The Dog Hole: Chapter 4 -- Here to Stay
Bebe meets her boss.
The Dog Hole
Chapter 4: Here To Stay
Bebe smacked her forehead when she noticed the flashlight still in her hand. Sure she could try to catch up to the director in order to return it but, the less she saw of him and vice versa, the better it seemed. Perhaps she could hand it off to someone else who was willing to drop it off in her stead. Except she didn't know anyone else. She hadn't even seen anyone else. Well, except for the one guy in the movie room who hadn't even turned around to acknowledge her arrival. Bebe decided to save returning the flashlight for tomorrow. Perhaps the director would be in a better mood by then. For now, there was still the matter of introducing herself to her immediate boss before her body gave in to the exhaustion that was catching up to her.
Her footsteps echoing in the emptiness were her only company back to the mess hall. Now that she no longer needed to keep on the heels of the director, retracing her steps back to where she came from allowed her to take more in. She returned to the quiet stretch of hallway with the view. Even though she knew the storm was still raging, the lights made it impossible to see much outside. Instead of the swells of snow and ice, her reflection and the opposite wall stared back at her. She passed the bathroom, computer room, exercise room, and mail room before reaching her destination. This time, there were no voices. Only the clang of plates and eating utensils that she presumed were being cleared up.
Upon entering, the mess hall was empty with the exception of Gamble, who was finishing up his dinner, and a skinny little rat fellow bringing the last of the dishes to the kitchen. From his ears to his nose, his face hung low as if worn down by the mere act of existing. He certainly wasn't old enough for time to have done that to his face. That much she could tell. When he saw Bebe, he said nothing. He merely flashed a set of chipped and crooked teeth that plagued his entire mouth before his expression sank back into depression. Breaking eye contact, he carted everything he collected back into the kitchen. His gesture, friendly or not, had unnerved her. Who did that?
The mess hall had its own window into the abyss that spanned across the entirety of the wall opposite of where the kitchen was. Like the other, it merely reflected back what was inside thanks to the bright lights. The chairs and tables were bare, save for Gamble's, and the only movement besides his came from the open kitchen where someone large and imposing sprayed water into a huge, metal pot from a hose.
"E-excuse me," Bebe spoke from across the counter with no response. She assumed he hadn't heard her. She looked at the rat who was looking right at her now. He shot her another half-second smile before returning his face to its ugly, default state. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Excuse me."
He stopped the water briefly. "Dinner's over, love," came the gruffest voice she'd ever heard escape someone's mouth. Despite the term of endearment he used for her, there was no kindness in his tone. "You know the rules."
"I'm the new cook," Bebe shouted over the blasts.
The hose immediately went dead again as the intimidating figure turned to face her. He was just as surprised to see Bebe as Bebe was to see a pig in this part of a world. And he was quite the pig. Sizable in every way, his snout was lined with wrinkles that crested around two small, serious eyes. His impressive gut was covered by a grease-stained apron, and the thick nails on his hands were dark. His surprise turned into anger as he strode over to a com from a nearby wall and punched in a number.
"Cane," answered a voice on the other end.
"I get sick once after thirteen years, and suddenly I can't do my job."
The voice let out a heavy sight. "I got you help."
"No one said you can't do you job. It's that no one else can do your job if you happen to be out of commission."
"Nonsense. Mr.Snibbly did an excellent job in my absence."
"...We will not speak of the week Snibbly took over."
"Send her back."
"It is done. She is here. Make use of her. Don't make use of her. I don't care. Please, let me rest."
There was a click. After letting a curse or two slip from his lips, the pig turned back to Bebe as if expecting her to justify her presence. Then he spoke. "Go home."
"What?"
"That's your driver there, right?" He pointed to Gamble who was definitely listening. "When he leaves tomorrow, so will you."