Flash Nano 6 The School Cafeteria

Flash Nano 6  The School Cafeteria 

“Ted and I had a huge fight.” Alice wrote in her journal. He wants me to quit my job.

I won’t.

He thinks I should enjoy my free time. The law firm where I worked laid me off. I was 59. After years, starting in high school all through uni and law school, every second of my day and a lot of my night was committed to work stuff. After I married and Gigi was born, I still worked.

The first two months of my so-called liberty were awful. I had nothing to do. Nothing to fill up my time.

Then I saw an ad for a cafeteria worker at the local state university.  “You’ll never get it,” Ted said. He was wrong. That was two years ago.

At first, I just served food as students came through the line. Then, they put me on the cash register.

What do I love about it?

The students.

Today, Donna waddled in. “Good news, Alice. Professor Martin says if I’m in labor or just home after my baby is born, I can take the final later.” Professor Martin was notorious for not giving make up exams.

“Way to go,” I said.

There’s Peter. He’s on scholarship and works around his classes to give money to his mother. His major is biology. I sometimes slip him an apple for health or a cookie for pleasure.

Laura, a drama major, is looking sad. Professor Thompson has broken up with her, I guess. He goes from student to student, and so far, the powers that be have done nothing to stop him.

The business majors tend to be arrogant. I do my best to de-arrogant them.

“Do you have a laptop?” Jason a tech major asks.

I nod.

“I’m starting a small business to help people who need laptop help.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I wish I needed help to help him, but I’ve been pretty good on computers since forever. I will tell others about him though.

“I can’t go home for Christmas,” Angela tells me. She’s one of our foreign students.

“If you don’t find some where to go to, come to my house.” The words fall out of my mouth before I think of Ted. Then I wonder how many students will be stuck in the dorm. Maybe I can have a Christmas Eve party for them. If Ted might be upset at one student, he can be upset at many. And maybe, just maybe, he would see what I liked about my job.

My hours are ten to two. It means no need to rush out of bed to get to the office before seven. After work, I have time to walk in the park. At this time of year, it is too cold to sit for a long time, but for short spells, I can enjoy the piles of colored leaves that have not been taken away yet.

There’s time to go to the library and check out all the books, I could never sandwich reading into my schedule.

Ted says we should be free to travel. He doesn’t specify where. I point out I don’t work July, August, Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks.

I glance at my watch as I open the cash register. I see Katie heading toward me. I wonder if she finished that history paper she was worried about.

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