A Day At Work

“You’re doing it wrong.” Marcella had her hands on her hips. She was inspecting the work like it had offended her. Her eyes were counting the trays as they scanned over them. Her face told a whole story. It was hard, resolute, and disapproving. Her harsh, dagger-like, brows were furrowed, her lips were pressed in a line, and her nose was slightly crinkled in disdain.

“Why does it matter?” Ashley grabbed two flats of plants from the cart. They sagged awkwardly in her hands, she eyed them warily, and satisfied they were stable, turned back to Marcella with a pleasant, but defiant look. She was a stark contrast to her co-worker. Where Marcella was a thick bodied, older woman, Ashley was a slight, young lady just out of high school.

“Because you fit more this way.” Marcella motioned to a table she had filled. She spoke like the reason was obvious.

“Like, two more.” Ashley rolled her eyes. Ashley retorted with all the dismissal she could muster. “It’s hardly a big deal. We’re gonna have to put some on the ground anyway.” She shoved the flats onto the table.

“Well, first, this is how he likes it. He told us that like a hundred times and if we all do it different it looks like shit.” Marcella stated it like it brooked no retort. She was short and matter of fact in her speech and mannerisms. Her tone was harsh, her mannerisms bossy. She moved around a few trays with no lack of attention to detail. Satisfied, she smiled to herself.

“It’s not like I am not being neat.” Ashley commented defensively. She didn’t examine her work to see if she was correct. She just turned back to the cart and grabbed two more trays.

“Maybe, but you’re also going the wrong way and being inefficient.” The conversation was over. Marcella also grabbed two flats of her own, but she started a new table instead of finishing the one Ashley was filling.

Ashley noticed. She sucked air between her teeth and was about to retort when a customer came into ear shot. Instead, she turned to the woman, put of her best smile and addressed her. “You need help ma’am?” It was as much a question as it was a statement. The customer, for her part, seemed shocked at first, but happily acquiesced.

“Ma’am?” The woman raised a brow and gave her best mock offense impression. “I’m looking for white marigolds. Do you have any?”

Ashley looked around. There were dozens of flower varieties, but she wasn’t sure which one marigolds were. There were tall, clustered ones, large, trumpet ones, and tiny blankets of flowers. Without reading the tags she hardly could tell which was which. She caught Marcella’s eye and knew instantly she was going to regret needing help. Marcella knew the product almost as well as the owner.

“They’re the last table.” Marcella didn’t even look up from her work.

“Can you show her? I need to relieve Tim for lunch?” Ashley excused herself without waiting for an answer.

“What? Right this way miss.” Marcella forced a smile when she realized she had been roped into assisting that lady and quickly turned. She headed for the white, puffy marigolds and jabbed a finger at them to indicate that they were, in fact, right where she had indicated. They were in full bloom and looking good. Carpets of orange, red, and creamy white puffballs at the end of rigid green stalks. There were other types of marigolds, but the lady was satisfied with these.

Having done her duty, Marcella turned back to her work on the table.

“Thank you.” The lady was almost apologetic in her reply.

Marcella excused herself with a grunt of acknowledgement. These carts wouldn’t unload themselves. When Mason returned she wanted to be finished and cleaned up. Then she could move on to her next task. If the customers had nothing to buy, there was no point in pandering to them. Mason had stressed customer service, but Marcella focused on tidiness, efficiency, and order.