Quiet, only the ceiling speaker playing faintly in the background, some pop music that seems to never get off the damn Radio.
Fry cooking machines beeping in the background being ignored, humidity in the air with the faintest smell of fry oil.
My break had about 10 minutes left, I was watching some videos on my iphone 6, cracked on the edge from a recent accident.
I have to find some way to get out of this dead end job, been working here at Biggie Bites these last 4 years, and just about had it.
My weiner dog Milo, had been acting so strangely, his belly getting large though I had been feeding him the same PupMunch I always had.
The vet had told me he had Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), life threatening shit right there.
His Procedure would cost me $4500 that does include post operative care.
I was at a terrible spot financially, $45 in my bank account, a sorry credit score of 430, making a pitiful $11.55 an hour part time working overnight 25 hours a week just to help my family out with bills, I just have to find a way out.
I was watching some motivational videos about saving money investing and the typical bullshit for an average person who could even afford to do all that, don't even know why i am even watching it, just the damn algorithm doing it's thing I suppose.
As I kept scrolling I came across a video that had Clips of thieves, shoplifters getting away easily with merchandise from stores, one of the simplest to get through look to be Home Improvement stores, they just follow you around and ask if you need help.
The employees have to follow strict protocol they cannot touch or stop people walking out with $3000 worth of Drills, Pressure washers, all kinds of expensive shit.
They sometimes mask up with a hoodie so there can't be a way to be caught, especially after the Pandemic, nobody bats an eye if you wear a mask. I just have to find a way out.
I have 3 more hours to this shift, I stand up and take a walk to the door, my Shift Manager Clarissa walks up to the front counter.
She is 5'4 and 19 years old and wore a Grey manager polo that doesn't quite fit her in the arms, medium black dyed hair that is swept to the left but held down by the Black Biggie Bites Baseball cap, it has a bold orange Brim that casts a shadow onto her face, that makes her appear tougher than really she is. Her Blue eyes gaze at me strongly and our gazes lock
"You have 4 minutes, Nessa" she sternly told me, as if I didn't already know.
"Yeah I know Boss, give me just a minute" I told her while turning my body to face the exit door.
"3 more minutes, then 3 more hours" i thought to myself while walking through the doorway, i need to unwind but also get some pep in my step.
I pulled out the Cotton candy flavored Disposable Vape, this brand was made in the USA suppose if i was inhaling chemicals they should at least be domestic.
The night was quiet in Corpus Christi Texas, somewhat humid yet still cool this time of February.
I flicked the on button at the base of the pink Freak Bar then wrapped my lips around the soft plastic mouthpiece and pulled a quick puff into my mouth then inhaled it deeply into my lungs.
This model, like most disposables, uses Nicotine salts so it's fast acting but strong.
One improper inhale could make anybody start coughing rather violently and I did not want to be hacking up a lung out here at 2:30am.
There was a Original Monster Energy Drink in my left hand, it was just 3 sips or 1 large gulp away from being empty.
I brought the can up to my mouth and finished it off, the sweet and salty flavor giving me a rush.
I felt ready for the last few hours of what I thought was going to be an uneventful shift, just thinking about Milo, and my plan to get out of this damn mess.
For my family, I just have to find a way out.
After tossing the Can away, I walked back in through the rear Exit door, it was kept open by a little rubber door stop.
I kicked it out of the way and had the door just slam behind me.
Clarrissa walked up to me with some urgency,
"I was waiting for you Vanessa!" She told me with frustration.
It's not common for her to use my full name, it had the same connotation as when your parents call you by your First Middle and Last Name.
I told her I was here on time but I noticed a thick white liquid covering the dark red tiles of the floor, completely opaque and thick.
Clarissa must have caught on that I noticed it behind her because she snapped at me,
"You see that? She questioned in such a gritting tone
"You were responsible to clean the Shake machine, am I wrong?"
Yeah I cleaned it, but did I forget an O-ring or something?
"I did clean it" I told her with conviction, looking down at her.
"It looks like there is some kind of leak from it, I suppose that's what happens when our company reuses the o-rings, even with lube they will dry out over time"
She looks at me like I blamed her for it.
"So now we don't have our shake machine working, now what?" I asked her presumptively as if she already had an answer.
Before she could speak I walked toward the store's cleaning bay with the faucet, Yellow Mop bucket and an old raggedy mop. I turned on to the hottest point and began filling the bucket up.
"I'll start cleaning this mess, and i'll let you take care of draining the machine " I urged.
Clarissa wasn't having it, she looked at me in such an authoritative way. How did this kid even get a Manager job? She must've been working here since she was 16 to get into the position as young as she was.
She asked me to get the Shake machine ready to be refitted and also mop up the mess it created, not a terrible task per se. I just wish she could have done something to help out instead of just commanding me.
It's a simple process, but the leaking Shake product made it tougher to get a grip on the important parts that require turning and pulling.
Soon enough i get to the core chamber and i see a gap, the indentation were the o ring should have been, one of the smallest ones about ¼ inch, it was missing.
I took a quick look around the base of the machine and ended up finding it on the floor, but i was too proud to actually tell Clarissa about that, so i roughed it up against the textured wall to make it look like it was dry and damaged.
Walking over to her with a grin on my face I showed it to her.
"Found the culprit, crazy to think something so small causes this big of a mess" I cheerfully yet embarrassingly told her.
She was unamused and took it from my hand to keep for ordering later in the day.
"I got the machine separated and ready for it to be put back together whenever somebody can" I happily told her as she walked away paying no mind to me.
All the Fine Stainless steel and plastic parts were near the triple bowl kitchen sinks, all cleaned, sanitized and laid out to air-dry.
There was just 15 minutes left in my shift by now, the Early Bird Employees were making their way into the joint, customers pulling into the drive through and some inside to sit down.
Not many people buy a Milkshake at 6:30am but you'll see it every once and a while.
Most people stick with Coffee with 100 grams of sugar in it, freaking nasty.
And what do you know, some 25 year old man child was having a fit over the Shake Machine being down, freaking pathetic man.
I suppose I never noticed but that guy comes in every wednesday for his Vanilla shake that he mixes with his triple shot Espresso. Well sorry buddy, it's not my problem, there is literally another Biggie Bites 5 minutes down the road.
As I was focused on the guy complaining, a tall figure passed in front of me,I recognised it immediately to be Jason.
He turned his head back at me and said "Hey Nessa, good morning, or is it Good Evening?" he asked in a playful manner.
His Brown eyes glancing at me with a neatly trimmed beard and fresh new haircut, he's a cool guy we actually started working together back in 2021.
"Oh just say good morning! That's fine!" I assured him.
"Oh got it, well Good Morning Nessa" he now said with confidence.
I was walking to the main door, grabbed my backpack from the coat hanger on the way out, nobody else saying "Hi" or "Bye" so I just left the building ready to get this "Side Hustle" started.
"This will be my way out" I kept thinking as some anxiety came over me.