Case of the Exploding Ketchup Day 5;
The life of a Dishwasher operating a Dish Machine runs in 90 second cycles. 45 seconds to wash, 15 to dwell and replace chemicals, and 30 seconds to rinse. The second count in one's mind, subconscious or not, must always be running. I came in having changed the chemicals recently and serviced the dish machine proper earlier in the week that I was confident this day coming in I would have no obstacles, no matter the stack of dishes.
Little did I know that something else also happens in 90 seconds; the hiring and firing of people.
The Don approached me but luckily I dodged all his questions aimed at getting me to admit guilt. Now all I had was a shift before a long weekend. Long weekends, which normal people consider just 2 days, were rare in the industry. Luckily I worked in a place that appreciated giving its employees proper time off.
I woke up to a beautiful day, gorgeous skies and warm temperatures. I leaned in on my online clock and shut off the remaining 4 reminders; I didnt need them today. I slowly gazed up and out my window while still laying down. Outwardly I noticed audibly a neighbor mowing his lawn, and visually a couple of birds making their way through the aether.
I slowly arose and acquired some Orange Juice and an energy drink. The Orange Juice went down smooth and quick, the energy drink I would have to sip on, it being heavily caffeinated. After awhile of browsing the internet I bathed and headed to work.
Upon arriving I noticed that the suspicious air in the kitchen and dining room had fallen on me; apparently my clairvoyant display the previous day had aroused suspicion and at text-message speed everyone was aware I was a prime candidate. Not alot as to why I was a suspect other than that the Dishwasher position is usually held by someone young and immature.
I fought against the righteous indignation rising up inside me and confronted my coworkers as usual,
"Heya Linsey!" I said halfheartedly,
"Sup Wheeler..." I let go passingly to Wheeler.
Upon meeting CW, who had arrive prior to me by ten minutes, I was told,
"Heard it was slow, wanna do the dishes we have and take a lunch?"
There was less than a load to do: the morning dishwasher was present for once.
I agreed, "Sure", and had quite the delicious Sandwich, upon which I daringly squirted Ketchup upon.
It was a while after this time I was alerted by Shannah to an interesting development.
"Desmond, some of the ketchups are low can you double check Linsey knows how to fill them? Just start from the leftover in the fridge before you open a new can; we should not have run out it is not that busy..."
"Gotcha Shannah, before you go can I ask you if anymore bottles exploded today? Been pretty quiet since I got here..."
"No and that is what is strange because we filled the Ketchup today same as always and nothing happened, I was told by Wheeler they were filled as normal."
Looking at the schedule posted I noted that Linsey and I were not working together for the next 2 days after today, namely because I had 2 days off in a row. As stated earlier, my restaurant was pretty generous about giving two days off to people in a row, which is highly desirable.
I went along with my shift as usual and when I began to pack away the hot soups and stews for the night, about 2 hours before I left, I ran into something strange...
Packing away the soups and stews is quite the endeavor: first you must cool them down by turning off the heaters, then you wait, and finally you transfer their container, normally from something made of stainless steel to high-temperature-durable plastic.
As a Dishwasher it fell upon oneself to clean the Stainless Steel remains. More often than not there was an indelible stain which would not lift even upon the most vigorous scrubbing; Stained Steel.
But alas once the soups and stews were adequately cooled I placed them in the functioning Walk-In cooler and what caught my gaze was a plastic bin full of ketchup from day 3 of my diary. I used it to fill up the remaining bottles of Ketchup that were low and changed the kegs that were empty or near so; Linsey having already left missed this display.
As it was the day before a weekend I probably was more relaxed than usual, which I would discover was to my detriment, and little did I know I would once again be at fault for exploding Ketchup...
The day ended normally; several rounds for the crew of them all I payed for one. As was usual I left pretty inebriated; during the week of drunks and Ketchup I had to clean up after I felt no remorse about binging a little.
Talking with CW after work, I discovered I was cleared of suspicion which in the next day would be again renewed.
I walked home, which took a good amount of time having to deal with the homeless people along the way, "Got a dollar?"
"Yup," I replied and hurriedly escaped before the older homeless gentleman caught upon what I was saying. It was often more than not that the homeless asked not to listen but out of rote and to their suffering.
I left the scene as it was, got home safely, and during the next 2 days in which I did not have to work I searched for a romantic encounter as was normal for a single man possessed with above average whim and excitement.