

My excitement was able to simmer as it was a slow morning, the weekday keeping a lot of patrons away until they got off work.

The silence between Mr. Dzik and I made me replay everything that happened with my parents last night in a loop. The longer I thought about it, the more frustration seeped into my being once again. I didn’t like this feeling. I just wanted to be happy.

“Hey, Mr. Dzik?—”

“It’s Dzik.”

“You’ll never believe what my parents said about me working here.”

“I don’t care to know, just work,” he said coldly. He must be tired from opening up the store. I didn’t blame him.

“They called you Mr. Dick, and they just couldn’t understand that I enjoy working here with you. I appreciate having this job, truly. I look forward to coming in all the time, to, you know, work here, with you.”

Embarrassment washed over me. I sounded like a dork. Good job, Kimmy.

He gave me a puzzled look, his jaw clenching and nostrils flaring. What I thought was a constipated look, I had come to find was something else. It must be his serious look. I liked looking at his face.

“Just work. I don’t need to know,” he gritted out again, completely ignoring what I was saying.

It reminded me of my parents. And now my frustration amped up a little more, my mouth rambling before I could control myself.

“They just want me to work at their restaurant and be under their thumb non-stop. I’m a woman and I don’t need their approval to work where I want to work,” I huffed, rolled my eyes and placed my hand on my hip.

“I’m not a little girl anymore. No, sir.

I am all woman. You know they asked me if I was on drugs and if I was pregnant?

They had some nerve. I’m actually a really good person, Mr.Dzik. ”

His nostrils flared again and I blinked back my unshed tears. I didn’t know why I was so emotional about all this. I shouldn’t even be thinking about it. I should just enjoy working beside my nice boss and go about my day.

“Is your stuff ready for the lunch rush?” he said dryly. A quick glance at the clock told me we had about thirty minutes before it was time.

Why was he ignoring me? Maybe he was trying to keep things strictly professional and I could understand that. I know he hears me and he cares about me. I can tell.

Mr. Dzik went to the other side and began working the batter with the giant spoon. I watched as the muscles on his back and arms flexed. He was a very fit man. The more he worked the batter, the more I became lost in his rhythmic movements.

Look at him go! That was a man who was proud of his work. I admired that about him. Actually, I admired a lot about Mr. Dzik. My face flushed when I caught myself staring at his profile, hoping to catch a smile. I bet he had an amazing smile.

Get it together, Kimmy. You don't need to be looking at him like that, he's your boss.

Mr. Dzik’s back tensed up right before he snapped his head over his shoulders to look directly at me. I blushed and giggle-coughed, before turning away, pretending to be busy dusting off the register.

An idea crossed my mind and I spontaneously went for it.

I dropped my pencil onto the floor and slowly bent down to pick it up, to see if he would check me out the same way I did him.

I mean, I think I had a nice, firm butt.

Why wouldn’t he look? When I finally picked it up and looked over my shoulder, he was already back to doing whatever he was doing on the other side.

Ugh. That was a major fail. Maybe I should just get back to work. Serves you right, Kimmy.

Embarrassment now laced my prior frustrations as I pulled up the stool, sat down, placed my chin in my hand and watched the patrons of Hellfire Mall make their way toward the food area with their arms full of shopping bags.

A couple of young boys came toward the counter.

“We should eat before we go meet the girls,” I heard one of them say.

I straightened in my seat and offered them a kind smile, waiting for their order.

“Speaking of girls, how are you doing, pretty little thing. Do you have a boyfriend?” the second, older looking boy threw my way as he swaggered toward the counter and leaned in.

He gave me a smirk that made his face look weird and I frowned in confusion when his demeanor immediately changed and he backed up.

Did I smell or something? I know I showered this morning and I didn’t think I sweated too much on the ride here. I pretended to wipe my brow to discreetly smell myself. No, I smell fine.

“Either put in your order, or move out the way,” came a deep, gruff voice over my head. I tilted my head back to see Mr. Dzik standing right behind me, focusing a laser glare directly at the two boys in front of me.

“Oh, Mr. Dzik! Did you want to take this order? Did you want to switch places?” I asked chirpily.

He had such a lovely, strong jaw from this angle—one that was currently flexing.

I wonder what was bothering him? I straightened my head forward to see a new set of patrons in front of us.

I guess the boys changed their minds, after all.

Maybe they were late to their dates or something.

Shrugging, I gave the next set of patrons a smile.

Mr. Dzik left and went to the back room grumbling. That was weird. I wondered what was up with him. Maybe he was having a bad day too. I didn’t have time to ask him about it as the lunch rush started to line up at our counter.

“Mommy, Mommy! I want a corndog!” a cute little girl cried out, pulling her mother by the sleeve toward our counter.

I fulfilled a few of the orders alone since Mr. Dzik hadn’t returned from the back.

It was pretty easy. The fryer was vicious though.

With my five feet three height, the oils threatened to slatter against the exposed skin on my neck.

I quickly made my way back to the counter to take the next order: the little girl’s.

“What are you doing?” Mr. Dzik barked behind me, making me jump in surprise.

I placed my hand on my chest and growled, turning to hit him on the arm. “Don’t scare me like that! I almost felt my soul leave my body. Geez.”

I quickly turned around with a smile and took the next order and ran to the fryer, placing the hot corndog on a paper tray and handing it to the customer.

“Thank you so very much. Come again!” I called out, waving at them. The little girl waved back with a face full of ketchup and cooked corndog batter. I giggled at the sight and my mood was lifted again.

Once the lunch rush began to die down, Mr. Dzik grabbed my arm and pulled me aside. I gave him a smile as I wiped my brow.

“That was a lot of hard work. We did it though! We make a great team, you and I.”

“What were you doing near the grill?” he snapped irritably as if I kicked his imaginary dog, confusing me because he didn’t look like the kind of guy to have a dog. “I told you to stay away from it!”

“I wasn’t by the grill, really, I was by the fryer. I had to complete the orders. You were gone,” I told him confidently.

He glared at me for a few seconds before shaking his head and releasing my arm. His hands were so large and warm. I kind of liked the way they felt on me. My face flushed again the moment the thought ran through my mind.

Mr. Dzik's eyes narrowed as I quickly made my way to obsessively clean the counter, hoping he didn’t notice my reaction to him.

“Oh, it looks like I forgot a spot,” I hummed.

Awkward silence.

I was sweating but I kept a smile on my face.

Oh, this was so embarrassing.

“Don’t forget to clean around the fryer. You made a mess in your rush.” His voice was softer this time around and I inwardly groaned.

He did notice.

“Yes, sir.”