Morningstar Manor

Business had been good over the holiday weekend and Andy was busy filling gaps on the racking with pictures from the stores.

Colette was at the desk and Sean was tripping up and down in the lift with pictures and tools and Charlie was back and forth supervising or helping and just generally enjoying himself.

This was one of the days that he just LOVED being a gallerist!

He wasn't loitering as such, but Spencer was definitely pleased to have stuck two letters, very important letters, into two mailboxes. He was kind of hoping the ladies who owned said mailboxes would be coming to collect their mail soon, otherwise, he would have to have a word with security and go stick them under doors!

While he waited he was sorting his own mail, and wondering if any of the stuff about dresses and make up and er, bridal flowers was for him, or if he could just give it all to Roxy. The mailbox was full of the stuff!

( Letter for Mrs Malhotra )

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( Letter to Miss Gonzalez )

Chandika was sitting in the Mocha, with a tall latte and a cute little pink netbook, idly checking job advertisements. You were supposed too keep looking, weren't you, even if you had fallen in love with the first job you applied for?

So she was doing that while she was waiting for somebody to turn up -- either Bethan, or her friend Anjali, who'd taken Rahul to see the touring animatronics dinosaurs, along with her own kids.

Hanu was sleeping by her chair, draped over her foot.

She had little charms in her pocket, from Bethan and Rahul, to touch should she get nervous, and her favourite tiny statuette of Durga; she had on a nice Western business suit and blouse, and a light, colourful Indian scarf, to show her pride in her heritage. Her hair and makeup had turned out exactly the way she wanted them to, and she was wearing her favourite mid-high heels. She knew she looked good, and was well-prepared.

But when Chandika walked into the office area at Michaels Brothers at exactly the time she was asked to turn up, her heart was still beating up her throat with exitement. You would not have known, though, from looking at her.-

It was fast becoming a tradition that Bethan and Chandika would meet in Memorial Park on Sunday afternoons, by the bandstand, and walk their dogs in relative peace and quiet. Bethan walked to the park from the church, and Chandika brought the two dogs to meet her. It was a nice chance to hash over the events of the week and have an 'adult talk' that wouldn't be interrupted by a small boy. Not that Bethan didn't love having Rahul living with her - she sometimes had to remind herself that he wasn't her son too! But it was nice to have Chandika to herself occasionally.

She'd picked up two iced berry smoothies on her way to the park, and was sitting on the bottom of the bandstand steps sipping one, and hoping that Chandika would arrive before the other was completely melted.

There was a baby in the Mocha, with her grandmother, and that drew people -- especially those of a female persuasion.

Charlotte usually preferred the company of her cats to lots of noisy kids, but the occasional adorable little lady didn't come amiss.

Cindy was a bit shy, but the baby was interested in Axminster (and he in the baby), so she had come over to prevent trouble, and just hung around when the dog sprawled in his eponymous way on the floor.

Chandika was chatting eagerly -- she was called in for an interview, for the job she'd applied for! And she really wanted that job, so totally down her alley. And the day care facility was the best idea ever, and a godsent at this point in time, really encouraging her to go out and get that job. And Maude was really in on it? Cooooooool!

Maude sat, holding Morgan on her lap, and was surprisingly happy.

Yes! Today was her lucky day!

Not only was there a sign up that showed the idea she'd thrown around with a few people in the garden a few days ago were already becoming reality.

Also, Chandika had just applied for a job! For serious! At last! Arjun had to pay generous alimony by now, seeing how much he really made at his job (he had never brought home the whole sum, the miserable dog!), but Bethan had maintained it would be the right thing to do. She would like it.

The job sounded really interesting -- part-time receptionist at the rooftop spa in a posh department store, not far away. Chandika could walk there! And just now that she had sent off her application, there was the answer to all child-care questions right here at the Manor. That would mean whatever shift she might be put on, the kid would be covered, and no awkward questions, or last-minute scrambling.

Chandika celebrated all these promising beginnings wit a large Mocha mocha, and a yummy, spicy muffin.

Nick strolled along the path, litter pickers in hand, whistling quietly to himself. Working Saturdays wasn't too bad when one had a job like this to do and the weather was reasonable.

He stooped to pick a discarded candy bar wrapper and put it in his garbage sack then walked on.

[ooc: we numbered our pups and choose them using this handy little item. Other than that the rules are fairly elastic]

She had to answer the phone. Had to!! Chandika didn't  know who else to call, at this time of night, in this dire predicament.

And it was so cold here -- so nastily cold and windy!

Sunday, and the Malhotras were going off for their holiday later in the afternoon, so Bethan was going to collect Rahul before they went - try and get him moved without too much fuss going on to unsettle him. She knocked on the door of their apartment once they (and she) had time for lunch, and waited with a grin.

Chandika had a box of sweets as she was standing by the Mocha door, waiting for her friend.

Not because she thought Bethan needed sweetening, but because she wanted to have something to show her appreciation even for the chance to ask.

Because Chandika had a rather big favour to ask. It was one thing for Bethan to offer; another entirely to really take her up on it.-

Malika had her walk, and was asleep on Bethan's couch, which meant that Bethan could indulge herself in a sinfully large cup of hot choclate, with whipped cream on top and a chocolate flake melting into it. She was just debating whether or not she actually wanted that slice of chocolate fudge cake which was tempting her across the room. Did she really need two lots of chocolate?

It's a real dilemma for a girl. Someone should help her out.

There was a wedding in the family soon, and Chandika really needed to polish up her dancing skills.

So when Rahul was gone for playschool, she put on gym sweats, took a portable CD player down to the ballroom, checked it was empty, put some Bollywood music on, and started to let rip.

Once or twice, she thought she felt some cold draft near her, or something like a whisper on the wind, but she didn't mind. Place like this was probably drafty anyway.

Chandika danced.-

It had been one of those weekends, it really had. It was all very well being on call when nothing happened - but as Bethan was starting to suspect, she paid for those lovely lazy weekends with incredibly busy ones, where she got barely two hours of sleep a night. Both of the children were doing well, though, which was a relief - she would have felt so much worse if they had died.

Still, she hadn't caught up on her sleep yet, so she was sitting in the window of one of the little cafes, trying not to fall asleep into her tea. Company would be more than welcome, if only in a bid to stay awake.