Elsa continued munching on the ham—it was delicious, totally delicious. The plate was resting on the counter in front of her when she suddenly realized she was devouring her friend's breakfast, and she had a job to get to.
"Thanks, Lucy, for this wonderful ham," Elsa said, her voice full of genuine appreciation as she looked at her friend. Elsa was dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a simple top, ready for her day.
"I have to go. Sorry about your kidnapped toasted ham," Elsa added, truly meaning it. She left a small quarter of the toast remaining on Lucy's plate as an offering.
Lucy smiled, happy to see how much her friend had enjoyed the food. It made her feel good, especially with Elsa enjoying the breakfast and being so nice about apologizing for taking taking her breakfast.
"It's okay. I prepared more," Lucy said, watching Elsa gather snacks into her bag for work.
"Great! I'll have more when I'm back," Elsa said brightly.
Lucy nodded with a warm smile. "Bye, Elsa. Take care." She genuinely cared about her friend and was always concerned for her well-being.
"Okay, see you later!" Elsa called back as she exited through the door.
Lucy smiled as the door clicked shut. Elsa really is quite a foodie, she thought to herself, glancing down at her almost-finished ham toast. Thankfully, she had made extra. Turning her attention back to the counter, she picked up her pencil and continued solving her word puzzle.
Walking down the street on her way to work, Elsa's mind drifted over the various jobs she had taken since she and Lucy had left the orphanage. They had been eighteen when they stepped out into the world on their own, renting a small apartment with the modest funds provided by the orphanage. Over time, as their hard work paid off, they managed to save enough to move into a larger apartment—the very place they lived in now.
Having each other to rely on gave Elsa a deep sense of warmth and security. They had started out working together at a local diner, which had been fun because they got to chat throughout their shifts. Later, Elsa took on a second job at a pet store. Lucy didn't take on extra work at the time, content with her hours at the diner. Unfortunately, both the diner and the pet shop eventually closed down, leaving them both out of work.
That was when Elsa found her position at the bookstore months ago.
Her mind traveled back to that day at Brown's Bookstore.
She had stepped inside, hoping to inquire about open positions, and met Eva—a woman in her early forties with a remarkably youthful appearance, rich auburn hair cascading down her back in waves, and a confident, commanding aura.
"You can start working here," Eva, the owner, had agreed after reviewing her application.
"Thank you, ma'am," Elsa had replied, relieved to secure a job with a decent wage that would cover her share of the rent.
From then on, Elsa made sure to arrive early every day. She guided customers through the large, lavishly decorated shop, leading them through the impeccably clean rows of tall bookshelves to locate whatever titles they needed. It was simple work, and she genuinely liked the peaceful environment, even as she made sure to save as much of her earnings as she could.
Then came her second job, which she picked up a short while later.
It had been a dark, damp evening, with grey clouds looming low in the sky. Elsa was walking home when a bright purple poster pasted on a wall caught her attention. It was an advertisement for waitresses at a local nightspot, featuring graphic illustrations of cocktail glasses.
Even though she was already employed at Brown's Bookstore, Elsa decided to apply. Since her shifts at the bookstore were during the day, taking a night job at the club seemed like a practical way to build up her savings.
She remembered walking into Rosa's Club for the interview. The venue was vast, bathed in a glowing, twilight-hued light, and filled with the clink of glassware and trays. She had met with the manager, James Steve, feeling nervous and completely out of her element.
"Shift starts at 5:10 p.m.," James had said, taking her in with an observant, calculating gaze. "You can start today."
He surveyed her casually—her rich brown hair, expressive eyes, medium height, and fit build dressed in plain, unassuming clothes. She clearly came from an ordinary background, he thought, but as long as she could do the work, there was no reason to wait.
As James walked away to attend to other matters, Elsa felt a surge of annoyance. She hadn't expected to begin working the very minute she walked through the door. Still, she needed the extra income, so she pushed her frustration aside and accepted the immediate start.
They handed her the uniform: a fitted purple shirt that clung snugly to her bust and a black pencil skirt that fell just at her knees. She actually liked the outfit—it was stylish, flattering, and professional enough for serving guests. Before long, she was memorizing drink names, learning precise pours, and balancing heavy trays through the bustling room. It turned out to be a manageable routine, and Elsa was relieved that the job wasn't as overbearing as she had initially feared.