I got up feeling sore all over. I didn't want to get up.
" No birdie, I can't stay in, lots of work to do " I said to the little sparrow peeking through my window. It was already 10 am. I took a bath and dressed up in a baby pink t-shirt and shorts. I redressed my wounds and headed out almost forgetting my spectacles, hadn't got used to them yet. I quickly grabbed them and also the spare key that I had got of scooty and took a taxi.

         I had thought of calling a pickup for scooty but anyways I'll need it today so I decided to get it myself i.e if it's still there. Yesterday was amazing, I don't remember the last time I was so free and happy. I had fallen and got hurt but that was just a little hiccup.
When we are kids we have so much emotion, we feel every little thing, little things make us happy, little things make us upset, as we grow we see the world in its cruel glory, there are glimpses of kindness and love but slowly we get numb and feel what we want to feel, distancing ourself from people, because sometimes it too much but then there are memories, instances, experiences that revive those emotions in an instant and we become human again and a little vulnerable too. I feel the world has so much to offer. Maybe I'm naive, I want to experience it all the hurt, the pain but also the happiness, peace, and satisfaction.

        The scooty was there still, I paid the driver. I hardly had hopes of finding the key but I wanted to try. Everything seemed different now in, bright sunlight. I climbed to the spot where I thought I fell and began to search and sure here glistening in the sunshine was the key lying with its funny cartoon keychain.

          On today's to-do list was to find a decent job. I wanted to earn myself so that I could manage my expenses. I was open to anything cafes, libraries, shops whatever was flexible with my college timings. I secretly wished that I would get a job at the library because it was my place to hide from the world when mom died. I would immerse myself in books. Thrillers and mysteries, the romance in pride and prejudice, Hercules Poirot became my companion. I had already searched online and there were two or three cafes, a shop, and one library that were near college and home.
The choice was obvious and I went to the library, there was a massive board that read 'Mystic library - all kinds of books available. It wasn't a very big place, the entrance was a little dusty just like the signboard. When I went in I was awed the place didn't look big from outside but the shelves ran deep inside, there were several rows of books from classics to new ones and I caught a glimpse of some of the children's books too. Someone was arranging the shelves, I called out ' Excuse me ' and waited again I called out louder still no response. Not knowing whether to enter or not, I ended up doing something I saw in the movie, a very foolish move which I later gathered, I coughed.No reply, I coughed again louder this time I was about to go in fits of cough to get attention when I heard a rumbling laugh.

" That's enough, no one does that now child, you amuse me, I noticed you the moment you walked in ".
Behind the shelves, I could see a sprinkled head and sharp eyebrows, he came out wiping his hand, he had an old styled pant and striped shit on and looked about fifty.

" What would you like to read? "

" Oh no, I was here for a job, for a librarian"

" A job?" He looked confused

" I saw an ad on the net a job for bookkeeper"

" Ah! I must have forgotten to remove it, April dear just remove that ad from the net, if you leave it up to me I'm sure to forget it again "

A girl appeared red hair braided, small spectacles, a pretty oval face, simple frock, and lots of books in hand.

" Do you remember where you posted it; Alfred ?"

" Ummm, not really". Alfred looked at her with you know me look.

" Give me your phone I'll find out."
Then she turned to me smiled sweetly " what would you like ?"

Alfred chirped in " I am so sorry, you know I'm not getting any younger, I had posted the ad two months ago, April saw it and I hired her, I'm so sorry you had to go through all the trouble.

" No, it's ok, thanks anyway "
I must have looked disheartened because April stopped me.

" Are you new here ?"
" Yes I'm new, I am going to join Winston's high ."

" That's awesome, I'm also a student there ". All of a sudden she looked sad.

" You need the job to get through your fees right, I'm sorry I know how hard it is, waaiit I have the perfect thing for you, there's a cafe down the road a few blocks away, it's called ' Dark Temptations ' weird name for a cafe but the pay is good and some of my friends work there you will fit right it".

I grinned and she stopped.

" I'm being chatty again "

" No it's cute, you looked quiet when you entered n then your expression went from eagerness to sadness to excitement in seconds ."

She blushed, " I'm just chatty in front of my friends, I hope we will be too ."

" I hope so too April, see you soon and thanks I'll go check it out".

      The cafe was as April said just a few blocks away, it formed a somewhat triangle between home and college. Contrary to the library The Dark Temptation was huge. The words were written with flowing letters and had lights that I was sure would lit up in the evening, the interior was even more charming, everyone wore clean neat clothes and there was uniform for everyone, the floor was made of expensive marble and walls were painted dark burgundy with paintings hungover, the decor was beautiful lights were placed at various angles to give it a rich, sophisticated look.
I went to the desk and asked about the job, the person pointed at the back. There was a small cabin with the words manager written on the door, I knocked.

" Come in ".

        The man sitting in front of me looked more like a potato than a living person, though the moment I thought this I scolded my inner mind, comparing people to vegetables not a good thing I reminded her. He had a round figure, round eyes that looked like buttons, round face, everything was round about him, even his brown hair made round circles in the air, his smiles was an exception, it was out of place in all this roundness, somehow it was shrewd and matched his clothes and tag. A name card was placed on the table reading ' Adam'.

" How may I help you? "

" I was looking for a job, for a waitress. Is it still available ?"

" Yes, have a seat. So tell me about yourself ".

" I'm Rose Cabral and I just moved here, I was accepted at Winston's High and I would really work har..."

" You are accepted at Winston's High".

" Yes ".

" As a scholarship student I assume ?"

" Yes ".

" Well that's enough, a student of Winston's High has a good record, scratch that a scholarship student has a pretty decent record,few work here as a matter of fact, consider yourself hired. I need your acceptance letter, address, and personal details and identification. Before you accept the job though I need you to know a few things.You need to be polite and maintain your decorum always, and I mean ALWAYS. We serve many different, shall I say categories of people, some of them you will learn are not polite, they are demanding, hostile, rude, and difficult to manage. The pay is higher here but so are the challenges. I shouldn't hear a single complaint against you, no matter how badly a customer behaves, your reply should be proper. I don't want any dissatisfied customers, I may look sweet but I'm a true businessman at heart any complaint or even a word from customer and I will fire you, there are no fixed hours, you might have to wait back. Do you understand?"

The speech was so rattling that I could just nod.

"You are hired. You can pick up your uniform a day prior, your pay will increase if I see your customers are satisfied, you can work from Monday and Rose I hate when people are late. I assume you will be working in the evenings ."

I nodded again.

" You can leave now ".

Only when fresh air hit me I realized what all tantrums I will have to handle. It was ok though I needed the money since I had decided to make it through college alone. Still in a daze I crossed the road.

       There was a little shop there on the side of road nothing as compared to Dark Temptations. I ordered a sandwich and sat eating it. This was a reality check for me. It wasn't going to be easy, I had to learn to be careful I couldn't be clumsy now, I had to learn everything even the basic of things, all of this was spiraling in my head when I saw a dog crossing the road with its puppies, two white fluffy ones followed by a bored cute black one. They were sniffing everything, all the three were taking their time while mama barked at them.

       From far away I heard a noise, I saw a red car coming fast towards them, the car was far away but the driver would hardly notice these tiny things, even if he did and put a break it would be too late. Everything was happening so fast I saw no other option, I rushed towards the road and covered them.

        The car came in speed and I dreaded the worst. I was going to be hit, I was going to be hit. I shut my eyes tight but the pain never came. The driver had put brakes. I was still holding the tiny whimpering things when the driver jumped down and shouted.

" Are you insane, you would have died easily".

Leaving them I looked up, the sun was in my eyes but I recognized the voice.
"But I didn't ".

Blue angry eyes looked at me " you really are crazy and impulsive "

" These tiny little puppies would have been crushed under your car " I shouted back.

" You would have been crushed " he shouted in disbelief.

" Then you should learn to drive slow you idiot, there was no way you would have seen them from that far"

" So you jumped to save them ?" He said eyes widening further.

" Yes "

" Unbelievable !! For some stray dogs, you would risk your life "

" Stray or not, they also have lives, and you saw me and applied breaks, I'm alive aren't I ?Next time you better drive slow mister. Tell me wouldn't you be sorry if one of them came under your car."

He was quiet, only for half a second.
" Maybe I wouldn't and I'm sure as hell not stupid enough to jump right in front of a speeding car."

" Well I would, and I did. And I forgot to tell you something yesterday ' You are disgusting ' ".With this I left him in his semi shocked semi angry semi what the hell did she say state.

Second time,second time I met him,hope there is no third.