8 The Shifts

As I’ve said all I want, immediately, to escape this awkward situation, not waiting for another persistence from this shameless man in front of me. Grabbing my backpack I stood up and bid farewell to Faera. Ignoring the trio, I go half walking-running out of the classroom.

Maynard called out to me but I continued to go on my way. As I escaped the building, seeing the time, I still had enough time before my part time starts so I then decided to take the next bus.

Since it's Thursday, I expect the store must be busy and I planned to clock in early just in case they needed extra help.

It took me just ten minutes of walking at the station. It is quite a distance, just in time the next bus came so I rode on it. Maybe I’ll arrive a bit earlier than I estimated. Reminiscing on the events since yesterday, I felt quite tired and felt like going to my bed. However, I have night duty again, the death of my Manager and the police has given me anxiety. Distracting myself from negative thoughts and I look at the television on the bus. They usually play news so I wince at it, it’s boring, shouldn’t they tune the channel into a music show or movies to be more fun instead?

Although nothing can be done about it, the next lead the news anchor announced caught my attention.

[It is said that the main branch of Imperial International Corporation has accepted hundreds of internship applicants this year. It is perceived that even students abroad have applied in order to get into this program…]

Oh! It’s the IIC, no one here doesn’t know of this company, it is said that since its founding hundreds years ago, the company has been leading all over the country and now in the 21st century it still grew bigger and bigger. If someone knows that you’re working under IIC, they will definitely treat you with high respect and amazement.

[The process of accepting applicants is all filtered thoroughly under the supervision of the CEO  selecting the best out of the applicants to enter the prestigious internship program]

CEO? Really? That’s awesome! I even heard that the CEO and its family hailed from an ancient royal family in Europe that even makes it obvious that the business expansion is stronger and has never failed any of its minor branches in other countries. Having support from royalty has its benefits I guess.

Thinking of this, I remembered I also passed an application for my internship next semester, did I get accepted? 

With this I checked my email, however it’s only spam notifications of my social media accounts and even promotions. The company will only accept 100 applicants and knowing that the submitted will be amounting to thousands for sure.

It’s a  slim chance, however it’s fine. Even if I don’t get into IIC, I still have plenty of other companies that I can apply with. There’s no use of feeling dejected over a single application. Still, for now let’s pray to get into the IIC Internship!

Then just in time, I arrived at my destination and got off the bus. I entered at the main entrance of the mall and not in the back door assigned for the employees, since I wore casual clothes the mall’s security guard did not call me out. From the sight outside of the store, I can see the long queue of customers at the cashier, the dining area is also packed with people.

I entered and my co-workers were all busy, the dining staff who was bussing another table noticed and greeted me as usual and I nodded to acknowledge him back. As I went to the employees locker room I saw one of the cashier staff who’s the same age as me. We are both near our 20s however she is a regular in the agency and i’m a part timer.

“Hello, you’re on break?” As I sat across from her, she was surprised and smiled at me.

“Oh , hi! It’s been a while! Yeah, finally got a break but the line still hasn’t decreased.” She complained and fanned herself with the bullcap which is part of our uniform. I saw her not wearing the hairnet too, maybe to have a scalp breather. 

“So what brought you here?” She offered me some fries, maybe brought from her DR meals and part of their benefits as team leaders.

“I am your closing staff, didn’t you see the schedule?” I bite more of the fries.

“Huh? Didn’t see your name there.” 

“How come? I am scheduled for the night shift for the whole week tho.”

“Really?” she paused, “Then let me get the schedule at the office, wait here.” as she stood up, I also got confused. Definitely I have a schedule today, yesterday when before I started my shift the schedule had already been printed by Manager Gregory, he even told me that I have all night shifts since the other staff requested to be on the day schedule. Tho, I know I’ve been the sacrificial one, since night duties are such a hassle and have a lot of work to do because of the cleaning, I have no complaints since I’m just a part timer.

After a minute she comes back holding the printout and places it on the table.

“Girl, I think the schedule changed, have a look.” pointing out the schedule for tonight, my name wasn’t there. Then I turned on to the next page and saw that my name isn’t there again, the same goes on the next few pages.

“What? My next schedule will be four days from now?” I frowned at this unexpected change of my shift.

“I think the Regional Manager changed it, she has been calling some of the staff earlier.” she whispered while looking around, maybe she’s avoiding being heard by any of the staff or the manager herself. I know Regional Managers have a stingy personality, but to change the schedule without even giving prior notice, even if I'm just a part timer, that's way too ridiculous.

I started to pout and was about to complain when the person we’ve been talking about just appeared, “Oh, Adelaide good thing you’re here! I was just about to call you.” Hearing her voice early in the morning and now seeing her face disappoints me.

“Have you seen the schedule, I have changed the one Manager Gregory has made.” Admitting that it was her doing, it added to my disrupted mood.

“I have seen it ma’am, however, can I ask why my schedule for three days have been removed?” I definitely won’t let it go unless I get a valid reason.

“Oh that.” she paused at first and looked at my co-worker, so I took a look with her, then she shifted her eyes away from me. I wonder why?

Then the manager sat with us at the table. And with a serious look she starts the reasoning.

“There’s been a report that Manager Gregory’s favoritism especially when it comes to schedule and with that I took a look at it and decided to intervene with this matter. Are you aware of this?”

“I’ve heard it from others, however I never take interest in it.” I heard a sigh from her and the cashier staff was a bit agitated.

“Did you ever wonder who was the person in favor or who benefits there?” I never take part in gossip among the staff aside from that, after I get off from duty I rarely have the time to spend with them as I rush to my class schedule.

“I don’t have any hunch and I rarely get to talk with the others.”

“I see…” she seems displeased with my answer.

“Barrett, how long have you been working as a student part timer here?”  Asking me an irrelevant question out of the blue.

“Almost three months.”

“And you’re telling me that you are not aware of what’s happening in the store at all?” What has something to do with this?

“It’s because I only focus on my task, since I'm a part timer, I have to be more careful and pay more attention. Aside from that, I have classes where I barely talk with other staff after work.”

“That’s what I'm pointing out.” 

“What do you mean ma’am?”

“It’s because there’s a favoritism on Manager Gregory’s part and that is on you as a part timer.”

“Me?”