Babel Novel
Chapter 25
Harriet led Anthea around the quaint little rotisserie, which was cozy rather than cramped, spanning just shy of ninety square feet including the kitchen. The dining space accommodated over twenty tables, neatly arranged to maximize the seating without feeling crowded.
“You see, Anthea, right now it’s fairly quiet, but we get a steady stream of customers from the moment we open our doors,” Harriet explained as she guided her new charge through the establishment. “The job is a bit of a juggling act. I won’t have you slacking off on me, you hear?”
Anthea nodded, her eyes taking in every detail of her new workplace.
Next, Harriet steered Anthea towards a middle–aged woman with honey–blonde hair, whose fingers were adorned with a flashy ring and a matching chunky bracelet. “Lauren, this is Carole’s daughter, Anthea. She’ll be filling in for Carole for the next month. Could you run her through the ropes?”
Lauren looked at Anthea, her eyes widening in surprise. “Well, blow me down! Carole has a daughter as pretty as a picture!”
Carole, while working at the rotisserie for over two years, was a woman who didn’t talk much. She rarely chatted with her colleagues, leaving her personal life a mystery to most.
Harriet then turned back to Anthea. “If you run into any trouble.or have questions, Lauren is your go–to, alright?”
“Got it,” Anthea replied, nodding again.
After a bit more chit–chat, Harriet walked back to the front, where she found her son at the counter sipping a soda. “Baldie, my boy, you’ve got to hit those books hard. Aim for an Ivy League spot next
year with that fighting spirit! Don’t end up like that chick, working jobs instead of getting an education.”
Baldie, Harriet’s only son and the apple of her eye, was eighteen and on the cusp of his senior year in high school, a pivotal time that would set the course for his future.
“Sure, Mom,” he responded with a nod. He was a bright student. Getting into a top–tier university was well within his reach.
“That’s my star!” Harriet beamed with pride. “If you get tired of studying, take a break. There’s watermelon in the fridge. I’ll get you some.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Harriet was always attentive to her son, making sure to remove every seed from the watermelon slice with meticulous care.
As the evening wore on, the rotisserie began to fill with patrons looking for a hearty meal.
Anthea didn’t shirk from any task, clearing tables and sweeping floors with diligence that left no room for criticism.
Lauren nudged Harriet and whispered with a hint of respect, “Anthea’s a good girl, don’t you think? She’s full of surprises!”
Harriet responded with a nonchalant shrug. “Children from humble backgrounds learn responsibility early. When I was her age, I did everything, even herded cows!”
“Times have changed,” Lauren mused. “Nowadays, every girl is treated like a princess.”
Harriet nodded in agreement. “True, but what good is being hardworking if you lack education? Pretty as she is, she dropped out of school to work. What kind of future can she expect?”
Despite Anthea stepping in for Carole, Harriet had her reservations. She figured that a beautiful. girl like Anthea would be too preoccupied with boys to focus on her studies.
Given her attractiveness, Harriet suspected that Anthea must have had a string of boyfriends. by now.
Lauren chimed in with a different angle. “A girl isn’t tied to her schooling. As long as she marries well, she will have a rosy future. With her looks, Anthea is bound to land herself a wealthy husband and live the high life as a lady of leisure!” All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.