RDD 159
Saturday was usually a day off for students. But it was different for adults. Saturday was a working day and people had to work to get money and buy food. A real and sad story.
Only Sunday was a paradise for the adults, but that single day of the week was not enough... Erm, of course, people could take an absence but they might lose their jobs.
So yeah, being an adult was not a fun thing at all. Sometimes I miss the times when I was still a child, innocent of the world, living my life free from stress and depression.
Anyway, since Saturday was still a working day for most Filipinos, our burger shop was open.
The line of customers was still ongoing and the four of us didn't stop just to give them their orders. Sometimes I'm amazed and scared at the power of the Grind System.
For 10 hours straight, all I did was grind at work. It would be a lie if I said that I was not mentally exhausted. My body was healthy and strong after taking the daily Energy Pill, but my mind was undergoing treatment...
I could see that even my three employees were tired as well. Thankfully, tomorrow was a day off for all of us. On top of that, today was payday!
So yeah, they were doing their best. Whenever it was payday, it was a good day.
After a day of working, the four of us announced that all of the burgers were sold out before 4 p.m.
The four started cleaning the shop for the Monday opening.
All of them had a salary of 320 pesos per day. Old Man Jim and Waylen already ended their training and they became official employees of the shop.
Each of them received an envelope from me. My wife counted the money and put the cash in the envelopes.
They received 1920 pesos. Waylen and Old Man Jim checked the cash and counted it. There was nothing wrong with that. I count my salary as well back when I was still a taxi driver.
Santiago thanked me and took a glance at the envelope before putting it in his pocket.
After they counted the money and found that the amount was right, they both grinned and thanked me.
Payday is a happy day. So both of them were smiling and happy when they received their salary.
They cleaned the shop with vigor this time, every nook and cranny was thoroughly cleaned. Making the interior of the shop smooth and pure, like a newborn baby... A bad metaphor.
After cleaning, Waylen and Old Man Jim bid farewell and left the shop.
"Santiago, are you interested in going somewhere tomorrow? I feel like you're spending most of your time inside the shop."
I said to Santiago. A shelf near the old television was filled with books related to engineering, particularly electric engineering. There were physics, mathematics, and algebra as well.
Seeing complicated books like that made my head hurt... I didn't know how my wife and my son could endure reading books like that. Reading physics and algebra was a method to torture! A testimony I can assure everyone!
"I have no plans tomorrow brother-in-law. Why are you asking?" Santiago was curious and his expression slightly brightened. He wanted to go to other places as well.
"About that, I'm going to take my wife and the kids to my grandparents' house. Perhaps you are interested in going with us."
"... On the second note, I think I'm going to stay and guard the shop."
"But there's nothing important in the shop. The equipment is heavy and the shop is locked and protected. I think you can have some fun tomorrow. Don't worry about the shop."
"No, it's alright brother-in-law. I- I want to stay here."
It seemed that Santiago was affected by my grandfather's dominating aura two days ago.
"Then, if you want, you can leave the shop and go somewhere you want. Just don't return before the night."
"Thanks, brother-in-law."
I left the shop after failing to convince Santiago to visit my grandparents' house with us.
Perhaps I was overstepping my boundaries but Santiago was part of the family. Besides, I wanted to take him with us because I knew that Penelope was kind of nervous to meet the family. I wanted someone to look at my wife in case I was gone or something.
When I reached the house, I sighed when I saw a car parked in front of our house.
I had no idea who the person might be because I didn't recognize the car. The car was quite big, almost ten people could fit in.
I stepped out of my Toyota Pickup truck, I couldn't enter the gate since it was blocked by the car.
"Dajjy!"
Before I could enter the house, my daughter already greeted me. I immediately smiled and opened the gate from the outside.
Sophia ran to me and hugged my legs. That was her usual greeting and I'm already used to it.
As always, I carried my daughter after she greeted me. Perhaps this was the reason why Sophia wanted to hug my legs because she knew that I would carry her after.
The little girl giggled and was happy that she was up in my arms. For a baby like her, the height was already too high and she liked the sensation of being carried high.
Then, as I walked, I recognized the person in front of me.
"Grandma..."
"Is that you, Keith?"
Grandma Matilda smiled at me. However, her eyes were a bit unfocused.
My mother had poor eyesight and it seemed that it became worse after six years of not seeing her.
"Grandma, you should wear your eyeglasses."
"I know, but even eyeglasses can't help me anymore." She smiled.