Day 1: March Against Cancer
Thursday, October 12
Melanie Marshall was once an honor student who graduated in Colombian Republic to which she began to work, starting her first day on the job as a security guard.
Her coworkers are two women named Cindy Merchant and Jayla Roman, both of them have tattoos and manicured nails, though Cindy has piercings on her tongue. Both of them had also studied in this school as well. The difference was that these two had graduated in the early to mid 2000s whereas Mel had graduated around the mid 2010s.
The only male security guard who works in nearly the same shift as them is named Luke, a moderately large man who showed her around the school despite that the new employee was familiar with the school grounds.
They both walked up the flight of stairs to the second floor to where he showed her the bathroom and turned right to the empty hallway as they walked to the other end of the hall to unlock the the bars for the new employee to pick a chair. Then brought her to one of the classrooms for to pick a desinfecting wipe to clean the chair that was coated with dusy and cobwebbs.
Mel descended from the stairs and opened the chair at the ground floor before the student body were summoned outdoors near the theater tent. Most of the students stood carrying their signs, pink balloons and candles. Some students sat at the bench while the teachers joined them in the event.
A loud speaker was brought to the tent and activated while the principal held the microphone before standing at a suitable spot to give his announcement. There were around 4 policemen parked on their motorcycles keeping watch at the activity while everyone else paid attention to the principal.
“We are gathered here today to give support to those who are battling against cancer and the loved ones present alongside them aiding in the fight against this illness.”
They waited for him to finish his speech before a teacher; a curvy, wavy-haired woman, came forward to give encouraing words to pray for the ones battling with cancer and the families who live with their loved ones or know someone who got diagnosed with this illness. Some of the teachers carried lighters to ignite the students' candles to begin with the ceremony.
“Last year, Erica was diagnosed with cancer and with faith and prayer God healed her.” The teacher motioned towards the aforementioned coach sporting a cap, short blond curls and sunglasses. “Now we stand here today to give our support to Jessica.” Jessica walked up to them wearing glasses and a headscarf. The students shared their love and support for their psychiatrist who was there for them. They made a homage, lifting their cardboards, rooting for her and for her recovery.
The teachers walked around lighting the candles some of the students were holding minutes prior to initiating the march. A pick-up truck started the engine while the teachers signalled the students to form a single file line.
Some of the students were warming up before the march, others jokingly dancing to Reggaeton music. Even Mel started shaking to the groove before Inés reminded her that she'd get fired if she wasn't taking her job seriously.
Inés Dawson used to be an assistant for students with special needs long before Melanie and Lucas Marshall came into the picture. By the time the Marshall twins began middle school, Mel developed trust issues with making friends from the constant bullying she had suffered in elementary school while her twin brother was the doing the exact opposite by hanging out with the boys. Lucas would occasionally play sports, hang out with his peers or fight some of them while Mel was inmersed in her notebook drawing whatever that popped into her head during recess or walked around the school in circle, walking up the stairs, descend the ramps or vice versa.
She used to assist the twins at Granate Ville Middle School, then at Colombian Republic until they grauduated and Inés kept working there since, only this time teaching history.
Inés embraced Mel during her first day on the job. The pick-up truck drove slowly on its way out of the school as the student body followed, including the some teachers and the police to ensure the safety of the march as they left.
Mel walked to the stand and met up with one of her workers, Cindy, who was sitting on a chair with an ancient green metal fan blowing at maximum capacity though it wasn't enough to refresh the small space.
“They finally left.” Cindy sighed, relief washing over her as she sprawled on the chair. “The school is a lot more peaceful without the students.” Mel silently nodded in agreement.
Then Cindy started a videochat with Jayla on the phone. Jayla could be seen as the sunlight hit her face from where she was. “Sup Jay?”
“Girl, I'm beyond pissed! It's damn hot out here! The fuckin' asswipe didn't inform the supervisor when I straight up told the bastard that I couldn't show up that day because my daughter got sick but he kept his mouth shut like the two-faced bitch he is. Now I'm stuck out here.” Jayla griped.
“Hey Jay, there's a newbie here.” Cindy panned the camera to show the new employee.
“
Hi.” Mel greeted.
“Hey, it's the girl I recommended to Genesis.” Jayla stated, “I can't believe you replaced me.” Mel wasn't sure what to say about the whole ordeal, for one thing she just started her first day on the job and she wasn't sure how the rest of the day would turn out. Jayla put the phone down on the concrete floor as the video camera recorded Jayla's full body as she backed a few steps from the phone.
“You should do something about it?” Cindy commented as they resumed the conversation.
“You're damn right I will! Once my shift ends I'll give Bernie and the lieutenant a piece of my mind. I already sent a report about why I hadn't shown up for the last two days and this idiot says shit about me behind my back.” Jayla ranted and raved, wiping the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand, the sunlight hitting the side of her tawny face.
Cindy and Jayla kept talking on the videochat and thread of the conversation ranged from food, work, manicures, their respective boyfriends and other mutual interests until Cindy's daughter called on the phone and had Jayla to hang up. While they talked on the phone Mel could see the truck return with the student body following in tow.
The students sauntered their way back to the school grounds some of them blaring music and raising the signs to and fro. As they returned to the ground floor some of the teachers put the signs the students were parading around during the march to the school walls as mere decoration with duct tape.
By the time the lunch hour came Cindy requested Mel to guard the stand while she went to Little Ceasar's to get something as she got on her vehicle and exited the school.
It wouldn't be long for a small group of students, around 3 to 6 students to ask for her whereabouts. “Where's Cindy?”
“She went out to eat at Little Ceasar's.”
One of them sat at the blue chair that was outside the stand and asked for Cindy's number.
“I don't have her number.” Mel replied. The students left the stand unamused and did their own thung during lunch break. Nearly an hour passed when Cindy returned from Little Ceasar's with a box full or pizza and cheese sticks. Mel's first day went smoothly.
The shift ended and Jayla returned the following morning to Colombian Republic and visited the principal's office, stating her refusal to get transferred to another school.
“Very well then.” The principal commented, he accepting Jayla's statement before she stood up from the chair and walked out of his office.
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