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Shelly
Beep. Beep. Beep.
I glance at the time on my register and almost groan out loud when I see there’s another two hours to go until the end of my shift. The customer in front of me clears her throat angrily and I realize I’m still staring at the screen, not scanning anything.
“Sorry,” I mumble.
Quickly, I reach for the jar of anchovies on the conveyor belt and try not to notice the way she folds her arms across her chest and taps her foot. I try to give her a friendly smile, but it does nothing to thaw her frostiness.
As I do, I fumble a can of white beans and almost drop it. At the last moment I recover, leaning forward to catch it before it rolls over the counter. My elbow knocks a bottle of tonic water that teeters precariously. I go to grab it, but I misjudge and it crashes to the ground, exploding in a fizzy bomb of liquid all over the customer’s fancy leather shoes.
We stare at each other for a moment. Her thin brows narrow into a look of pure hatred and she stabs a finger at me. “These are limited edition Evarae, you idiot. Now they’re ruined. I want to speak to your manager. Immediately.”
I swallow. “Yes, ma’am.”
Dread creeps in under my collar on spindly little legs as I reach for the ‘call manager’ button on my register. This is not going to be good. Sheryl is already pissed with me. She found me checking my phone under the counter an hour ago and gave me the ‘you’re only casual’ talk. The one where she threatens not to give me another shift. To be fair, she’s done that before, but this could be the final straw.
I deserve it. I know I do. I should have kept my phone in my bag like I normally do. It’s just that this guy I’ve been chatting with on Heart2Heart suggested we might meet up for a date this week and I can’t stop thinking about it. I really shouldn’t have sent him all ten messages last night, though. He hasn’t answered any of them, so now I’m worried I’ve come on a bit strong. As usual. I’m just so lonely.
Unable to face the angry glares of the customer and the three people behind her in the line, I scurry into the drinks aisle and collect another tonic water. When I get back to my register, Sheryl, my manager is waiting with her arms folded across her chest. I’d laugh at the way she and my angry customer look almost like twins, except the laughter is smothered by the weight of their disapproving glares.
I hold out the tonic water. “I was just fetching you a new one.”
Sheryl sighs. “I think you’ve done quite enough here for today, Shelly. I’d like you to log out, and I’ll speak with you after I’ve helped this customer.”
With a resigned sigh, I swipe my ID card and log out, hurrying to the staff exit and break room with burning cheeks. I’ve always been clumsy. This isn’t the first time it’s gotten me into trouble either.
Damn it!
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I see there’s a missed call from Jen, my housemate, and exactly zero messages from Ben. I cringe. I owe Jen about three weeks’ rent. I’ve been avoiding her by staying out until all hours, so I didn’t have to confess that I don’t have it.
While I’m debating whether to call, a message notification pops up.
Jen: Shelly, we need to talk. It’s pretty clear you’re behind on rent and you’re trying to avoid me—
Guilty!
—I’m sorry, but if you can’t pay by the end of the week, I’m going to have to let your room to someone else.
Oh, could this day get any worse?
“Shelly,” Sheryl’s voice is scathing. I spin to see her glaring at me. “On your phone again?”
I lock the screen and whip it behind my back like a guilty teen.
“I’m sure you can guess what I’m going to say.”
I wince. “That’s my last shift.”
She nods. “And...?”
“Um...” I’m not quite sure what else.
She looks at me as if I’m an ugly bit of something she’s just scraped off the bottom of her thick soled orthopedic shoes. “You’ll have to pay for those shoes. They’re ruined.”
“But—” My mouth is still flapping open and closed when she continues.
“I’ll take it out of this week’s pay. Which won’t leave you with much I’m afraid, but you really need to learn to be more careful. That’s not the first time you’ve damaged produce or created a spill this month, is it?”
