♦----------♦

  Today was the first day on her job. Ashley looked towards the other bed, and saw that Carol had returned after she had fallen asleep. She tiptoed past her, and proceeded to run out the door for her morning shift at the cafe. Upon entering the place, she saw Charlotte talking to a customer. When she saw Ashley, she just grunted and motioned her to a door near the back of the room. Inside was a middle aged man, who was just putting a dish on the rack. When he saw Ashley, he hung up his apron, and without a word, left the room in a hurry.
  Thinking that was a bit weird and rude, Ashley just shrugged and put on the apron and some gloves she found in the corner. There were two piles of dishes still waiting to be washed, so she decided there was no time to lose, and got started.

♥----------♥

"Great, it's Wednesday", groaned Lasille, staring at the ceiling of her shack. "Another day of stale bread." She got out of bed and padded over to the bag of bread on the floor in the corner. Looking into it, she saw that there was only half a loaf left. "Guess I'll go and bother Robert again."

Lasille travelled to a small bakery where a man leant against the counter, reading a newspaper. He was in his fourties, wearing an apron over an orange t-shirt and ripped jeans. Lasille walked right up to the counter and greeted him.

"How's business?" she asked. The man put down his newspaper and sighed. "Been slow for the past week. I bet folk are holing themselves up in their houses, expecting a bomb to drop the minute they step outside. How's yer job going?"

Lasille shook her head sympathetically. "Not too bad. Starlight cafe is basically one of the only restaurants that are still open. Charlotte says that it we won't close untill a bomb destroys the place. Still, it's thanks to you that I've got such a good job."


Robert smiled and ruffled Lasille's hair. "I've known Charlotte for years. Stubborn as a bull, that woman is. Yer parents were good friends of mine, too. It's only natural that I do what I can fer you."

Lasille grinned, touched by his concern. "By the way, can I have the usual?" Robert went in the back and came back with three loafs of fresh bread. "That'll be five dollars."

Lasille looked at the bread in bewilderment. "Fresh bread for the price of the usual stale bread? You do know that I mean the stale bread, right?"


"That I do" said Robert. "I'm not getting many customers, so why not sell to you?"

Lasille forked over the money and stuffed the bread into a bag. "Thanks."
"You're very welcome" replied Robert.

As Lasille turned to walk out the door, her eyes fell upon the stack of newspapers that were sold for a dollar. "Robert?" she said. "Can I have a newspaper?" "Help yerself" he said. "They ain't goin nowhere."
Lasille grabbed a newspaper and walked out the door, reading it.