Free Obedient by Viola Grace

Chapter One
     
     
    “Clear the table, Zelia.”
    She tucked her hair behind her ear and continued to bus the tables. “Yes, Dad.”
    The diner door chimed, and she grabbed two menus.
    “Go bring menus to the customers, Zelia.”
    “Yes, Mom.”
    Zelia brought the menus to the newcomers, and she filled their glasses with water. “Good evening. Today’s special is a BLT with fries and a bowl of tomato soup.”
    They nodded and opened their menus.
    Zelia moved around the diner, clearing tables and tending to customers. It was what she did every day and every night.
    Her parents left at eight, and she was on her own with Dave manning the grill until two in the morning.
    Midnight arrived, and she lifted the receiver the moment that the phone rang. “Thimble’s Diner.”
    “Good evening, Zelia. I would like the usual, please.”
    “I will deliver it in thirty minutes.”
    “Thank you. I will meet you at the front door.”
    She smiled and headed to the back. Dave had left for his usual hooker break, so Zelia was free to put together dinner for the evening shift at the Volunteer Centre.
    Every night, she delivered a meal to the agents who were going through all of the applications. It was routine, but she always waited until she was called.
    She prepped jalapeno and bacon macaroni and cheese, three cheeseburgers, a platter of nachos, four salads and a pie with a side of ice cream.
    Everything was ready to travel when Dave came in through the back door.
    “Another evening call out?”
    Zelia smiled. “I am going to deliver it.”
    Dave sighed. “You know how your father feels about that place.”
    “I know, but he just said that their staff couldn’t come in here, he never said I couldn’t go there.” She picked up the bags and headed out to the front, flipping the sign to say that she would be back in ten minutes.
    Everything but the float was in the drop safe and the float was in her apron. There was nothing in the building to steal. She wasn’t risking anything but the glass.
    Zelia walked down the street and counted her steps. Two hundred twenty steps brought her right to the front of the Volunteer Centre.
    Domas smiled at her through the glass. He opened the door for her. “Please come in.”
    Zelia nodded and walked past him, setting her bags on the counter. “There you go. How is the haul today?”
    Agent Domas chuckled. “It is slim pickings this evening. Many Terrans seem to consider this as some sort of vacation and not a lifestyle. Around the globe, there are several centres that have been forced to close with not enough interest. Even their governments can’t make them apply.”
    She unpacked the meal and smiled at Domas. “Fifty-two fifty, please.”
    He handed her the money, and she gave him the receipt. “You are one of the only places who will deliver to us.”
    “I know. I hope the food is good.”
    “The food is great. I just wish that we could order a simple pizza without it making a scene.”
    She tucked the money into her apron and inclined her head. “Have a good evening.”
    Domas nodded and walked her to the door. “Are you sure I cannot walk you back to the diner?”
    “Not yesterday and not today.”
    She winked and headed into the brisk night air as he locked the door behind her.
    Her sneakers made no sounds on the pavement as she counted back to two hundred twenty.
    She eased into the diner, flipped the sign back to OPEN and rang up the sale in the register before continuing her endless round of cleaning.
    It was the same as every night before it, and Zelia Thimble worked until two, and then, she returned to the family home, tiptoeing up to her room. She would have to shower in the morning. She wasn’t allowed to shower and wake everyone up.
     
    Later in the week, there was a shift in the schedule. For a change, she didn’t walk the path alone. A man approached the Volunteer Centre, and she saw him lift the shotgun before he arrived at the door.
    Zelia dropped the bags and