A rap at the door startled Stella. She put down a book and said, "Yes?"
Her mother said, "Can we talk to you, Honey?"
Stella met her parents downstairs. Her father crossed his arms and looked at her mother. "Go ahead, Lila, tell her."
Her mother fidgeted. "Stella, we want you to get a job. Well, we don't want money or anything, of course. We want you to get out of the house. All you do is read. We're doing this for your own good."
Her father nodded. "We've raised you right. We homeschooled you with the best tutors. You ace all the standardized tests. You'll find a great college after we take you to Europe next summer. But for now, we want you to get a little taste of the world."
Stella didn't like the idea but said, "Okay." She didn't mind work. She always helped with the chores, but people made her nervous.
Fast forward two weeks, and she'd put in several applications. Finally, she got a call from Great Subs. They wanted her to start on Monday. The weekend sped by too fast. She felt anxious the night before. She had to be there by 4 p.m. and didn't eat breakfast or lunch. Her hands and feet felt cold.
At 2 p.m., she started getting ready. After a shower, she wiped the foggy mirror to reveal her ample tits and narrow waist. She blowdried her light-brown hair. She went to her room with a towel wrapped around her as she brushed her hair. She loved how clean, dry hair felt brushing the middle of her back.
Her mother began doing laundry.
She put on a little makeup. She opened her dresser drawer and picked out a shirt. She knew she'd get one when she started her shift, so she grabbed the first one. She grabbed a pair of dark jeans since she figured leggings were out of the question. She was out of panties, and her mother had thrown the dirty ones in the wash. Lesson learned. She would make sure she had everything ready next time.
She pulled the jeans over her hips and buttoned them. She would have to eat salads for a few weeks. She must have gained two or three pounds as tight as they fit.
She opened her mother's car door and ran into Great Subs moments before the start time. A grandmotherly lady handed her a shirt and apron. She changed in the bathroom and noticed the shirt was a bit tight. Luckily, the apron gave some modesty.
The older lady said, "Where's the evening shift? They're always late." She looked Stella up and down. "Well, aren't you a lovely young lady? Let me show you how to cut tomatoes in the machine." She guided her into the back room. "Here's the walk-in freezer, the sink, the prep table." She walked across the room. "Here's where we let the bread rise."
A tall, handsome man entered behind the counter. He had a close-cropped beard. "Sorry, Jill. You seen Mitch and Johnny?"
"Not yet."
He started serving sandwiches. Stella watched him work from the back room. She thought she'd like it here after all."
Jill led Stella out to meet her supervisor. "Eric, meet Stella."
He took her hand gently. "So good to meet you." He turned at a noise. "Ahh, there's the gremlins.
Two guys in their early twenties swaggered in. Jill said goodbye and headed out. Stella went back to cutting onions. She felt uneasy. She had to work with three men. Well, one man and two boys.
Mitch peeked at her doing prep. "Who's the new broad?"
Eric shook his head. "Do you even know what the words mean that come out of your mouth?"
"Kinda."
"Anyway, I have a date. She has looks, she has money. Anyway, could you hold down the fort? I don't care what you smoke in the freezer."
"Hey man, it's legal now."
"Anyway, can you?"
"Of course. You know I got ya."
"Thanks." Eric unplugged a power cable that connected to a camera. "No evidence I wasn't here, or if--well, when--you guys goof off." He left the store. She didn't want him to go. Sure, she found him attractive, but she mostly didn't want to be left alone with the other two.
Mitch and Johnny took care of a dinner rush. Mitch was lanky and personable with the customers. Johnny was a little overweight and mostly ran the register. They had her watch and learn how to make the subs. Then, the customers all but disappeared.
Mitch looked at the mess. "Okay, guys, let's get this ship shape."
Stella found a rag in a bucket and started wiping things down. She noticed the other two stealing glances at her when she bent over. She tried to bend over less.
Another man walked behind the counter without a uniform. He had thin, graying hair and a sword tattoo on his forearm.
Mitch fist-bumped the man. "You got it, Andy? Nice. Back here." They went into the prep area.
She took the dirty bucket and dumped it in the sink.
