Free The Prophecy by Desiree Deorto Page B

work.
    I found a parking spot closer to The Nook and debated actually going in. Surely I could find a different job somewhere else. I contemplated where else I could work as I looked up and down the street. Hunting shop, hardware store, camping store... general store... shit, there's really nothing in this damn town. Sighing, I got out of the car and prepared myself for a day spent with Rosemary. 
    I walked in and was glad to see that it was busy. I glanced around and saw Mary Beth waving from behind the coffee counter. I raised my coffee cup up in greeting and pasted a smile onto my face.
    “Good morning, dear! Sleep well?”
    “ Good morning, yes I—''
    “ Well, enough chit chat, we've got some things to do today. Come along, no more dillydallying.” Mary Beth fluttered off toward the 'office'. I sighed and began to follow. My coffee cup was ripped from my hand as I rounded the bar.
    “ What the hell!” I watched in horror as Rosemary dumped the contents out into the sink.
    She smiled sweetly and turned back to the customers. “No food or drink brought in from the outside. House rule.”
    “ Fine, then can you make me a cup? I'm a zombie without any caffeine.”
    “ Oh, you poor thing. Sorry, too busy.”
    “ Star! Remember, timeliness is next to Godliness! Now quit making friends, there will be time for that later!” Mary Beth's stern reminder came from the open office door. I sent one last glare Rose's way and headed in.
    The office was a chaotic mess. Files were strewn everywhere and boxes of inventory were stacked haphazardly along the walls. I looked around, searching for Mary Beth among the mass of disarray. “Mary Beth?”
    “ I'm here dear, just trying to get this— umph! Ah, here we are.” Rising from behind a pile of bags, she appeared with a uniform in hand. “I believe these will fit just fine.” She handed them over to me and started sorting through piles of paperwork on her desk. “Let’s see, where did I put those—”
    “ Can I help?”
    “ No, no, you just go on to the bathroom and get changed into your uniform. There's a lot for you to learn today.”
    “ Um, where's the ba—''
    “ You're going to learn the basics today, nothing too hard mind you. Just our running procedures, book stocking, working the cashier, placement and the like.”
    “ That sounds fun, but where—''
    “ And of course you're going to have to fill out that blasted paperwork. Where on earth did I put them?”
    “ I don't know ma'am, but if you—''
    “ Mary Beth.”
    “ What?”
    “ I told you to call me Mary Beth, dearie. Please try to remember.”
    “ Sorry, but where is—''
    “ Well go on now, no use standing around. Won't learn anything that way.”
    My head was swimming with Mary Beth's erratic conversation. Shaking my head, I gave up and went in search of the bathroom.
    I was grateful that Mary Beth seemed to know what size I was. I braced myself and quickly walked back behind the counter and waited for Rosemary to notice me. She worked through the line of customers, offering soft smiles and quick jokes as she moved from one customer to the next. I hated to just stand around and was growing impatient. I was at my limit already. Whoever said patience was a virtue should be shot. I started to drum my fingers against the back counter while staring daggers into the back of Rose's head.
    She glared at me but kept serving the customers. When the last of them left, I kept up the drumming.
    “Would you just flipping stop !”
    “ Oh, I'm sorry. Am I bothering you?”
    “ Look, I don't care who you are, or who your mother is. You're not getting a free ride here, little Star. I don't have time to waste on you so why don't you just quit now and get it over with.”
    “ I don't know what your ridiculous problem with me is, and quite frankly, I don't care. You want to be a bitch? Fine, but just remember that I can be as big of a bitch. I'm not here for a handout, I'm here to work, and that's all. Either