zarina maxwell, district five ; fin cb

"Yo-you're home late again."

"I know, Ma."

"Steven about coughed his lungs out, it spooked Terry.
He hasn't really...recovered from that Rose Plague shi-ah, um, stuff."

"Anyways, he had me work Steven's double. It's kinda bull, but y'know, no one else has come back since the lockdown. Kate straight-up quit the other day, right in front of her tables. I could hear it all the way in the kitchens. Pretty ballsy, eh?"

"You're t-too good for the-hem, you kno-know that, right? A-and don't get me sta-ar-rted on Terry. You l-let him walk all ove-r-r you. He's your bo-boss, not damn Ri-pr-red."

"Som-ome-times you j-just need to put your fo-oo-ot down. Y-ou can't keep letting pe-people treat you li-ke a floor mat. And it's not some-something n-new, you've alw-w-ays done this."

"I do not. Besides, we could use the money, so it's not a big deal. A win, really. If you think about it. I work for what, five, extra hours? Just for a sweet bonus."

"And that's not even counting tips! That 'floor mat' mentality, which in reality is just me being kind, makes happy customers. And guess what, happy people equals more money for us!"

"What a-am I supp-po-osed to do when yo-you're not here? Just st-stare out the wind-do-ow?"

"Or talk t-too the neig-eigh-hbors? All the Carter's ta-al-lk about is their gr-grandki-ids, and I really don't want to he-ear-ar about that."

"That money is what pays these bills. And it pays for the AC since you think you're gonna die every time you break a sweat."

"I'm just kidding, Ma. Don't give me that look."


"Here's your dinner before it gets cold. Cooked it up before I left. And yes, before you ask, I did remember to cut it up into bite-size pieces for you this time."

"Go-oo-od, I'm starving. I've been wai-aiting for you to come h-home for hours. T-th-hat's why you need to l-let me know when you're g-gon-nna be late."

"I-it makes me worry."

"And s-str-ess isn't g-good for my heart, y'kn-ow? The doc-oc-tors said I can't let it bea-ea-t too fast, not until I'm o-off the tank."

"Yeah, I will."

"Sorry for causing you to panic, didn't mean for that."

"I love you, Ma."