Megan and Wai Hong - Interview for a Dish Washer Who: Megan and Wai Hong When: Wednesday, February 20 at 11:00am Where: Wok-n-Roll What: Megan is taking matters into her own hands regarding her and Andy's financial situation by getting a steady one of her own.
Megan had been careful not to lie that morning. She woke up early, dressed professionally, and shouldered her camera bag - kissing Andy and telling him that she was going to the college since the final payment was due that day and then she'd try to find some leads. All true. Except when she got to the college she burst into tears and told the poor receptionist everything that had happened, leading to her withdrawing from classes and able to salvage half of the money she'd put down. Then she'd spent a half hour in the loo fixing her make up and making sure she looked alright before rushing to the Blue Elephant where Elodie Evers was having lunch and managing two quick photos. Deciding that would suffice for doing everything she'd told Andy she would be doing, she finally made her way to the Wok-n-Roll.
For five minutes Megan stood across the street, staring at the doors like she had the first time she'd visited. Except this was a different fear that filled her then the one that had before she met with Cho. This was something she couldn't tell anyone about - especially Andy. He'd be so mad if he found out! Looking down at her hand, she turned the diamond around so she couldn't see it - as if it was reproaching her, or Andy could see her out of it. Clenching her hand in a fist, her feet carried her across the street and through the doors at 11:00 on the nose.
Wai Hong greeted Megan with an enthusiastic grin. "Fwooper!" he said, taking her hands into his. "Cho says you want to work here."
It was hard to not smile at Cho's energetic father, and so Megan found a small one flitting across her face as she nodded. "I know I don't have any experience or a resume or anything, but I just need something small," she insisted. "I can wash dishes if you need. I'm a very thorough cleaner!"
"Nonsense," he said, leading her to a table by the front window. "Why would I hide your smile in the back? You need to be out with the people."
Megan glanced nervously out the window, as if Andy could sense she was here and would come find her. "Well, Mr. Chang, the thing is... no one can know I'm working here," she started, looking down at her hands. "My fiancee doesn't know that I'm here, and he can't find out."
A confused look crossed Wai Hong's face, but then he smiled. "A surprise! Very well, very well. I guess the kitchen will have to do, unless you mind wearing a costume?"
She giggled, her fingers nervously intertwining with each other. "I don't mind. I'll do anything you want me to do as long as I'm not recognized. I promise I'm very thorough, and on time, and I'll even do photography for your restaurant if you'd like!!"
"Photos!" Wai Hong grinned. "To hang on the walls? I know just the thing for you, Golden Fwooper."
"To hang anywhere you like!" she insisted. "I'm a photographer. At least I want to be."
"Then you are," he said. "You, my girl, are going to go on the great Elvis hunt."
"Elvis hunt?" Megan's face scrunched up as she thought about that. "But isn't he... in America?"
"Sometimes. Sometimes he's in Cairo. Hard to find a picture of him. Even harder to find one of him and Stubby. Kinda like the golden snitch in quidditch. Good sport, quidditch. Do you play?"
Megan shook her head. "No, I can't fly very well, but I love to watch!"
"You should! The Arrows. Now, there's a team."
"I'm Welsh, I have to like the Harpies. The captain has my last name too!! Jones!" she declared.
Wai Hong laughed. "Maybe you're related."
"I wish!" she said with wide eyes. "I tried to prove that once but it didn't go anywhere."
"Didn't look back far enough," Wai Hong said, nodding. "We'll put that on our list of goals, too."
"Good," she laughed. "So, am I hired then?" she asked hopefully.
"Of course. Tell me where you'd like to go first. I'm a frequent portkey traveler myself, so I've got connections."
"I haven't the first idea of where to look!" she said honestly. "I've only seen a few pictures and heard a couple of songs."
"Las Vegas," he said. "Best place in the world. Got married there. Haven't been back in a few months but I meant to. Will you take pictures around the city for me, too? I need decorating inspiration."
"Of course!" she agreed, eyes widening to the size of saucers. "I can only go for a few hours at a time though, as long as my classes are supposed to last. Otherwise Andy will suspect!"
"You can't go to Las Vegas for a few hours!"
"But I can't lie to him," she said anxiously. "I don't lie, I never have! And he'll be so mad if he finds out I withdrew from my classes to save money."
Wai Hong frowned. "What classes?"
"I was going to take photography classes at night for the next few months, but after Andy lost his job it's just money we can't afford to spend," she told him in a small voice. "He didn't want me to quit, but I can't spend it knowing we need it! So I got a partial refund and came here to find a job to make up the money I won't get back. And to help with bills until he gets something steady."
"My photographer should have classes," Wai Hong said as if the matter were closed. "You will take the classes. And, you know, I'm certified to do Wizard marriages," he added with a wink.
"Oh that's very sweet of you," Megan said, a genuine smile crossing her face. "But I've already withdrawn and gotten my refund. And the deadline has passed. There was a waiting list and my spot has no doubt been filled already. But thank you, for offering, and... and I'll keep that last part in mind," she giggled.
"Next time they're offered!" Wai Hong said, "and we'll try to keep you close to home."
Megan's face lit up. "Thank you! And I really don't mind doing dishes between picture trips, really. I love cleaning, I'm very good at it!"
"Fine, fine," he said. "You can wash dishes."
"When can I start?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Perfect! What time?"
"When are your classes supposed to be? Come then."
"Six. And..." a relieved smile spread over her, as if a large burden had been lifted from her shoulders. "Thank you. I can't tell you how much!"
"Don't mention it," he said. "And, now.... Dessert?"
"Dessert?"
"Order whatever you'd like. I have an in with the chef."
"Can I have a pineapple sorbet?" she asked hopefully.
Wai Hong laughed. "I will put it on the menu!"
"Thank you!" she squealed. "For everything!"
"It needs a good name," he said, scratching his chin. "Fwooper's Delight?"
"I think that's brilliant! But it should have all the colour of a Fwooper, shouldn't it?" she asked, tilting her head. "Pineapple, lime, orange, strawberry... maybe?"
"No, no, you are a special fwooper. Only golden, like the snitch!"
Megan's dimples showed through her cheeks. "A golden Fwooper! That's brilliant!"
"Since it's not on the menu yet, should we try I Scream, You Scream?"
"They have pineapple sorbet. But it's just called pineapple sorbet."
"We can call it whatever we'd like," he said, and then he motioned for one of the hostesses. After a quick exchange, the hostess was off in search of the Fwooper's Delight. "I always wanted my own Fwooper. Stubby has one, you know."
"They're so pretty!" she agreed. "I love the colours! It's so sad that you can't listen to them sing..."
"Someday," he said. "I believe someday we will. You'll see. Beautiful birds. Wouldn't hide one back in the kitchen, if I had one."
"Oh no! Fwoopers should be right in the front," she agreed seriously.
"Great," he said as the hostess appeared in front of them with their sorbet. "You'll start hostessing tomorrow."
Megan's eyes widened. "No, no I can't! What if Andy comes in? Or Hannah or Quinn or Katie or George?"
"Then you will take their picture!" he said, motioning for her to eat. "Fine, fine, dishes!"
"Thank you. I really appreciate it." Picking up her spoon, Megan took a big spoonful of her sorbet, her eyes closing as the pineapple hit her tongue. "I love sorbet! And pineapple!"
"And the Wok-n-Roll loves you."
"I think I'm going to really love working for you Mr. Chang!"
"You haven't met the dishes yet."
"My dad and brother are fishermen and my mum is a baker. I've met some really gross dishes," she laughed.
Wai Hong laughed then, too. "Good!"
Grinning, Megan looked back down at her pineapple sorbet. Maybe this wouldn't be too bad after all...
"I'll start tracking Elvis spottings for you, and we'll plan your first trip soon."
"Just tell me where and I'll be there! I have a freelance job taking pictures of celebrities right now, so I can do that!"
"Take any of my Woody?"
"Of course!" she nodded. "Nothing bad though, I don't like to take scandalous photos. Which is why I don't make much with the freelance," she confessed, a blush dusting her cheeks.
"Woody doesn't do scandalous either," Wai Hong said, taken back. "Every shot of him is a good shot."
A flash from the naked whirly party came to the front of her mind and she bit back a grin. "He's always very nice to me, and let's me take pictures," she agreed.
"Cho's going to be famous, too."
"I was going to take portraits of her for my class!" she said happily.
"I will want to see those portraits," Wai Hong said, eyes wide. "You should get my wife too! I'm the richest man in the whole wizarding world, did you know?"
"Really?!" she breathed, her eyebrows shooting up.
"Oh yes," he nodded seriously. "I've got the two most beautiful women in the world. Doesn't get much richer than that."
Megan grinned, covering her mouth as she laughed. "It doesn't!"
"Exactly! I've got more smiles than those Chamberses, too," he said with a wink. "You should remember that."
Megan wrinkled her nose. "Hannah doesn't like them much. Money doesn't matter so much as being happy - as long as you can pay the bills - I think!!"
"You are a wise Fwooper," he said in between bites. "We would do well to listen to your song."
She shrugged. "I'm trying."
"You'll fit in well here."
Finishing her sorbet, Megan lifted the dish. "Should I go wash it now?" she asked with a grin.
"If you'd like!"
Jumping up from her seat, Megan picked up the dishes and happily skipped back to the kitchens, Mr. Chang's words still ringing in her ears. You'll fit in well here.