"Morning Logan." Ashley greeted her boss rushing in.
"Morning Ash, what took you so long?" Logan asked concerned.
"Nothing much boss, I had to tend to my sister before getting here, sorry for the late coming." She apologized.
"No problems Ash, I so much respect you for the lady you've grown up to be. You don't go around engaging in dirty jobs that brings fast pay, rather you're willing to work here despite the small pay." he praised her.
"Thanks boss."
"My pleasure Ashey."
While talking, Emelia, her close friend also came in from where she went to deliver some things.
"Morning Ash." She greeted dropping her pouch.
"Morning Lia. Did the delivery go so well? You are back so quick."
"Yes Ash. Those customers are waiting, go attend to them fast and come back I have something to tell you." She replied pointing out to the waiting customers.
"Sure baby, be right back."
Striding to the customer's table she took her dish chart along;
"Good day sir, what are your orders?"
"I need a plate of two bacon eggs with some loaf of bread and a cup of coffee." He ordered.
"Okay sir, be right back in a few."
Ashley loves music so much. It was some sort of inspiration to her while cooking. She picked her headset placed it on playing wild thoughts by Rihanna. She moved and nodded her head left right to the rythm of the song. In thirty minutes she was done. She placed them on the tray, arranging them to look attractive.
She placed it in front of the man who immediately handed her the bill for the meal. He added extra cash telling her it was a tip for her job well done. She thanked him and went back to her position.
She and Emilia discussed about our private life, served customers and before they both knew it, it was so late in the night.
After closing the shop, they both went their different ways not before bidding each other bye. She walked alone on her street it was alittle bit quiet and dark. She tried to get her phone from her bag so she could on her flashlight. As she did, she suddenly hear some footsteps way so close to her. She turned back swiftly but found no one. Her instinct told me her she was been followed. She began fastening her steps home. She reached her block and faintly saw a shadow of a tall man. She gasped and halted in her steps. Did she just see the shadow or was she hallucinating? She gathered courage and walked over to where she had seen the shadow of a man but found no one. She shrugged off the thought off her head. Maybe it was just her seeing thing that way cause she was scares and it so dark.
She reached her abode to find her sister sleeping soundly on the couch. She carried her and went into the room placing her well on the bed. afterwards, she began undressing her clothes ready to lie beside her when her worthless, irresponsible father came in reeking of alcohol.
"Father why are you home this late?" She questioned wondering if he was the one she had saw earlier but the shadow she had saw was was taller than her father.
"Who are you to question me ?" He asked looking at her in an uncall for way like she were some horrible being not worth seeing.
"I missed mom so much, I wonder where she met an unfortunate man like you. Which father leaves the house not worried about his kids!?" She spat at him.
"You are a good-for-nothing child! An ingrate you are! I knew it the very day you were born. Now leave my sight before I forget you are a girl and hit you." he snapped.
"And you call yourself a father, you want to hit your child who goes out to fend for you and themselves. You are not worth being called one and I would never drop my hard earn money for you to squander on baseless things." She muttered.
"Fine, keep your useless money, but put it in my mind I would deal with you for what you've said today— mark my words." he said going out again into the cold, dangerous night.
Ashley palmed her face. Her mother never listened to her. She'd always tell her not to involve herself in such illegal jobs but then she couldn't be blamed. She was a mother who needed to feed her children including her abusive husband of hers. If she were here she wouldn't have to face the world like she had no one.
She went for the pillows that had fallen when she was addressing her father and slept off...thinking about tommorow's job hoping it blesses her.