"Hey, can I borrow a sheet of paper?"
He questions Laqeisha, his right-desk neighbor. He is confident she has the paper, but whether or not she will share it is another story.
"Sure, you can, but don't you have a notebook." Questions Laqeisha as she rips out the following free page in her blue spiral Notebook.
"I do, but they were the ones from last year, and I just finished them. I usually have been taking a handful of sheets from the library after school, but they were out."
"Olaudah, this is your second warning. Don't make me send you out into the hall." Calls out Mrs. Gatzke.
"Sorry, Mrs. G." Perfunctory apologizing to Mrs. Gatzke. Olaudah starts yesterday's homework by splitting his paper in half with a horizontal line. He starts the top half of the report by writing "Paint Debacle" and circling it.
By class end, he finishes a reasonable start to a short story on the bottom half of the paper where his friends come over to help him paint.
"So, class, we have five minutes of free time. Any questions about yesterday's or today's homework? No? OK, you can spend this time working on tonight's homework.
With that dismissal, some students begin packing their backpacks; some take out their phones, others make the fact they were on their phones obvious, and one kid probably starts writing that night's homework. Giving up today's fight about who's in charge of the classroom, Mrs. Gatzke watches as one of the kids who packed his bag walks past her and out of the room.
Five-minute pass as Olaudah could be mistaken as that possible kid doing his homework not, but he instead copies the notes hiding in his classmate's backpacks on the sheet of paper he used to write his future goals.
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Turing in his homework from last night on his way out, he starts heading to history class. Arriving in his lesson, Olaudah continues working on his goals by practicing using his sight on Mr. Sowell as he surfs the internet. Dr. Doom Destoryer has pulled another one of his stunts. I never understand what the heck he is doing. He always acts like a villain, breaking onto live news and releasing automation and threats, only for all his schemes to be some awareness stunt.
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Catching both Olaudah and Mr. Sowell off guard is the class bell. In tandem with the bell, half the class, still standing in the hall talking to their friends, starts streaming into the classroom. After a minute of shuffling around looking for seats, we are one desk short today. So Mr. Sowell travels next door and steals a desk before starting class.
"OK, class, I know we didn't have any homework yet, but I hope you have been paying attention to the news. For those of the class that didn't pay attention to the news last night, does anyone want to fill in the class what happened?"
The kid behind Olaudah shoots his arm up and starts speaking before Olaudah can even think of how to phrase what he learned from Mr. Sowell's computer.
"It seems that Dr. Doom Destoryer attacked the local water treatment facility yesterday after school."
"Yes, that's right, Doug, but please wait to be called upon before speaking. I have been staying up to date on the news, and it seems that Dr. Doom Destoryer broke into the water treatment facility and used a poison that, in low doses, acts as a good means of fluoride. Uncovering that money meant to increase the security of important utility facilities was embezzled. When confronted by a local hero for trespassing and threatening to poison the city, he used a ray gun to fix the hero's poor eyesight before escaping." Explains Mr. Sowell
"Mr. Sowell, why do heroes and cops constantly try to arrest Dr. Doom Destoryer? Doesn't he only ever do good things?"
"This goes into yesterday's topic that heroism is technically illegal, and Dr. Doom Destoryer did break the law in the past. Even if he has never committed murder, he has caused mass hysteria and a multicounty of tourism. Not attempting to arrest this man would demand him above the law and would leave a president that it is fine to commit the crimes this man has done even if all his actions proven after the face have led to higher levels of safety." Placates, Mr. Sowel.
"That's bull shit, Sowel. It's because it's other damaged politicians and rich assholes he is uncovering who don't want their secrets uncovered and want his dead or behind bars." Claims Taj
"Whether that's true or not is unknown, and I remember mentioning this yesterday in class. If you were here, you would know not to discuss unconfirmed allegations, like personal opinions. State facts in this class only." calls out Mr. Sowel.
"Now we can get onto our lesson."
Classes start and finish, and every other student sees today like any other, bleeding through like the day before. What might seem normal for everyone else was a day full of headaches for Olaudah. Not even the metaphorical headaches a few of his fellow students were suffering through their math classes but more like the headaches of his hung-over classmates as the resurgence of his morning migraines came by to say hello, but this time, they came by with bats instead of ice spikes.
Practicing controlling the use of his sight. Nope, the use of his vision while at the same time trying to take notes was a bit too much of a complex task for a human brain, and he needed to stop and relax and recenter himself quite a few times in the morning. Still, by the end of school, he can finally get through a whole class hour while writing notes on "borrowed" notebook paper.
At The same time, this is the most exciting hour as it coincides with a discovery. Focusing on Mr. Von Mises in this class, Olaudah notices a similar feeling to his Power from his teacher. Getting fed up with following Mr. Von-Mises pacing behind his desk the whole hour, Olaudah began focusing more and more intensely on his movement, which is when he became aware that every step of his teacher followed the flare of a concept.
No matter how much time he watches his teacher's footsteps, by the end of class, Olaudah knows that no matter how much time he focuses on the task, he can't get anything from it. It is a gut feeling that his Power was telling him that time would make no difference. It is a lack of perspective that is the issue. How much of that gut feeling can be attributed to him just giving up when class is over and telling himself that he will try again when he gets better control of his Power vs. realizing this gut feeling only god knows?
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Running out of school's library half an hour after the final bell, language art and math homework completed in his bag, along with a few sheets of blank printer paper for notes, Olaudah scouts the Track field for Bruce. Seeing Bruce waving back to him, Olaudah started his jog toward work, where he would find out if he still had a job.
Making it to work at a record pace, surprisingly not even breaking a sweat. Is this a side effect of the new Power or the good weather? That thought doesn't change the fact that the drive-thru line is staggeringly long. Bursting through the front doors, crowds of strangers filling the seats, and just as many guests in the queue behind the front counter. Behind said counter is, luckily, Phill, one of the two good managers behind the front counter.
Hoping for Phill to be the afternoon manager Olaudah moves to the front of the store, pushing past the crowds, investigating over the counter, and towards the back. Let's be honest; he would settle with any other manager as long as it's not the head manager, whatever her name was. Luckily, she usually works mornings, but man, she needs to get rid of that stick. She works in fast food, not a Fortune five hundred.
Getting behind the counter and looking around, he notices Dan making burgers in the back, making the best two managers work. Two managers on shift. Phill is probably on the morning shift, just helping with the lunch rush before leaving. Waiting for the order Phill is taking to finish, Olaudah calls out.
Hoping that Phill was the afternoon manager and that he wouldn't be stuck with the head manager, whatever his name was, again had already left. Luckily, she usually works mornings, but man, she needs to get rid of that stick. She works in fast food, not a Fortune five hundred.
Getting behind the counter and looking around, he notices Dan making burgers in the back, making the best two managers work. Two managers on shift. Phill is probably on the morning shift, just helping with the lunch rush before leaving. Waiting for the order Phill is taking to finish, Olaudah calls out.
"Hey, Phill, I know I was not on the schedule yesterday. Something came up last night, and I couldn't make it. Do you mind if I clock on and help with this?"
"Ask Dan his shift."
"Hey, Dan."
"One moment left me to finish these burgers if you want to know where I want you LA'A didn't make it today, so you can take over the grill."
"Sounds good, one moment."
Walking into the back office, Olaudah pulls his Slip-ons from his bag before pulling out the boxes with work uniforms. He grabs a new apron and hat. Tieing on his apron over his hoodie, adjusting the velcro on the back of his hat for a good fit, and grabbing a headset, he walks to one of the front two registers. Logging in on the register beside Phil, his vision tells him that Phil is pulling the trick of accepting a hundred-dollar cash drop to prevent a full register count and then Immediately closing the Drawer without taking any money out. It likely means that they haven't dropped that register all day, and Phil plans on doing so when his shift ends before taking it to the bank.
Walking onto the line, the dozens of alarms beeping orders moving in one ear and out the other through his headset, Olaudah sees everything. The puddle of grease hidden behind the oven, the fact there were only two spicy chickens left, and the pressure fries were empty and closed.
It's probably too hot to keep it open, and it's obvious that no chicken is cooking. Like a tornado, Olaudah grabs the red handle spatula with his off-hand, takes the cooking patties off the girl, and places them onto the heating plate. Lifting the grilled chicken cover moments before the alarm goes, he swaps to the chicken spatula and flips them before clicking the second timer.
Like a breeze with all the experience of how much of each meat is needed to be cooked and in the heating tubs, Olaudah moves between the fridges, dropping fries, chicken, and the limited edition fish fillies, all the while dropping and flipping the meat. Dan, building the sandwiches, never needs to use his white spatula to collect the 4 oz or 2 oz for his sandwiches, as Olaudah could tell everything Dan needed.
It wasn't until that rush was over and brought over the take over the front registers that Olaudah's brain even caught up with how he was moving. Punching in his code to register, Olaudah watches as Phil walks out with a to-go food bag filled with cash.
Observing the full lobby, Olaudah thought of cleaning the tables, but so many were full that it would be more of a waste of time, so he spent the time waiting for things to clear up by filling up the napkins, lids, packets, straws, and the freestyle machine.
After completing most of these tasks, along with the added task of wiping up mess near the ketchup dispenser, he finds himself replacing the Sprite in the freestyle machine when another customer enters the restaurant.
Hurrying behind the counter, leaving the freestyle machine still open, he turns his attention to the new customer mid-draw against him. Before he could realize it, he had a Glock pointed over the counter at him.
"Give me all the money!"
Panning his attention to the right, he notices the drink station and bagger. Stefiny quickly moves to duck behind the concrete half-wall while Dan finishes wrapping the double before stripping off his gloves and heading to the front counter. Looking pissed that this happened again on his shift.
"Sir, this is my manager. He has the key to open the register. If you would lower your gun, he will quickly open the drawer." Olaudah pulls the robber's attention away from Dan and back to himself and the robbery before he gets any dumber ideas of making examples.
Watching the shaking gun swivel between Olaudah and Dan. Olaudah observes the gunman and notices signs of drug abuse. Escalating the situation from an armed robber to an armed junky looking for his next fix. Stepping aside for Dan, he quickly opens the register drawer with his keys. Dan gives the hundred dollars made up of fives, singles, and change.
"What the fuck is this!"
Sir, the registers were dropped recently and taken to the bank. We can get you the money from the other dealers, but we don't know more than three hundred dollars in total."
"Fuck fuck fuck." Scratching his shaking forearm, the gun's muzzle starts swaying more and more erratically. "Go get it now. But stay in my sight."
Removing his headset Dan looks at the gunman and uses a calming hand guesting suggesting the gunman lower the gun. Before calmly informing the gunman
"There is a register in the back. Want me to go back there, or do you want someone else to get my keys."
"I want someone else to do it. I don't want any funny business."
The sound of gunfire spooked everyone in the restaurant, even the gunman himself, So much so that he losses one of his bullets into the lemonade. Turning around, he finds the gunfire coming from the TV where an armed robbery is currently at a nearby bank. Lossing another bullet into the TV, he cracks the screen and silences the speakers before turning around and facing back at us, likely as an intimidation attempt.
Sadly, it was working as although a skilled group of armed robbers and a villain is dangerous that pales in compassion to a crazy man with no fear of consequences. Hurriedly moving between the registers, Dan empties the bills into the addict's hands.
By the time the man gets his third handful of cash, his pockets are bulging with fives, and the TV is presenting that a passing speedster has tied up the robbers and the villain. Turning around to leave his successful heist, he notices that the TV's robber is over. Running for the exit, the robber tries to escape before the speedster finds out about his robbery.
However, before taking a few steps, he finds himself tied up in a fast food aprons, gun missing. However, Olaudah sees the gun resting on the front counter and haze streaks traveling through the restaurant.
“Uurrggg what nooo no!”
“Everything is going to be ok. Everyone can sit back down and relax”
Dan Leans over the counter after glancing over the counter to get a better view of the hog-tied man. While calming the crowd Dan copied half the parents in the joint and began calling the cop.
Olaudah stares, gobsmacked with the amount of new energy floating around him, tracing a path from the front of the restaurant to the back office and back out the entrance. The speedster's path only deviates from his course when tying up the robber and belining it behind himself for the nugget and fry warming station. The only evidence of his passing on that half of the building for his mundane coworkers was missing nuggets and the twenty sitting on the counter beneath the gun.
After tracking the speedster's path, Olaudah thought to check the haze of Power for any concepts to test if he could accurately predict the Power of the super, this time with the answer sheet in hand. Standing there like a man suffering from shock, Olaudah just focuses all his attention on copping a feel of the energy, hoping to get a hold of that feeling he felt that morning when investigating himself.
The few minutes of free time he has to investigate quickly dissipates, the same as the speedster trail. The energy is too allusive too quick for his investigation to bear fruit.
“Olaudah you ok? Olaudah!” Dan shouts, breaking Olaudah from his seemingly catatonic state. “If you need to sit in the back for a break I think it will be ok but I can’t send you home yet we have to wait for the cop.”
“Yeah it's no problem Dan I am used to it I was just thinking if the Super wanted fries with that ass whopping.”
“Ha ha ha, that's a good one, keep up the spirit. I am going to talk to the guests. I'll see if I can give them anything free to get them to stay and in a good mood.”
Seeing Dan leaving the rest of Olaudah's fellow coworkers began looking like ravenous sharks with blood in the water. crowing towards Olaudah questions in their eyes and faces some looking up the now gizering all-natural lemonade fountain. Olaudah knew to move, swiping Dan's forgotten headset and making his way the long route to the back in an attempt to dodge the inevitable questions. He calls over the headset
“Sorry for that wait, welcome to Wendy's, how may we help you.” practiced a million times the minor break in his voice indistinguishable from the normal soul-breaking or fast food employees and not that of a scared tenable almost killed by some crazy druggy looking for his next fix.
“OK like me double check with you that was a number ten regular sweet and sour, large with a doctor pepper, ok please pull around to the first window.”
Making it to the back window “Becky I need you on sandwiches I will take orders and do the dishes for a bit we need that timer down and you are faster at that than me.”
“You ok.” calls out Becky as she belines it for the sink and gloves.
“Will be.” with a quick tap of this head Welcome to Wendy's, we will be with you in one moment." Tapping this four-digit code into the back monitor man only there for a few seconds by the time Olaudah pulls open the back window everything entered into the system "that will be 9.87 thank you." taking the card Olaudah set the machine to accept the card. "sorry for that wait how can I help you." After 30 minutes the police arrived and the timer dropped an average of three seconds.
The Police just needed a statement luckily lobby security cameras are real.
Getting out the front door at 1:03 am with bad filled with old nuggets and a large Drink cup of half-melded chocolate frosty with an ice cube still stuck to its edge where it was stored for the past three hours all it all it was a good haul and a fast clean up and I would need to take an additional bus stop due to the time.
On my final walk home where stumbling around like a zombie, too dissimilar to how he walked out of his house that morning. this time however his eyes weren't half open due to migraines but a desire to sleep. Then it hit Olaudah his alarm clock his fucking alarm clock no fucking place the only place that going to be open at 2:30 am to sell an alarm clock is Walmart. Turning around to the bus stop Olaudah felt no way this night was going to get worse till he saw the Cop focused and heading in his direction.