My feet moved in the rhythmic practiced steps that had been drilled into me by my father. I rounded the familiar corner, the street came into view. The stone pavement lined with stalls selling various goods. The sent of spices lingering in the air. The laughter of children rolled through the streets enhanced by the bustling of the crowd. I made my way to the captain to tell him that I was taking my lunch break.
I hurriedly walked to the stalls to buy lunch. Having only one hour for lunch felt illegal. It was legal though, just ask JJ who spent over 2 months combing through law books trying to find some obscure law that would increase our break times, but alas his efforts were for naught. The order was in compliance with every single obscure law in existance, even the one that required shimishakes to always be available in case of emergency.
I bumped into someone.
"SORRY!" I called out to the poor girl who was rubbing her shoulder.
Finally I reached the stall my sister ran.
" One meetlover's fitJsa please, hold the jalapenos" I gave my order.
" One meetlover's fitJsa extra jalapenos coming up." my sister yelled.
I shook my head but didn't say anything because she was swamped with work. I greeted JJ, my sister's husband( different from the JJ who read all those law books) and headed to a table on the curb.
About twenty mins later my fitJsa arrived and nearly spilled onto my lap as JJ practically threw it onto the table before hurrying to serve the other tables.
I ate my food which pleasantly lacked jalapenos while dreading the eight hour shift that was to come after this. I finished my food with ten mins to spare and begun the slow walk back to the gate where my shift was scheduled.
Checking in with the supervisor, the captain was out for lunch, made my way to the gate where the guard on duty all but kissed me for relieving him of his duty.
The next eight hours went by painfully slowly. I felt relieved when my eight hours were up and shift change came, except they were late. They were supposed to show up when the sun set but no one came. This wasn't just one person being late NO ONE showed up.
We all looked at each other with worry and I voluntered to go ask the captain about this.
I went to the captain and asked him about the situation.
" Listen here Charlie" he started.
" That's not my name" I tried to say.
" Right right, you don't worry about a single thing Charlie, the others are just a little caught up in something. You know how nobles can be right Charlie." he explained.
I nodded confused.
" Well I'll see what I can do but until then stay for a little while longer.Alright." he continued.
"But..." I tried to interject.
" Don't leave your position again Charlie I'm busy enough as is." he ended the conversation.
I was forced to go back with no clue when the others would come to take over our positions.
Four hours later, most of the children had been put to bed and we were still guarding the gate.
I turned to complain about the unfairness of the situation for the hundredth time when suddenly I was looking at the sky.