Paid Unofficial Taste Tester | 24 October 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2535 | Prompt: the worst sandwich (el peor sandwich)

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LaTrisha carefully documented each day her breakfast and lunch went missing. Other co-workers reported missing items from their lunch sacks to the company's human resources unit. Of all the people LaTrisha spoke with, preparing their daily lunch and eating in the company-sponsored deli type cafeteria was a godsend in saving and staying on budget. She was no exception. Preparation the week's menu was part of their cost-cutting procedures.

Losing their food to thieves was heartbreaking.

A few months after the incidents were reported, rumors quietly circulated casting blame on the night crew workers. Often staying late working overtime, LaTrisha was familiar with the second shift office staff; finding them to be competent and of high integrity.

As the situation grew worse, so did LaTrisha's voice grew louder in opposition to the accusations. She defended them knowing several from her neighborhood. Their families depended upon the job to keep them stable. The need to protect the innocent from being falsely accused and lose their means of supporting their families prompted her to take action.

If not them, then who? The question puzzled LaTrisha. Card key access was the only way anyone could gain entrance to the company. Suspicion spread to her co-workers in her own department. Immediately, another thought. Someone not that familiar; someone from another department who may think they won't be recognized, she thought, frowning. Someone no one would suspect.

Working closely as a procurement liaison with several departments, she knew more people than others in her own department. Perhaps the answer lay elsewhere.

Her answer came two weeks later.

Before lunch, she took position near the cafeteria. Pretending to be reading while waiting nearby, she scoured the area and noticed all who entered.

"Morris Overton, that's my lunch!" LaTrisha shouted as she stealthily approached him with his back turned away from her and toward the refrigerator.

"Oh, it is. My mistake," Morris hurriedly responded after taking a bite out of LaTrisha's sandwich.

"That's no mistake. The designer lunch kit has my name written on it. You know what you're doing, stealing other people's lunch. You should be ashamed." Infuriated, LaTrisha didn't stop to consider her safety as she stepped closer and snapped Morris' photo with her sandwich in his hand.

Morris grabbed at her camera.

Instinctively, LaTrisha stepped back out of range. Hands shaking, she was totally unprepared for his next response.

"I should report you for having bad taste. That was the worst sandwich I've even tasted."

The audacity of this thief, she thought. She gathered her composure enough to hiss, "seeing that you took several bites in seconds, I couldn't tell."

As though stunned, Morris shook his head several times as if shaking off a bad taste in his mouth. It wasn't that. He was upset at himself for not having noticed LaTrishia. He'd been able to confiscate food for months undetected by waiting for employees from his department to visit the cafeteria before making his move.

LaTrisha's final words defied her astonishment and fear of consequences from her confrontation with Morris.

"Know this. I'm reporting you to human resources with my evidence and filing a complaint for stealing from employees."

She watched as Morris brushed his hands together as if dismissing the entire incident, threw her sandwich in the nearby trash, then turned to walk away, seemingly unconcerned.

Incensed, LaTrisha bristled with nostrils flaring. "And, you should thank me for rescuing you from inedible food."

Needless to say, after LaTrisha turned in her report with undeniable evidence. the company's human resources unit dealt severely with Morris. Not only the reputation of the second shift office workers was restored for the present, but also employees' breakfast and lunch items were secure for the future.

For my theme, I was inspired by and utilized the @daily.prompt's publishing of 24 october 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2535: the worst sandwich.

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Probador de sabores no oficial entre nosotros

LaTrisha documentó cuidadosamente cada día que le faltaban el desayuno y la comida. Otros compañeros informaron a la unidad de recursos humanos de la empresa de que les faltaban cosas de la bolsa del almuerzo. De todas las personas con las que habló LaTrisha, preparar su almuerzo diario y comer en la cafetería tipo delicatessen patrocinada por la empresa era una bendición para ahorrar y ajustarse al presupuesto. Ella no era una excepción. Preparar el menú de la semana formaba parte de sus procedimientos de recorte de gastos.

Perder la comida a manos de los ladrones era desgarrador.

Unos meses después de los incidentes, circularon rumores que culpaban a los trabajadores nocturnos. LaTrisha, que a menudo se quedaba hasta tarde haciendo horas extras, conocía bien al personal de oficina del segundo turno, al que consideraba competente y muy íntegro.

A medida que la situación empeoraba, la voz de LaTrisha se hacía más fuerte en contra de las acusaciones. Los defendía conociendo a varios de su barrio. Sus familias dependían del trabajo para mantenerse estables. La necesidad de proteger a los inocentes para que no fueran acusados falsamente y perdieran los medios para mantener a sus familias la impulsó a actuar.

Si no eran ellos, ¿quién? La pregunta dejó perpleja a LaTrisha. El acceso mediante tarjeta llave era la única forma de entrar en la empresa. La sospecha se extendió a sus compañeros de departamento. Inmediatamente, otro pensamiento. Alguien no tan conocido; alguien de otro departamento que quizá piense que no le reconocerán, pensó, frunciendo el ceño. Alguien de quien nadie sospecharía.

Al trabajar como enlace de compras con varios departamentos, conocía a más gente que otros de su propio departamento. Quizá la respuesta estuviera en otra parte.

La respuesta llegó dos semanas más tarde.

Antes de comer, se colocó cerca de la cafetería. Fingiendo estar leyendo mientras esperaba cerca, recorrió la zona y se fijó en todos los que entraban.

«¡Morris Overton, ése es mi almuerzo!», gritó LaTrisha mientras se acercaba sigilosamente a él, que le daba la espalda y se dirigía hacia la nevera.

«Oh, sí que lo es. Me equivoqué», se apresuró a responder Morris después de darle un mordisco al bocadillo de LaTrisha.

*"No es un error. El kit de almuerzo de diseño lleva mi nombre escrito. Sabes lo que haces, robar el almuerzo de los demás. Enfurecida, LaTrisha no se paró a pensar en su seguridad mientras se acercaba y le hacía una foto a Morris con el bocadillo en la mano.

Morris le arrebató la cámara.

Instintivamente, LaTrisha retrocedió para ponerse fuera de su alcance. Le temblaban las manos y no estaba preparada para su siguiente respuesta.

«Debería denunciarte por mal gusto. Ese era el peor sándwich que he probado».

Pensó en la audacia de este ladrón. Recobró la compostura lo suficiente como para sisear: "Viendo que le diste varios mordiscos en segundos, no me di cuenta ».

Como aturdido, Morris sacudió la cabeza varias veces, como si se quitara un mal sabor de boca. No era eso. Estaba enfadado consigo mismo por no haberse fijado en LaTrishia. Había podido confiscar comida durante meses sin ser detectado esperando a que los empleados de su departamento visitaran la cafetería antes de hacer su jugada.

Las últimas palabras de LaTrisha desafiaron su asombro y el miedo a las consecuencias de su enfrentamiento con Morris.

"Que sepas esto. Te denunciaré a recursos humanos con mis pruebas y presentaré una denuncia por robar a los empleados «.

Vio cómo Morris se rozaba las manos como dando por zanjado el incidente, tiraba el bocadillo a la papelera cercana y se daba la vuelta para marcharse, aparentemente despreocupado.

Indignada, LaTrisha se encrespó con las fosas nasales encendidas. "Y deberías darme las gracias por rescatarte de una comida incomestible ».

Ni que decir tiene que, después de que LaTrisha entregara su informe con pruebas irrefutables, la unidad de recursos humanos de la empresa se ensañó con Morris. No sólo se restauró la reputación de los oficinistas del segundo turno para el presente, sino que también se aseguraron los desayunos y almuerzos de los empleados para el futuro.

Para mi tema, me inspiré y utilicé la publicación de @daily.prompt de 24 october 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2535: the worst sandwich.

SOURCES:
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