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I shoved the green screen door of the small snack shop open with my shoulder,
entering the dark stainless steel kitchen. I rushed to search for the fluorescent lights, my
hand moving in a panic up and down the wall.
I tiredly slugged to the other side of the parlor to the tall silver ice cream machine,
the restaurant smelled like sweet waffle cones, the aroma had become my perfume. I was
filling the large machine with sweet chocolate liquid when the phone sprang to life,
startling me, sending the creamy chocolate in individual streams down the side. Each
splashed to the ground as I teetered on the footstool, quickly trying to scoop up drops
with the palm of my hand. I jumped to grab the ratted red rag draped over the utility sink
but the stool, settled in melted ice cream, slid out from underneath me. I crumbled to the
ground; the slam of my body shook the shelf with rainbows of toppings stacked on it
sending thousands of sprinkles raining down.
The tiles were covered in an array of colors, sinking into the spots of chocolate.
Each looked like a colorful ant attacking a summer picnic. I stood up, shaking sprinkles
from my hair. I shop opened in twenty minutes and I currently resembled a childrens
cereal box character.
The phones ringing echoed off the steel as it came to life again. I waddled to the
receiver my arms raised at my side, elbows bent, trying not to touch anything. I reached
for the phone and slipped, barely catching myself on the counters lip. My legs were
sliding under me as I tried to stand. I placed the phone between my shoulder and ear and
screamed hello, gasping for air between the words two syllables.
A loud, boisterous voice bellowed out, my eyebrows rose as I rolled my eyes. It
was my bosses voice; deep and resembling an over excited sports announcer. I reached

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for a roll of paper towels, only able to get the tips of my fingers on it; it fell to the ground,
rolling out like a red carpet. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as my boss began
repeating hello like a child begging for their mothers attention.
I asked him politely what I could do for him, trying to hide the edge in my voice.
He explained he would be coming by with an investor who is considering helping him
open another shop. He paused and his voice got very low, but stern, he said everything
needed to be perfect. He said perfect with a hiss, sending me a silent warning. My eyes
grew wide as I imagined my bosses face turning the color of our red-hot candies.
The phone slid from my hand, collecting rainbow sprinkles on its way down to
the chocolate river cascaded across the floor. My eyes darted toward the clock and my
heart started racing.
I tried to collect myself, searching the shop for the best tool to clean the mess. I
leaped to grab the purple mop in the far corner, trying to keep my balance in the slippery
chaos. I traveled around the room, skating through the puddles as I began to see the
floors pattern again but streaks of red, purple, blue, and green from the sprinkles coated
the creases of the tiles.
I started to believe I was going to pull this off when my boss threw the bright
green screen door open, smacking it against the back wall. Suddenly, I heard a small
cracking sound, growing louder as I turned and watched in horror. The right side of the
shelf above me, known for being unstable, which was holding containers of sauces we
pour over sundaes tore off the wall, landing vertically as the bottom swung from side to
side. Everything came sliding down as I watched fresh strawberry sauce rush over my
body.

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I brought my hands to my head, dabbing at the sticky red pulp covering me. I
could hear a lively laugh bellowing from the kitchen. His deep voice echoed as he tried to
speak between breaths of laughter. I cant believe that just happened, I mean, of all
places for you to be standing, he broke into a giggle, of all shelves to break!
I tilted my head in confusion, his humorous reaction was the opposite of what I
had been expecting. I scooted across the parlor to the same ragged red rag and patted my
face as he waddled over to me. He was bent over holding his stomach as he continued to
tease me. I gave a puzzled smile, still wondering why he was not bursting with anger
about our supply of strawberry sauce emptied all over the floor.
Um, I started timidly, Im really sorry about the mess, I know the investor is
coming and you wanted everything to be per he cut me off before I could finish my
apology. He had something come up and accidents happen. Plus, watching that made my
day! I know I put a lot of pressure on you, but you do a good job around here, he looked
at me with sincerity. I smiled and nodded as I turned on my heels to go clean myself up.
As I was walking away I heard him ask himself if he forgot to refill the sprinkles. I
chuckled and whispered accidents happen.