Overheard at Chipperfields' ... Part XXXIV ...

The early morning crew were camped out on the sofas at the front of the store, Jay-Dee was busy behind the counter getting things ready for the day. She looked up when the door opened. She was suprised to see Bonnie strolling in.

Jaydee looked up at the clock on the wall, it read 8:00 am. She was sure that the staff list said Bonnie wouldn't be in until 3:30 today. Somewhere in the back of her mind, the girl who used to work in a less friendly environment cried out in warning.

When the boss shows up unannounced, at a time when you're not expecting her, that can seldom be good. Jay-dee's mind went back to the day in a place of previous employment when the boss showed up unexpectedly, a half an hour after lunch was supposed to be over and found a number of the staff still off. He had not been pleased and by week's end a number of folks had been let go.

"Hi Bonnie," Jay-Dee offered as cheerfully as she could muster given the nervousness that just gripped her soul.

"Hi," Bonnie replied as she rounded the counter and headed into the back.

"What's she doing her?" Jay-Dee wondered to herself. She watched as Bonnie picked up an apron and returned to the front and began puttering behind the counter, "She's just messing with me," she thought. Then a more ominous thought popped into her head: "Did I do something wrong?"

Just then the front door opened and Dani strolled in. She greeted the early morning crew on the couches at the front, and turned towards the counter. She saw Bonnie behind the counter and her footsteps faltered slightly, she looked at her watch then the clock on the wall, then back to her watch, her face blanched slightly as nervousness gripped her too. "I'm only two minutes late," she thought to herself glancing again at the clock, "Bonnie can't be here because of that ??" Then after a pause she let out an audible gasp as she thought to herself, "Oh my gawd, she knows about that time last month that I was a half an hour late unlocking the store ..."

At the gasp Bonnie looked up and a confused look crossed her face. "Good morning Dani," It was more of a question then a statement. Bonnie then looked at Jay-Dee who was standing by the sink tryng not to stare back at Bonnie, but clearly looking nervous.

"What the heck is going on?" thought Bonnie.

Then she broke the silence that had settled in behind the counter, "Why are there three of us here this morning?"she asked.

For a long moment neither Jay-Dee nor Dani answered. Taking thier silence as a clue Bonnie turned to the cooler where the staffing timetable is hung and read it ...

"Damned," she whispered, then her voice took on a deeper throatier tone, almost a growl, "ROSS!" She said loudly. Without saying a word she snatched up the portable phone and punched in her home number ...

"Ross," Bonnie's voice was level and calm, "what day is today?" She paused for the answer before continuing, "and what does it say there for my work hours?"

"Yes," said Bonnie after a moment, "and what time is it?"

Again there was a pause. Jay-Dee and Dani looked at one another, neither feeling adventurous enough to speak in this moment.

Bonnie's voice took on a sharper tone, "Sorry won't cut it Ross," she snapped, and then after a pause she continued, "Don't tell me you fell off a ladder and hit your head. I was there remember. I saw it happen and I know you didn't hit your head ..."

Jay-Dee's eyes began to glint, and Dani was fighting back, unsuccessfully a smile as Bonnie continued, "You are in some serious trouble with me," she continued, "I could have slept in this morning, but you told me I was down to work at 8 am ... you read the wrong day again Ross."

Bonnie paused to listen to Ross' pleas before concluding her side of the conversation, "I will NOT give you a two minute head start before I come home. I'm coming home right now !!" With that Bonnie pushed the disconnect button and slammed the phone into it's cradle.

She turned to Jay-Dee and Dani, "I'm going home, I'm not supposed to be here ..." she said as she turned and headed towards the door. Her head held high.

The two women watched her go and offered a faint, "Good bye," to her ... as the door closed they looked at each other and collapsed into peals of laughter.

"I wouldn't want to be Ross about now," laughed Jay-Dee.

"Poor guy," agreed Dani.

The early morning crew were shaking their heads as they came up to the counter for refills.