Pie in the Sky – Rosalia Scalia

Employees requesting snacks had plastered adhesive notes with suggestions on the machine’s door. She slipped them into the cash envelope. It took twice as long to replenish the machines and check the innards. She washed up in the restroom and with a wet restroom paper towel cleaned the front door before leaving. She missed Rudy. He handled the wagon with ease. It took an extra thirty minutes to restock a single machine. She set the snacks required for the second machine into the wagon. At the Port break room, a note taped to the machine notified her it wouldn’t take change. Rudy would either repair it himself or they’d call a service company.

She completed the coin count and paperwork after midnight and headed home without dinner. She texted Rudy, “Done. Change collector on Port machine is broken. Do you want me to call the repair service? Or do you want to fix it?” 

At home, hungry and exhausted, she showered in the quiet house. Bella’s absence felt palpable. She’d been an exceptionally talkative cat, which Alice loved about her. She meowed for sardines promptly at 6 a.m., and Alice appreciated that her feline alarm clock kept her on track and gave her focus. The kitty also discerned shitty people, swishing her tail and staring at those she disliked, people who later always exhibited a less than stellar character. Without Bella, she felt unmoored. She fell into bed. Solo trips represented a vulnerability, she thought, drifting off to sleep. 

She struggled to stay awake at work the next day and realized she should have used leave but gave it no thought when Rudy hadn’t texted or called. She knew the pandemic had increased plumbing emergencies; after work, she slept. The next day, when he failed to respond to her text about the broken machine, she called and texted his cell again. When she called his line at the office, the call went straight to voice mail. Helen didn’t pick up either. The following day, she called again: “Dad, what’s up for tonight? Do you want me to call a repair service for the broken machine?” 

A few hours later, he phoned. “Hey, kiddo. I can’t make it tonight. You got this. Get the number from Helen for the repair.” His voice sounded subdued, scratchy. 

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