check in && congratulations; Dory

[Gia Elliot]

Three in the afternoon. Classes had finished, and perhaps for some, it was the prime time for a nap. Late enough that you weren't going to miss a while lot, and early enough that you could get in a few hours and still be up in time for dinner. Plus, it wouldn't totally wreck the night's sleep later. Still, Gia wasn't much of one to take naps. Years of working or watching her mom work had taught her that there was always something that needed to be done, and generally it was a better idea to actually do the work rather than sit around and let it pile up. So, unlike most people her age, Gia wasn't a procrastinator, so her homework had also been completed within an hour of class letting out.

Quietly, as usual, Gia slipped her work straight into her back pack and placed it next to her bed, hoping that it wouldn't be in the way of her roommates. Part of Gia's mild distaste for living in a dorm situation was that so many high schoolers refused to keep their areas clean, and she did so prefer organization. Just the same, Gia wasn't much of a complainer, so she lived with it. She had even taken it on herself a few times since she'd arrived two years ago, to clean the rooms completely and make the beds. But she only did that while the others weren't around, and as, at the moment, one of her roommates was starting on some project that they had had for weeks but was due the next day, Gia instead, walked out of the room.

She kept her hand on the knob, making sure there was no slam that might disturb the working student and instead, began making her way down the stairs to the first floor, humming softly to herself all along the way. There were several students simply hanging around in the lounge, as usual, but it seemed almost everyone was outside enjoying what warmth they could before the great freeze of Vermont's winters. But that had nothing to do with that Gia was going to do. After all, their dorm mother had been promoted, and Gia hadn't gotten the chance to see her in her new apartment, or to congratulate her on the new Head of Housing title. So now that she had some spare time, that was precisely what she was going to do.

Gia didn't take into account the lack of sleep that anyone taking care of people twenty-four-seven necessarily ended up with. It had never been a job she'd held, and maid service didn't generally work the late shift. However, Gia did figure that perhaps Dorothy was entertaining company. Having squeezed around the other kids, all of whose surface thoughts were now tumbling around in her head, Gia came to the door guarding the staff apartment. Too polite to simply barge in, Gia knocked softly, timidly, hoping not to interrupt anything that might be going on. After all, it wasn't much of a student's place to go tramping through while adults were busy, was it.

[Dorothy Wilson]

Dorothy was someone who liked to have things done. She didn't like to procrastinate about things but did feel that she was someone who was able to have fun when heed be. Unfortunately all of her work was done. In fact Dorothy had nothing to do. Literally nothing. So what did she do when there was no more work? She cleaned. She had spent the morning cleaning and it was one of the things she did every so often. Equipped with large yellow rubber gloves, an apron and her hair tied back, Dorothy was slowly but surely making way in her quest of cleanliness.

You never noticed how much dust gathered when you didn't clean. She now had a new respect for the Hammel Janitorial staff. She knew hat she was like when she didn't clean. The thought of her students not cleaning and leaving it all for the janitors? Dorothy shuddered at the thought of some of the student's dorms. She knew a few people kept it clean-ish, but after all they were teenagers. It was not as if any of them were neat freaks. In fact most of them were a bit slob-ish. She just smiled and laughed though. She had certainly been one of the not so clean ones, so to speak. She had no right criticizing them, cleanliness would come with age. Dorothy smiled as she got the cobwebs out of the corner of the washroom.

Dorothy had the broom now. She was sweeping the entire floors, and had removed the throw carpet that was down over her nice hardwood floors. She had the carious ones piled in the corner, rolled up in a cylindrical shape. She had the local radio on and was humming along to the music as she went along each panel, in a methodical function.She must have looked a funny sight sort of dancing along as the radio played, taking the dust and dirt off of the floors. She didn't really care if anyone came in, it wasn't anything embarrassing. Everyone danced when they cleaned. It was just good clean fun. As she was sweeping she couldn't stop smiling. It wasn't that the sweeping was necessarily fun, but she remembered what had happened when she herself was a student. She had fond memories of cleaning her room with her roommates. Mostly it just turned into impromptu dance parties. Fun times.

Dorothy had just finished sweeping the floors when she got the idea to mop. Finding it in the closet she quickly ran the water to start. If she started this job she was going to finish it. Smirking to herself Dorothy peeled off the rubber gloves, disposing them in the pile to be cleaned. Smiling she brought the mop down and began to spread the water on the floors. It was looking quite clean if Dorothy did say so herself. She was halfway done when she heard the small knock on the door. Grabbing the remote and turning the music down, still in her apron she went to the door and opened it. “ Hello?” Dorothy looked at the student who was standing there meekly. “You gonna stand there all day Gia or are you going to come in?” Dorothy smirked and opened the door more to let her in. “ Just mopped be careful.”

[Gia Elliot]

If there was one thing Gia wasn't used to, it was cool staff acting even cooler. Sure, she'd known Dorothy for a while, but even so, she couldn't get used to the nonchalant answering of the door, like having students pop into her office unannounced and uninvited was some boring old everyday thing that didn't make any difference at all. And maybe, to her it didn't, but to Gia that was time that was being eaten up out of the workday, and would need to be made up later. She liked to make appointments so that she wouldn't catch a staff member off guard and make them need to work later than necessary. Especially if they didn't get paid the overtime.

Still, she didn't hesitate when she was invited in, and she smiled around at the cleanliness of the place. Was it weird to think of someone who wasn't hired as a maid or janitor or other cleaning professional cleaning being odd? Because Gia did. After all, most of the time that she'd been aware of her mother's job, it had been cleaning, and the Grimleys didn't do a whole lot of cleaning on their own. Gia looked for the driest spots on the floor, and attempted to make sure to avoid tracking in any dirt that might have been on her shoes through the nice, clean floor. She looked over at the woman and smiled sweetly. "You're cleaning? Would you like some help?"

Of course, regardless of the answer, if Dorrie was going to clean while Gia was there, Gia would feel obliged to help out. She was pretty good at it, and it really didn't bother her the way everyone assumed it would bother a teenager. She was by no means obsessive or compulsive -- not about cleaning at least -- but it wasn't fair for her to distract the older woman while also sitting around doing nothing while she was busy. Still, this could most certainly be a quick conversation anyway. As quick as Dorothy wanted it to be. Gia had no idea where she'd go, but she had as much or as little time as was needed for this.

"I wanted to tell you congratulations on the promotions, Miss Wilson. It was well deserved, and now you get this fancy new office." She smiled again, letting her eyes do another sweep around the room to take in the colors and the objects and the general atmosphere of the place. True enough, Gia hadn't really gotten to know this woman's predecessor, but the teen was certain that the office had only improved in appearance and feel.

[Dorothy Wilson]

If Dorothy had known she was considered the “cool staff” she would have had a swelled head. You really shouldn't tell her these things Gia, it might make her lose it. After of course she gives you a hug and makes you cookies. That just helps everything. Dorothy really didn't mind when students popped in, it was one of the reasons she kept her door unlocked. She wanted the students to feel as if they could come in at any time. She was up a lot anyway, and if she were happening to be taking a nap they knew to wake her up. As long as they had sweets. They knew enough not to wake her up without sweets.

Dorothy grinned as Gia came in. She probably wasn't used to people other then the janitors cleaning. Normal students weren't. It just wasn't done in the world today/ She shook her head still smiling. She would get things done and she would get them done well. It wasn't right fort he maintenance to have to clean up her office, if she made the mess. Smiling she watched as Gia came into the office, keeping herself not tracing in any dirt. Dorothy smiled. This was one of the ones who knew what they were doing. Carefully maneuvering her way back to the mop bucket she quickly finished before Gia could offer to help. She would just go back and do it later. Dorothy took off her apron and undid her hair eying the girl in front of her. “I just finished.” Smiling she looked around. “Wanna help me put the rugs back?”

It wasn't an order and it wasn't a command. If Gia didn't want to she didn't have to. The couch was open and free, the radio still playing. Dorothy could easily finish this by herself and it honestly wouldn't take long. Besides, she was sure that the cookies that were out on the little sitting table were calling out to Gia. They sure as anything were calling out to Dorothy. She smiled and too one and offered the plate to the student looking at her with wide eyes. Really what was so fascinating about a person cleaning. Honestly Dorothy didn't know what exactly Gia wanted, but she was sure it was all going to work out somehow.

Dorothy eyed the student that was sitting across from her, by now the rugs put away and everything cleaned up. It was a nice surprise for a student to notice, but she smiled and nodded patting Gia on the head, in a fond way."Thank you dear. Soooooooo. Dish. Whats going on in your life?” She was genuinely interested in what was going on, as she was with all her students. “Whats happening?”


(( LATE!!! Sorry!))