OCR Text |
Show Inside Out, 53 Chapter 12: Terra Terra knew that her co-workers called her "grease monkey," but it didn't bother her. They called her that because she was always willing to dump the used grease outside in the dumpster, even when it was cold outside. It was everyone else's least favorite job, but Terra didn't mind it at all. It gave her a chance to get some fresh ah. Pete, the manager, must have noticed Terra's willingness a long time ago, because it seemed pretty clear that she was his favorite. Maybe that was another reason the other kids talked about her the way they did. So what? Stupid, immature kids. Pete had no idea what went on around here when he was gone. Like the other day when Xan put a plastic frog down the bun-toaster and then had to send about twenty buns down it to get the melted plastic off. Or when Kimber smoked and flicked her ashes into the chili. Terra never participated in their dumb pranks, so they didn't like her. But she didn't tell on them, and they knew it, so they gave her space. Today when Terra had dumped the grease, she heard a tiny cry from behind the dumpster. She picked her way through the bushes that the dumpster was pressed up against, following the tiny mewing. It was a black-and-white kitten, hardly old enough to be away from its mother. Its ears seemed as big as its hind legs. "Ohhh, baby," said Terra, scooping him up. She lifted her shirt and nestled the kitten up against her chest, then folding her arm across him, picked up the grease bucket and ran back inside. Her shift was over-dumping the grease was the last thing she had to do. "Pete!" she yelled. |