34- If you want pocket money you need to do your chores . This evening feels strange . It's the first night I've spent here that I haven't worked . I slept in late , had something to eat in the kitchen while pestering Kyle , then spent a good chunk of the evening sitting in Torin's office . We weren't hanging out or anything , not really . He was working and doing his own thing while I did some more online shopping , watched videos online and searched all the random questions I've had in the past few days . At one point I even tried researching some of the magical creatures I've met , but the information online all seemed pretty inaccurate . It didn't stop me from trying to work out what kind of being Jane is . That search ended fairly quickly once I realised that searching for ' tentacled creature ' online was going to end badly . I really didn't think that one through well enough . I considered stopping by the bar and having a drink or something , but I've spent a lot of time there and I didn't really feel like it . Plus drinking alone is boring and everyone else seemed fairly busy . So , I spend a few hours in my room . Not really DOING anything , just sort of sitting around and trying to stay out of everyone's way . I could have continued hanging out in Torin's office , but I have a suspicion that he doesn't get all that much work done when I'm in there . At very least , every time I glanced up at him he was watching me . Probably keeping an eye on my internet usage to make sure I don't contact anyone I shouldn't . Sigh . I've never had restricted internet access before , not even as a kid . The only person who cared how I spent my free time was my brother , and he is only a few years older than me so he was a kid too . Why would he even think to limit my access ? Not that I was doing anything I shouldn't , it's just weird having my actions monitored so closely . I change into my pyjamas early , and I'm actually relieved when the bar closes . Laura knocks on my door and peeks her head in to say goodbye . I wander down the hall in my pyjamas to say bye to Torin before he heads off . I missed Kyle , he left ages ago since the kitchen closes before the bar does . I doubt that he particularly cares if I greet him or not though so it's probably fine . " Hey Torin , are you on your way out ? " I ask pleasantly . He nods . " Yes . Did you enjoy your night off ? " He asks the question awkwardly , like he isn't all that comfortable with small talk . Still , I appreciate his attempt at conversation , usually I'm the one asking all the questions . " It was alright , I still don't have a lot to do . I might download some ebooks or something DO 29 ل O 1/4 Lesson 34- If you want pocket money you need to do your chores . tomorrow and stock up . Hey if I do that , can you just disconnect the tablet from the internet and let me keep it so I can read when you're not around ? " I ask hopefully . Torin pauses and considers . " I suppose so . " He responds , but his tone is a little suspicious . I fight the urge to roll my eyes . I'm not a hacker , if he doesn't tell me the password to the internet , I won't be able to access it . There's no free wifi around here or anything either . " Thanks , It'll be better when some of my deliveries arrive too . I ordered some stuff to keep myself entertained , among other things . " I add and Torin just nods . I doubt that he kept track of all the shopping I looked at online . He mostly just keeps an eye out for social media and messaging apps . " Yes . It probably isn't all that entertaining sitting there watching me work . " He says dryly and I shrug . " I can think of more boring things I could be doing . Watching paint dry , trimming grass one blade at a time ... Stuff like that . " I joke . Torin cracks a tiny smile and I grin . Yes , I win ! " I have tomorrow off too , right ? Or Should I say tonight ? It's weird to say tonight when I haven't slept yet . " I ramble and Torin nods . " Yes . You have tonight off , then the next two nights Laura will be off and you'll be working with Catcher . " He explains . " Why does Laura have these two days working alone ? " I ask and Torin shrugs . " She works five nights a week . Catcher works three and you are also scheduled for five . Before you started , Catcher worked alone two nights and Laura Worked alone for four . The only night where we had the staff for two bartenders was Saturdays . I suspect that they both have wanted me to hire someone new for a while now . Now there are only two week when someone has to work alone , and since she's the sense for it to be her . Week nights are usually a lot quieter anyway . " He explains . Is that the longest explanation he's given me so far ? It might be . o days a e most experienced , it moves " So basically , you've been really short staffed for a while . Why didn't you earlier ? " I ask , a little confused . Torin shrugs . e someone " No one wants to work for me . " He mutters quietly and I frown . 29 20 لی 2/4 12:02 Fri , Aug 29 Lesson 34 - If you want pocket money you need to do your chores . " But you have other employees . " I point out . He shrugs . " I wasn't their first choice of employer , probably not their second or third either . " He answers . Huh ... Note to self , ask Laura and Kyle how they ended up working here in the first place . I suspect that there's a story there . " Oh ! I forgot to tell you . I caught a dust sprite yesterday morning . It was so strange . Did you know they consider their dust footprints to be art ? " I blurt it all out in one go, eager to share my new experience with Torin . " I did know that , yes . I assume that is what all the fly paper was for ? To catch a dust sprite . " He confirms and I grin . " Yep . And my plan succeeded . Jane even helped by waking me up to let me know what I caught one ! " I tell him excitedly . He blinks in surprise and confusion . His eyebrows move upwards , just the tiniest bit . " Who is Jane ? " He asks , confused and I laugh . " Jane is the creature in the basement . I decided that she should have a name . We talked about it , well I talked about it mostly , but she gave her approval . So her name is Jane now . " I respond . Torin just blinks again . Three times to be exact . " You are a very strange girl . Most people run from monsters . You seem to like befriending them . " He sounds like he doesn't know if he should be horrified or admiring . " Maybe I just have a different definition onster ' than most people . " I suggest .. " Perhaps . " He agrees . I suddenly remember that he supposed to be leaving . Was " Oh sorry ! You probably want to go home and get some sleep . I'm keeping you here with all my chatter . " I apologise , stepping out of his doorway so he can get past me if he wants . " Don't apologise , it's ... Well , people don't usually ' chat ' with me . It's an unusual experience . " He comments and I'm both sad and angry on his behalf all over again . " That's because people are often stupid . You can always come chat with me . You know , if you feel like talking . You don't have to wait for me to hunt you down and pester you into conversation . " I add . It's a strange invitation to make , but I get the impression that if I 1102 O 29 29 ل ALE III < 3/4 12:02 Fri , Aug 29 Lesson 34- If you want pocket money you need to do your chores .. don't make it clear , he won't get it . It's a strange friendship between the two of us . Aside from the obvious issues of my being trapped here and the unbalanced power dynamic , we don't really have a lot in common . At least not that I've found so far . I don't really know what Torin does for fun . I'd ask him , but then we'll be here all day and he will never get to go home . I'll ask him about it tomorrow . D Chapter Comments 5