Practice

Anita was determined to make sure Shasta didn't have to worry about his kitchen during his recovery. So after the first day in the kitchen, Anita sought help from Sierra to learn the recipes. They were in the breakroom, studying the recipe book when Ramona entered the room.

"Ramona?"

Both girls looked around her for any sign of Miles.

"Isn't Miles with you?"

"Miles had clean up duty at school today. I made it across the backlot."

Ramona sat down, rubbing her socks of loose gravel before checking her knees. The girls nodded and went back to reading the book. Ramona rolled her socks back up before looking at the girls. "Can you help me," she asked.

"Of course!" Leigha slammed open the girl's changing room, now back in her regular clothes. "Anything for my future sister-in-law."

Leigha sat beside Ramona, with Sierra and Anita looking up from the cookbook.

"I want to speak up better," she whispered, "and be better at customer service. So Miles doesn't have to always look out for me."

"Shouldn't you work more on your tripping?" asked Sierra. Anita and Leigha both frowned at Sierra's comment.

"Yes, but maybe if I get more confident in speaking, then my body will follow."

"It could be possible," commented Anita. 

"Glad to see you're going to stick with it," cheered Leigha, Ramona smiling at the encouragement.

"Wait, you knew about this?" asked Sierra.

Leigha nodded, "Yup, she started the last time we worked together."

Ramona nodded her head in agreement. "I liked it when it felt like I could help him instead of always helping me. I want to help him. And maybe me not being so quiet or clumsy would help?"

The other girls looked from Ramona to each other.

"Of course, we'll help you," assured Anita.

"Absolutely!" Leigha pulled Ramona up and moved her next to Sierra.

"Pretend that Sierra's a customer and try to take her order," instructed Leigha. Ramona nodded before turning back to Sierra, readying her hands as if she held the pen and paper.

"Welcome to Tormino's. My name is Ramona," she whispered.

"What!" yelled Sierra.

"Welcome to Tormino's. My name is Ramona."

"Speak up! I can't hear you!"

"Welcome to Tormino's! My name is Ramona!"

"Louder, dearie!"

"What are you, a grandma?" asked Leigha

"Eh?"

"WELCOME TO TORMINO'S. MY NAME IS RAMONA. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER?!"

"STOP YELLING IN THERE!" came Cyrus' voice through the walls. The girls looked at each other, waiting for Cyrus to come out for further scolding. When he didn't, Leigha started laughing, the other girls following.

"Great start, we need to work on the volume and not have you go against a hard of hearing old lady," Leigha chuckled.

"Ramona," called Miles. Ramona turned pink at the attention and at the knowing stares her co-workers were giving her.

"Oh, you are already here." Miles breathed a sigh of relief when he found her in the breakroom. "Are we supposed to be working?"

 "We are," answered Leigha. "We were helping Ramona speak up when she talks to customers."

Miles frowned, "Ramona is already trying her best. She doesn't need to be pushed to change."

"I asked them," Ramona whispered, as Miles looked back at her.

"I asked them to help me," she spoke up.

"Oh, okay, so long as it's something you want to work on."

Ramona nodded. Miles nodded as well, looking a little sad. "I can cover the front if you want to practice more?"

"Please, and thank you." Leigha pushed Miles out of the breakroom and back towards the front.

"Are you ready to practice again, Ramona?" asked Sierra, looking up at the girl who was staring down at her shoes.

"I don't know; Miles didn't seem to like it."

"Ramona, you want to change. So don't worry about what Miles' thinks. He should like you for you. You both need to grow so you both get closer. Like Anita learning to cook for Shasta."

"Wah! It's until he gets back."

Sierra waved Anita's protests off.

"So, do you want to get better at speaking for yourself, or not?"

Ramona hesitated a bit before nodding. "I want to get stronger, so I don't burden my friends. Especially Miles."

"Right-o!"

"Um, guys?"

The girls looked over at Miles, who had his ears covered by Leigha.

"I don't know what you're talking about since Leigha covered my ears, but can I please change into my uniform?"

The girls nodded. Miles walked over to the boys’ changing room, followed by Leigha.

"I don't need a babysitter!" He shoved her off before shutting the door so she couldn't follow.

"You're no fun!"

"I don't care."

Ramona smiled at the brother and sister, arguing through the wall.

She would get better, so she could tell Miles her feelings.