Tick tock goes the clock as it sounds in its usual volume. Abel looked calm as the hall was silent like a graveyard and he gave a wide smile. He had heard that the eatery needed workers and he had carried his application letter carefully folded in his pocket.
“I was earlier,” he ruminated, his hand clued to his pocket.
“ I should leave here anytime soon” he concluded sitting comfortably at the extreme corner outside the entrance of the eatery which was a glass door as Abel peeped to check if business had started.
He was in the position where the security guard's seat was allocated and the applicant's seat.
“You can go in,” the man said, pushing the glass door open for Abel, who walked in.
Entering, he greeted the workers politely and asked about the manager so he could submit his application. One of the staff members said that the manager was not around and that he should please sit at the extreme end of the hall.
After a while, the hall became flooded and Abel used this opportunity to explore his view. He saw people in line making their orders, chatting, and eating as the place was lively at first.
The attendants were in light brown tops and were wearing face caps which kept their hair neat. They also looked very professional putting on a nose mask and their hands in white gloves. They wore this willingness as their faces brightened up as if the sun's reflection was on them.
Abel remembers what made him sit there as he was lost in thought and the atmosphere was getting colder. He touched his pocket and its edges felt soft, he opened it and brought out an envelope, took a very good look at it, and returned it.
He imagined himself on the light brown top sitting around or doing any other chores.
A man with a familiar look walked forward and Abel immediately stood up from the chair that stood beside a small table which was made of wood. Although the seat was smooth and comfortable, Abel couldn't take it anymore as he had been seated for hours now beside a standing air conditioner that stood tall in a corner of the eatery.
Abel quickly stretched the envelope to the man who said,” No, I can't have that, you have to wait a little while”
The man who was on a white top shirt and plain brown trousers noted as he walked past Abel.
It was getting confusing for Abel as it was now becoming brighter in the afternoon, and everything was busy. After so many hours, Abel was tired after sleeping and waking up in intervals but he did not want to leave because he needed the job and by the next hour, he had almost lost hope but something kept ringing in his mind. “ The time you have spent his more than the time that remains”
Suddenly, a car stopped in front of the eatery and a well-dressed man stepped out and walked inside.
The workers quickly greeted him respectfully. “Good afternoon sir” was heard repeatedly. Abel looked closely at him and his eyes widened in surprise. The manager was none other than Steven, his old friend from many years ago. What had started as a long and tiring wait ended with a joyful reunion between two old friends.
Steven and Abel looked at each other and felt surprised and sorry. Steven apologized for coming late and told Abel that he did not need to wait anymore. They shared contact and Steven claimed that the interview was done with them, and Abel left the eatery not as an applicant but as a customer.