[i]☼ ○ ▬
Exploring a wonderland maze built inside an apartment
complex with a stark contrast of styles. Rugged to Sophisticated. It’s quite a
thrill. I’m not alone. Tons of others have decided to run through it. It seems
as though it’s not merely for pleasure but maybe with an ultimate purpose.
Later I’m offered an opportunity to play a mini slightly out of tune piano for
a presidential candidate. I perform a scattered version of “Moonlight Sonata”
and “Fur Elise”. There’s a problem with my footing on the platform...a hole
directly underneath me. I have to plant my feet on the outer edges in order to
avoid falling through.
▬ ○ ☼
Waking up at 11:35 a.m.
Strawberry Toaster Pastries. Orange Juice.
All day shift at China Wok.
It’s quite busy for the afternoon – the complete opposite
from yesterday.
Banana.
Grilled Cheese with Tomato and Hummus. Potato Chip Trio.
Honey Green Tea.
Darren’s here to work his two-hour shift. But it’s utterly
slow, at least for two people. At one point there’s a squabble between him and
I on who’s going to take particular orders. In my head the route I gave him and
gave myself made sense. It starts out sarcastic but ends with me calling him a
bitch and storming out the restaurant. To go into detail of the hierarchy at
China Wok would be a waste of time to explain because there isn’t really one. I
feel entitled because I’m paid the beaucoup bucks to work a whole day and he’s
only here for two hours or so. He’s the help. He’s here to help out when
we’re busy. My goal is to maximize my profit while maintaining fairness and
efficient routes between all drivers. In general it’s disappointing when I’ve been
here all day having to deal with shitty tips and long drives, and when dinner
time rolls around I have the opportunity to balance out my misfortune but I
can’t because somebody else is here reaping my benefits.
...
As I drive in hastiness to my next delivery I feel absolute
anger, mostly carried over from the harsh moments at the restaurant. But I
think about having humility. I think about how unnecessary it is to complain –
how little one accomplishes by not accepting what is. At the end of the
day I still make a living. I should be grateful. And I’ll admit I do tend to
get overprotective about my job and what I do. After doing this for over two
years, almost three, I feel I deserve a certain kind of respect. And in that
moment with Darren I didn’t have it, but then again maybe I wasn’t respecting
him.
...
I arrive back at the restaurant. Darren’s engaged in
figuring out this video surveillance system that our bosses want to install.
Almost immediately I feel relief without discussing anything with him. He sort
of cracks a joke and anything we argued about is now water under the bridge,
just a pinch in our friendship.
Pear.
Back home. Finally. It’s been a long day.
Eating Fried Shrimp with Broccoli, Carrots, Onions, and Rice
in Garlic Sauce.
Watching The Siege (1998).
Fortune cookie says, “What makes an apple fall to the
ground?”
Enjoying Chocolate Milk.
Sleep 3:30 a.m.
[i] Swiss Maze
Lock.
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