The forgotten wolf

A baker named Alice

I’ve just finished my last cup of coffee the buzz of caffeine nudging me out of my daze. I return to the back of the dinning room the voice of Kelly Clarkson singing “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” plays softly from the radio I turn it up humming along as I grab my bag. heading to the staff washroom I glance at myself in the mirror not something I like to do often,especially with out make up. my face a rainbow of bruises the black eye Tommy gave me last week is now a mix of yellows and greens. Despite the two large cups of coffee my eyes still look tired.Sighing as I ruffle through my make up bag. I hated the look of pity I’d get when people would see the bruises and Mac would comment when I looked tired “you work to much you needed a vacation”. This was my only safe place and the more I worked the more I could skim and save for when I finally got my one way ticket out. I wasn’t sure where I’d go maybe somewhere warm near the ocean. Some where no one knew me and I was free to start over and go out and make friends and have fun. I had just over 10k saved I would have liked more but it was hard to hide that much away from my alcoholic gambling cheating husband. It had taken years to skim that much if he had found it he would drink it gamble it and piss it all away. I kept it here at the dinner in my locker in a locked box I knew it was risky but I couldn’t have it at home and Tommy had access to my bank account. The only plan is had was to leave on my 21st birthday next month I had decided I was not going to waste another year of my life miserable and unhappy and mistreated I would take my life back!

I finished putting on my make up I was getting good at covering the bruises you could hardly tell. I added a little mascara to make my eyes look less tired a touch of blush and lipgloss. I then brushed out my tangled wavy brown hair and twisted it into a high bun. Dressing in my pink smock uniform with my white apron white tennis shoes i finally gave myself a good look. I looked cute pretty even I had never been vain about my appearance but I knew I was attractive. I’d always been told I looked like my mother and how beautiful she was, I wish I could have met her.

By the time I finished and head out to the kitchen I hear the radio announcer go on to give the 6:00 news and morning updates. I switch it off and unlock the back door the other waitress and cooks will be along soon. I head into the dining room and make a full pot of coffee. Turn the display fridge on open the cash register and head to the back for the petty cash. As I’m grabbing the pies I hear the back door open and although I can’t see who it is I hear “good morning Ely” and I’m swear it’s Alice. She’s been working here for more then 35 years waiting tables and complains everyday saying she’s gunna quit her knees can’t take it anymore. But I know she likes it hear she lives for the gossip and the social aspects. Her kids had all moved out and she and her husband were always “bumping into each other” they were madly in love and married 30 years this past June and she said the key to a happy marriage was to not spend to much time together. If only that were true.

“Good morning Alice , how did you know it was me hear today?” I say as I come around the corner to see her carrying a bag with the pies (Alice made the pies always 2 apple and 3 cherry but then a mystery pie as well. She makes the most delicious pies we sell out every day. She refuses to make to many tho she always says the “crust is only good for 24hours then it’s no good” I highly doubt that I’m sure it could be weeks old and still be delicious)

“Your always here Ely, chocolate fudge” she says and I know she means todays mystery pie. My stomach growls reminding me I haven’t ate anything yet and Alice’s chocolate fudge pie is my absolute favourite my mouth waters.

“You think anyone would notice if I snagged a piece” I say laughing

“Not for breakfast I’ll save you a piece once it’s cut I made two this time” she says before reaching into the bag and pulling out a muffin and thrusting it into my hand. “You need to start eating breakfast coffee isn’t breakfast.. and before you ask” she says interrupting me “because you always just have coffee. Now eat that and put these in the display case” she hands me the bag of pies and I walk to the dinner room with a grin.

I love Alice she’s looked out for me since I’ve started she has two grown sons and has said on multiple occasions how I should leave my good for nothing husband and pick one of her boys. I’d be the daughter she always wanted and she would teach me how to make pie. I always say that would be wonderful but then remind her that one son is engaged and the other is married. “Those girls don’t hold a candle to you my Ely and they don’t cook or clean anything” I just laugh and say well maybe someday. I’ll miss Alice the most I think when I leave I wish I could tell her I was going keep in touch. But I can’t risk Tommy finding me when I go I’m never coming back.

I eat my muffin orange cranberry it’s absolutely delicious this woman should open a bakery, I hardly chew as I devour every bite and don’t remember if I ate dinner last night. I lick the crumbs from the empty paper and toss it into the garbage my stomach still not quite satisfied. The rest of the staff arrive and we welcome our 6:30 regulars and the day goes by like most other days.

It’s now after 8:00pm and im sitting on a bench infront of the lockers.it’s the first time I sat in the past 15 hours my body is sore my feet throbbing and I’m getting ready to go. I hear the locker room door open and Valerie the new girl comes in. She looks at me and twists her hair swaying softly before asking “um ugh Ely I know you opened and it’s my night to close but I was ..”

“Yeah no problem I’ll close up” I say before she can even continue to ask. My body hurts but it’s Thursday night Tommy usually meets his mother Thursday night for dinner and then comes home drinks a case of beer and stays in. I do not like being home with him but especially on Thursdays after his mom has just lectured him on the things he should do as a husband and a son, it pisses Tommy off and I get the privilege of being his punching bag.

I know I should call him as I haven’t spoken to him at all today and if I don’t tell him I’m closing he will lose his mind. I grab my phone but it’s dead I’m gunna get it when I get home.