The side job

Sunday. Why hadn't he taken today off? He had had a lot of trouble getting up again this morning. For the first time since he worked there, Max didn't feel like going to the Bacon Factory. Luckily he didn't have to open the door today either and he had extra time to wake up. He had seen on the schedule that Vanessa would be there again. Where did she get the nerve to say that he was dirty because he liked the food there and had a bigger body. Even Clarissa had never made such statements. She wasn't nice either, but at least she let it be known in a gentler way that she didn't like fat people. It was a pleasant surprise when Max walked through the gate in the counter and couldn't find Vanessa anywhere in the kitchen. She must have called in sick again. Immediately he became a lot happier and started energetically grilling hamburgers.
"Do you think you can do the fries today as well?" Joe asked.
'As you can see, we are missing someone. If it gets too busy, I'll help out.'
Max nodded doubtfully. In the evening he often grilled hamburgers and fried fries, but then it was not as busy as during the day. On a Sunday it wasn't as busy as Saturday, so Max went to try it.
"Is Vanessa sick again?" he asked cautiously, because it wasn't really any of his business.
Joe started laughing mischievously and his face showed he was hesitating to say something.
"You have to keep this quiet for a moment," he said softly and mysteriously.
"It's not official yet, but Vanessa has finally been fired."
Max frowned. Why? She should have been fired long ago, he thought. Why now all of a sudden? Joe said that this morning when she came in she was already met by Jacob. With few words he had made it clear to her that she could leave immediately and never have to come back.
"But why?" Max asked curiously.
"Because of you," Joe replied, still softly.
"You told Jacob she was acting so strange."
For a moment, Max felt a moment of pride. It was amazing that Jacob had listened to him and that he had taken action because of this. There was no remorse for what he had done to Vanessa.
"Thanks," Joe whispered.
"That bitch wasn't in a good place, but she was pretty good with one of the other team leaders and I couldn't get her out of here."
Joe hinted that he called Jacob yesterday regarding Vanessa and Patricia's comments. Apparently Patricia was now in Jacob's office, where she was told not to get involved in disagreements between colleagues, but to call in a team leader. Joe quickly walked back to his spot behind the cash register to help a group of waiting customers. Max turned to the fryer with a smile. It took at least an hour before Patricia appeared again. She said nothing and hardly dared to look at Max anymore. Jacob stood in the doorway of the office. He winked and gave him a thumbs up.

That evening Max had eaten more than he normally did. He felt good and had a victory to celebrate. He had had to work hard to keep up with all the orders, but he had not needed any help from Joe and had therefore proven that they did not need Vanessa to run a good production. He had opened a few buttons of his pants to get all the food into his stomach and he staggered panting through the narrow hallway of the house. Joseph and Pedro sat in the kitchen. It looked like they had gotten into a serious conversation, but when Max wanted to continue walking, he was called. Fortunately, they made no comments about his weight, size or difficult gait. Joseph had found another home, closer to the gym. Apparently he had changed his studies some time ago and the new home was also closer to the new school building. Wow... Even though Max had little contact with him and Joseph wasn't his type of person at all, he was still a bit shocked. Two people gone in a short time. He hoped that the landlord did not suddenly increase the rent to compensate. And it was always a matter of waiting to see who would come back for it. Joseph himself did not mind leaving. There were many more girls in the other house. Beautiful girls that he wanted to be seen with. Judging by his face, Pedro thought it would be nice to take a look there too. Max kept aloof. Pretty girls weren't for him. Not pretty boys either. He was too busy with his studies and work to worry about relationships. He wished Joseph good luck with his new studies and new home and left for his room. Somehow he felt sorry that Joseph was leaving. He lived there before Max came and became something familiar, like the old sofa in the living room. He never sat on it, but he would be sad to see it go. After Joseph's departure, Max would be the one who lived there the longest. If only he didn't have to accommodate all those newcomers. They were allowed to find their own way. His bed creaked violently when Max collapsed on it. Wonderful, this soft mattress. It wasn't long before he fell deeply asleep.