May 31, 2020
Why was it that when his co-workers were talking about food he couldn’t join in? He couldn’t ask about places that were good for whatever they were talking about, whether it be dumpling or Indian food or bubble tea. If he asked he was either ignored, brushed off with some comment about any place being good, or whatever other answer they felt like giving him. It just seemed like he wasn’t allowed to join in and ask about foods, and he did rather enjoy food and trying new things.
He didn’t let it bother him though, he was used to it, he just went back to handling customers and putting prescriptions away - the usual.
As the conversation over at the production table continued, about food, Larkin did his best to ignore it. He really did wish he could join in on conversations, find good places to try new food, and that he could try and be friendly with his co-workers. He sort of wondered why but he sort of knew why they didn’t like him much...at least he thought he kind of knew why. It was...well it wasn’t very nice and it was something he tried not to think about. He did a pretty good job of it at times.
Sighing, Larkin was happy to clock out and as he passed by the production table he took a moment, interrupting their group conversation, to let them know he was off and someone should replace him at pick up. Heading out he hurried his way through grabbing his things and getting out the doors of the store. He wanted to get home!
It wasn’t that he wanted to get out of work so much, though he did, but he had two orders which had arrived this morning while he was at work. He’d known the two orders were in the area and his mother had texted him that he’d had packages arrive. He wanted to get home and open them.
Leaving the parking lot the drive home didn’t take long, at least he didn’t think so, the area he lived in was a small little “village” of sorts with blocks mostly closed in by trees on both sides of the street, leaving little room for the sun to get through save for in patchwork patterns, and the houses had decent size front and back yards. Each house was a fairly decent size as well and most were stone or brick in a rather old, though cozy, feel to them...like something from a Kinkade painting come to life. It was nice and pleasant - peaceful.
Pulling up the narrow driveway he parked next to his elder sisters car, he thought she had been working later today, and getting out he set his alarm and headed around front to the door. Unlocking it he let himself and, and set his keys down on the little table by the door, before locking the door behind himself. “I’m home.” Calling out in response to his mother's voice asking who was home, since he knew his older brother was due home soon.
“Thanks mom, I’m gonna head upstairs and open my things.” Smiling as he headed upstairs to get to his room, passing his sister's open door, he wasn’t surprised to see her on her bed with her cat. She was reading over something, he wasn’t sure what, but he did nod his head once to her. As he got into his own room he was taking off his scrub top, leaving on the shirt he wore under it, as he dumped the scrub top into his hamper Larkin went to grab up the boxes sitting on his bed. It wasn’t just two boxes but also one big package, not box, and two other small boxes. The hell?
In his roll top desk he had a small knife which he used for opening packages - like now. Four boxes were opened with ease and then the big package was opened. A blanket, one he’d ordered off a facebook live stream, was inside - perfect! That got spread across his bed as he went to check out the other packages content.
Ohh! The glasses he’d ordered on etsy had arrived, tracking had said they were still three states away when he’d checked this morning, but here they were. He wasn’t upset, far from it, but now to bring them downstairs. Larkin had bought some new glassware for the house, since his siblings and himself would on occasion sit around and have a few drinks, he’d gotten glasses for them all. The other mystery box was from S’well and was the white and gold tumblers he’d bought for everyone. On the same vein as the previous package this one was for similar reasons but more set for fall and winter - when they had hot drinks together. It was for mulled wine, hot chocolate, coffee and tea that they’d sit around and drink when the weather got cold.
With how happy he was he hurried himself downstairs, arms loaded with boxes filled with glassware and tumblers, which he set to putting into the dishwasher, best to clean everything before use, and explaining to his elder brother who’d just gotten home, he set everything to wash. “I’m surprised it all got here. I didn’t see that it was due to arrive today - but I’m glad. Once it’s done washing I’ll put the glasses above with the others...and I don’t know about the tumblers I got.” He’d figure that out soon enough, he’d have to, but he was sure they had space.
After some more words with his brother, who knew how much he suffered at work, and he hurried back to his room to open his overseas packages. He had tumblers, glasses, and tea cups and mugs from Taiwan and South Korea all from Starbucks locations. They weren’t all part of the cherry blossom, spring, collection as there were other items but there were a lot from that collection - they were one of the best looking in his opinion.
Turning things in his hands, staring at them, he really was happy to see them all. He’d even gotten a few different packs of beans from overseas. His younger sister, who was eighteen, worked at Starbucks and could easily grind the beans down so everyone could try the new coffees he’d gotten. He’d show them to her later when she got home - she had a closing shift today.
“So nice.” Words spoken to himself as he went to bring the rest downstairs. The beans joined the rest of the collection they had, in a draw in the kitchen, while the new Starbucks merch was left on the counter for now. He’d wash it all by hand later, he didn’t like to toss them into the dishwasher as he was afraid of something happening to the designs and such.
For now he headed back to his room to change out of his pants, shirt, and get into something more comfortable. He didn’t like staying in his work clothing longer than he needed to - he needed the disconnect from his job once he was out of there.
Word count: 1,195
