Mission Possible

Episode3

After a year of ripping people off I wanted to change my ways because I was tired of this life. I wanted a better one for myself. I decided that enough was enough so I completely revamped myself including my behavior, my looks and my attitude. It wasn’t going to happen overnight but I did it one day at a time.

I’ve made so many bad decisions in my life to last me a lifetime. The one I regret the most was the one that got me arrested at a very young age. I try really hard not to think about it anymore though. It’s all in the past now.

I'm 17 now and I’m trying really hard to continue being a better person. I’ve looked for a job before but there was no luck because I have no qualifications and what’s worse I have a criminal record hanging over my head.

Luckily I found a job as a librarian.

After many turn downs I feel lucky to have found this one.

When it comes to sleeping arrangements I sleep in a shelter for homeless people, so I knock off at 4 at work so that I can get at the shelter before 6 to find space. Sometimes I get there too late so I go back to the library I work at and sneak in at the backroom which is left open most of the time since it’s empty. When it’s not open I find an abandoned warehouse and sleep there for the night.

Mr. and Mrs. Spencer are my employers and they’ve been really good to me.

They are both in their early sixties. They don’t know that I use the library backroom as my “bedroom” and I’d like to keep it that way since am not doing a habit of it. Besides I don’t want to get fired while I just started.

This is the eighth month now, since I’ve been working for the Spencer’s. I haven’t told them everything that has happened in my life, I’m not sure how to tell them or if I should tell them at all. I actually can’t tell them because I don’t want them to feel obliged to help me or feel weird around a jailbird.

For the past eight months I haven’t used any of my salary because I was saving it for a solid place to stay. So today I used it to find a cheap one-roomed apartment. Having a place to stay has been such a victory to me. Now I have a place I can call home.

I don’t buy food often though. Sometimes I skip days without eating it’s better that way because I can save for rent. Besides I’m used to it by now, it’s no big deal.

The remaining salary I used it to change my image a little because one of the man I ripped off recognised me two days ago. He came after me but I managed to get away from him and his guards. I’ve never ran that fast in my life.

So I no longer wear jeans and other fashionable clothing that I bought with stolen money, just long shapeless vintage dresses and skirts that I picked up from this other alley. I also picked up nerdy thick rimmed glasses there. I was lucky to have found them because I’ve always has a weak eyesight. It’s just that I never really could afford them.

I bought a long green wig and a black long one for my disguise. I got braces too. It’s better this way so nobody can recognise me especially those men, because God knows what they’ll do to me when they find me.

Mr. and Mrs. Spencer haven’t really asked why I changed my image, that’s why I admire them so much they never question my actions they always wait for me to tell them first. Ever since I’ve worked for them I think I’m doing good for myself.

Mrs. Spencer comes with these mouth watering muffins and delicious coffee everyday for her customers who read and buy books here but, she’s getting old now she doesn’t have that much strength to stand in front of the oven for long periods of time. So now most of her customers complain at times and business is going slow.

I thought of a plan to help her so I approached her hoping my idea will be received.

“Mrs. Spencer, I’ve been thinking a lot about helping you out. Why don’t you show me your recipe for your muffins and also teach me how to make your delicious coffee. Then I’ll do it for you from now on.” I suggested sending her a warm smile, while rubbing her slightly wrinkled hands.

“Really dearie? That’s very thoughtful of you. But are you sure my dear?” she asked doubtfully.

I nodded. “Yes I’m sure Ma’am but I’ll have to do it at your house because I don’t have a stove where I live.” I told her, still holding her hands.

“Thank you so my dear. We can start today after work if you don’t have any plans.” she suggested looking relieved.

“I don’t have any plans. “I said.

I was a tit bit excited about learning all of that because I don’t know how to bake anything, let alone cook. So after work I locked up as usual and gave back the keys to Mr. Spencer. He drove us to their house, it took us about twenty minutes to get there.

Their house was a lovely modern cottage house with a beautiful garden.

“Welcome to our humble home.” Mr. Spencer said leading me into their house.

“Thank you sir,” I said smiling.

Mrs. Spencer lead me into their kitchen and she took out her recipe book and showed me the muffin recipe. She took out all the ingredients needed and I helped her out. She showed me how to measure the ingredients and how they’re mixed together.

I placed them on a muffin shaped pan and placed them inside the oven and we waited for the first bunch to bake.

I took out the beans for the coffee, I smelled the aroma and it was amazing. I thought of the process that these beans have gone through since the day they were hand-picked and sorted in their original country. I also considered the long way they have traveled into the kitchens and smiled to myself without Mrs. Spencer noticing.

“My dear always grind your beans as close to the brew time as possible for maximum freshness.” She explained. “A burr or mill grinder is best because the coffee is ground to a consistent size.” she added.

“Is a blade grinder less preferable because some coffee will be ground more finely than the rest?” I asked her, wanting to understand.

“Of course sweetheart,” she said smiling.

We made the coffee and we drank some of it and it was really good. I’m glad she taught me something today.

“I wish I had someone to teach me these things sooner.” I said to her sipping on my coffee.

“Wasn’t there anyone to teach you sweetheart?” she narrowed her eyebrows. She looked curious.

“No ma’am”, I answered shortly not wanting to get into detail.

“Oh well you have me now to teach you anything you desire to know, ok honey?” She said rubbing my back. I just nodded smiling.

Mrs. Spencer’s phone startled me when it rang.

She answered it and put it on speaker because she was removing the muffins from the oven