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“That’ll be $18.7—”
The man tossed a twenty-dollar bill at me. “Keep the change. I gotta go.”
It bounced off my chest and fluttered to the belt as he scooped up his bags. He lumbered away, murmuring to himself as he walked straight out the doors into the pouring rain. I shook my head as I picked up the bill, cashing him out and setting the change aside. I slipped it into the manilla envelope I had at my register for the manager to collect. Extra money for the store without disrupting the balance of the registers at the end of the night.
I sighed. “I really hate this job sometimes.”
Grady’s Groceries was a small store in town that serviced a very specific group of people in the area. It wasn’t a chain. It wasn’t some big-box store. But it always had quality, fresh items. And it seemed as if people were always willing to pay for fresh and quality. Of course, there were items like frozen vegetables and things of that nature. However, that didn’t stop the all-natural crowd from coming in and making my life a living nightmare.
Is this made with gluten?
Is this made near gluten?
Was someone thinking about gluten when they made this?
“Rae!”
My manager’s voice ripped me from my trance. “What’s up, Bryan?”
“We need help stocking. You up for a change of scenery? It’ll be counted on your paycheck.”
I smiled. “You know I’m always up to help.”
“Great. Get back to aisle four. Dani’s struggling with the lower shelves. Back’s acting up again.”
“Got it.”
I logged out of my register and practically broke into a dead sprint for aisle four. Dani was the resident grandmother. Worked part-time in order to have more money to spoil the eight grandchildren she had. But sometimes she needed a bit of help. And I was more than willing to provide that help if it meant not having to interact with the pompous, arrogant customers that seemed to be out in full force today.
“Hey there, Dani.”
She sighed. “Hey, Rae. Sorry for pulling you away.”
“Now, you know good and well I don’t mind. Whatcha stocking?”
“This damn cake icing. Why is it on the lower shelf? I keep telling Bryan cooking supplies need to be more accessible to people of my age because we’re the ones that do most of the baking.”
I took the icing from her hand. “And I’ll make sure the suggestion is heard.”
I crouched down and began unpacking the items while she took a break. I sat on the floor, divvying everything up and secretly wishing I could pop open a container of icing and start eating it. I unloaded one box before Dani scooted another toward me with her foot. Together we got the baking aisle restocked. Took about two hours, but we handled it.
Then it was back to my post and dealing with customers.
“Do you have this, but in blue?”
I paused. “You want a blue ice cream carton?”
“Yes. Everything has to be absolutely perfect for this party I’m throwing. Everything has to match. I like rocky road, but I can’t find a rocky road in a blue carton.”
“Sure, just give me—”
“Miss?”
I whipped my head around as Miss Blue Ice Cream scoffed. “Yes?”
“Is the bakery going to be making any more cakes? I need a freshly-baked carrot cake for something tonight.”
I shook my head. “We stop producing cakes at seven.”
