Making sandwiches

Mackenzie followed Ben into the large academic building, trying her best to stop shivering. The warm air of the large building helped immensely, though Mackenzie still self-consciously crossed an arm over her chest to obscure the two stiff points poking out from her t-shirt. The building itself seemed to be mostly glass, easily able to see out into the bustling downtown area where the satellite campus was located. The ground floor seemed to be home to a few small restaurants and shops, while higher levels held numerous classrooms.

Mackenzie and Ben headed over to a familiar looking storefront, complete with green, blue, and yellow letters proudly proclaiming: "Energy'n'Fuel Cafe!" Ben led Mackenzie into the small cafe, ducking behind the counter. There stood four waiting green-shirted employees, all seemingly fellow students.

"Alright guys, listen up!" Ben said, wasting no time in getting the attention of the chatting staff. "I know Katie had to call in last minute today, so I'm gonna be running the show for the afternoon." He gestured beside him, "This is Mackenzie. She's a new hire but she's been making quite a splash so far, and she's very generously agreed to help out here today."

Mackenzie gave an awkward smile and a small wave to the group, all of whom were looking at her with the wide eyes of recognition. As one of the boys leaned in to excitedly whisper to another, she definitely hear the word "streaker" in his comment. She blushed slightly.

"Now I'm going to try to stick as closely to Katie's schedule as possible. Wendy, you're manning the register. Marcus, you're on drink-duty. Evan and Evelyn, you're in the back making sure everything stays fully stocked. And that means you," he said looking to Mackenzie, "will be on sandwich making duty, Mackenzie. Is that alright with you?"

Mackenzie was a bit nervous at the prospect of having to speedily make breakfast sandwiches. She had been trained on it the other week, but she wasn't confident in her speed yet. But still, she nodded eagerly. She was just happy she wouldn't have to be interacting with customers for a change. Staying in the semi-secluded back of the cafe, making sandwiches, and letting other people bring them out front? It sounded perfect to her! That way even if she did suffer any... wardrobe troubles... she would at least stay out of sight.

"Great," Ben said. "I'll float around to help as needed when I have the time. Everyone get to work!"

As the group dispersed, Ben brought Mackenzie aside and softly said, "Don't worry. This location mostly sells drinks and donuts. There are a few better lunch options available next door, so most students don't bother buying sandwiches here. You'll be fine."

"Thanks, Ben," she said, feeling a bit calmer.

"I'll see if I can find you a spare apron to wear, but in the meantime don't worry about going without one. Now pull your pants back together and get to work!" he said as he turned to head for the Manager's office.

Mackenzie noticed that two of her sweatpants' buttons had popped free, exposing the white panties on her hip. She hastily refastened them, hoping the pants would be at least semi-cooperative with her.

Mackenzie headed back to the sandwich making station and began to take stock of things. She had her drawers of various bagels, English muffins, and croissants. She glanced nervously at the bagel slicer on the counter, making a mental note not to let anything get sliced or caught on it. She looked over the rapid ovens she would use to heat the pre-assembled sandwich ingredients, already preparing not to let anything she was wearing get burnt. And she eyed the stacks of paper bags she'd complete the orders with.

Suddenly, two of the employees appeared next to her, as if out of nowhere. Mackenzie jumped slightly before awkwardly saying hello. The two of them looked quite similar to each other.

"Oh, uh, hi there!" she managed.

"No need to be so nervous!" the girl said. Evelyn, if Mackenzie remembered correctly. "Things work exactly the same here as at your other location."

"That's kind of what I'm worried about..." Mackenzie muttered.

"Hm?"

"Oh, uh nothing!" Mackenzie stammered. "So when the orders are set, where do I put them?" When she'd been trained, there had been a designated tray that another employee periodically carted out to the waiting customers.

"Hm?" Evan said. "You bring them up to the counter and call the number. That's how it worked at your other location, right?"

"Oh..." Mackenzie felt a stab of fear at that. So she'd have to be facing the customers on the other side of the counter after all. "Not quite..."

"Hm, maybe things are a bit different here after all then," Evan said. "But I'm sure you'll be fine!"

In unison, the two of them clapped Mackenzie on the back with a vigorous show of support. The redhead jumped slightly, sending her breakaway pants splitting completely open once again. As she crouched down to gather the falling pants back up, the twin siblings Evan and Evelyn walked past her, heading for the very back of the cafe where the ovens were.

"Do you think we should have mentioned about the temporarily closed shops?" Evelyn asked her brother.

"Hm? You mean how, with the other lunch options closed for now, basically every student here is ordering lunches from us now?" Evan asked.

"Mhm."

"And how we get crazy busy with sandwich orders now?"

"Mhm."

"And how it got so bad last time that Penelope just up and quit at the end of her shift?"

"Mhm!" Evelyn nodded. "Do you think we should've mentioned any of that to her? Or would it have just freaked her out?"

"Hmmm," Evan pondered. "I'm sure she'll be fine."

Mackenzie, meanwhile, readied herself for what she hoped was a significantly less stressful shift than she'd had on Monday or Wednesday. As 1 o'clock rolled around and the first few sandwich orders rolled in, the redhead got to work assembling them. All the while, Mackenzie told herself that in just three hours' time, she'd be on her way home with a paycheck in her hand and all her clothes on her back! Or so she hoped...