The detail about Celeste being trusted to take charge of the shop alone - I felt that moment of responsibility
Chapter 4. The Unexpected Customer
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The detail about Celeste being trusted to take charge of the shop alone - I felt that moment of responsibility
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Three days have passed since then, and I haven't forgotten you—thinking of the smile you gave me as you walked by. Ever since, I’ve been hoping to see you again.
Work has been stressful today. Dani arrived late, and the boss had a word with him; she told him that next time, he’d be fired. Cloe is in the kitchen because Mrs. Marta is sick, and I’m helping Chris with the bookkeeping in the office. I step out for a moment to ask the boss about a missing document and find her talking to...
"I'm glad you're here," the boss says to me. "Mrs. Esther, there’s a document missing. Do you have it so we can finish up?"
"Yes, I’ll get it in a moment."
I turn to leave, but I hear her say, "Don't go."
I turn back around.
"I’d like you to meet Mr. William, the owner of the shop on the corner."
I extend my hand in greeting.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Celeste."
"Nice to meet you, Celeste," he replies.
My boss tells me:
"When I’m not around and one of his children comes by, give them whatever they ask for without charging them."
"All right. Excuse me."
I head back to the office. I wait with Chris for Mrs. Esther to arrive, and he says to me:
"The boss is having a fling with William."
"I don't know," I reply.
Chris changes the subject and says:
"What if we just left?"
"No, because Mrs. Esther would get upset."
Just as Chris is about to say something else, Mrs. Esther walks in, hands us the missing papers, and says:
"I’m leaving; you’re in charge, Celeste."
"Okay."
Chris gives me a thumbs-up and a smile. I went to attend to the customers. Everything was going wonderfully; then I saw Dani and Cloe approaching.
"It’s quiet," Dani says.
"Because the bosses aren't here," Cloe replies, and we laugh. Chris walks over and says:
"I'm done; I'm heading out early, boss," and laughs.
"Alright," I say, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
"See you Monday, guys," he says as he leaves the shop.
We waited for the last customers to leave and started tidying up.As soon as we finished, I told Dani and Cloe they could go and that I’d handle the rest of the cleanup in the kitchen. I walked them to the door and put up the "Closed" sign. I headed to the kitchen, finished putting everything away, and went to my locker to grab my things; then I heard the bell ring. I assumed one of the guys had left something behind. When I heard someone say, "Hello," I stepped out to see who it was, and my heart skipped a beat: it was him...
Thoughts
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The boss introducing William and then immediately leaving Celeste in charge feels deliberate, not random. That's an interesting setup.
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When she finally takes charge of the shop alone, is that when she feels most like herself, or does the bell at the end change everything?
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Chris's immediate joke about her being "boss" and the thumbs-up - that's the kind of coworker energy that makes a shift actually feel good
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The detail about Celeste being trusted to take charge of the shop alone - I felt that moment of responsibility
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How did you decide to end the chapter right when the bell rang - was that planned from the start of this chapter or did it just feel like the right moment?
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So the boss tells Celeste to give the shop owner's kids free stuff and then just leaves her in charge? That's a lot happening at once
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The way Chris just accepts that you're in charge now - there's real trust there, and I like that detail
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So Mr. William is the person she's been thinking about for three days, or is he someone else entirely and there's another reveal coming?
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Three days have passed since then, and I haven't forgotten you—thinking of the smile you gave me as you walked by. Ever since, I’ve been hoping to see you again.