Together We Stand

by JA Lafrance

  It was a lie. We each covered our own meals, but I was flying by the seat of my pants trying to stop Roy or Molly from getting shot.

  “It’s what now?” asked Roy.

  I gave him the side-eye, hoping to shush him.

  Roy shrugged. “It may be our third date and all, but I was getting the vibe that you weren’t all that keen anyway—”

  “But,” I cut in, enunciating each word to make him understand our need to focus, “he can have my purse.”

  I reached into the booth to get it.

  Molly yelped and skipped half a step forward.

  My hands returned to their upright position. “Sorry, I was just getting my purse. Though, if you don’t mind,” I glanced over at Roy, “it sounds like I'll need to keep about fifteen dollars of it for my dinner.”

  “If I’m wrong—” started Roy.

  “No,” I answered, “I just felt like we were missing something—”

  Then a voice, high in pitch and shaky with what I knew was adrenaline-fueled nerves said, “Don’t move. Thish is a robbery. Jush give me the money and nobody getsh hurt. Okay?”

  “Okay,” I said. “Can I get my purse?”

  It occurred to me that Roy had put on his jacket to hide his weapon. Did he plan to use it? Was he one of those guys who was just hoping to find a reason to play Dirty Harry or John Wick?

  The man’s arm snaked tighter around Molly’s throat as he reached up with his money hand to adjust the opening around his eyes.

  His lips moved as if talking to himself while his fingers tried to riffle through the cash.

  And I realized, he’s counting. He has a goal.

  “How musssh you got?”

  In an instant, his words played through my brain more than a dozen times, trying to assess if he had a speech impediment or if he was under the influence.

  A small but thick crust of white crud sat rooted in the corners of his mouth.

  That could be dehydration, I thought.

  “One twenty,” said Roy. “I was running late from work and didn’t have a chance to pick up the flowers I ordered for Miranda and Molly.”

  He what now?

  “Aww, aren’t you just the sweetest,” gasped Molly.

  “You’ve been so good to me, plus, I see the way you take care of Miranda and everyone else here. It’s no wonder—”

  “Yesssh, she’s good,” said the robber. “Like a mom, but I needs tha casssh.”

  Their conversation gave me the opportunity to keep things safe by edging just to my left. It would allow Roy and the man to continue talking but remove the potential for Roy to take a shot.

  Matching me, he also moved to the left and did his ventriloquist hiss, “Cut it out.”

  I locked my jaw and tried to follow suit. “You can’t shoot him.”

  “May have to.”

  “Stand down,” I said again.

  “Two hundredsh and eighteen,” cut in the robber. “I need two eighteen.”

  “Sweetie,” said Molly as if this were just another day on the job, “you take that knife outta my back and I can get you the rest.”

  Brilliant, Molly. I made a mental note. It feels like a knife. Can potentially rule out a gun.

  Again, I saw his mouth move along with his fingers.

  “Can I help?” I said. “I enjoy doing math in my head. How much more do you—”

  “I, I...I’m good with maths. Ish. It’s what I can do. I can do mathsss in my head,” he insisted.

  He may be under the influence, but I felt sure it was more than that. I saw it too often. An increasing number every day as people struggled to make ends meet. People of all ages, even families, on the street. “Okay,” I said, offering what I had practiced as my reassuring smile.

  And that’s when things took a nasty turn.

  A man, at a table for two about twenty feet away in the left corner, dove for cover behind a nearby booth. His sprawl sent a plate of food and utensils off the table and on to the floor.

  The robber’s eyes went moon-sized as he spun toward the sound, dragging Molly with him by her throat.

  She screeched, a sound that turned to gagging for air.

  My weapon swung up as I yelled, “Stop, police!”

  Like an echo, Roy’s voice boomed, “Stop, police!”

  Somewhere in my brain there’s shock at his stupidity. How could he even say such a thing and why couldn’t he just leave well enough alone?

  Is he some sort of vigilante?

  Followed by the thought, That sounded a little too practiced.

  At the same time, a man across from me about fifteen feet away in shorts and t-shirt, leapt to his feet and yelled, “Stop, police!”

  With the same message repeated by a woman three tables to my right. “Stop, police!”

  From out of nowhere, the question pops into my head. And I came here to be away from other cops?

  “No. No. Noo,” whimpers the man in the mask.

  A butter knife drops to the ground, landing in the yellow puddle forming around his feet.

  I watch as his empty hands rise above his head.

  Molly grabs her throat and staggers clear.

  “I jussh needsh tha money,” he sobs. “Or they won’t let me have my dog back. I neeed it.”

  My heart breaks.

  The grip on my weapon softens, but I keep my voice firm. “I need you to place your hands behind your head and get on your knees.”

  “No.” He says. “Can’t get on my kneesh.”

  The cop in shorts, weapon still high and ready, approaches the man in the mask. “Sir. The officer told you to place your hands on your head and get to your knees. Are you refusing to comply?”

  Shaking his head, the man looked to the cop. “My kneessh.” He took another breath and tried again. “Knees. Don’t bent so good. They took my knee top.”

  I gave the other officer a nod that he returned to show we’re on the same page about giving the man consideration for his claimed injury.

  “Understood. Then, hands on your head,” said the officer.

  He laced them together as Roy moved toward him.

  “What in the world?” I whispered. “You need to stop.”

  He chuckled, “Why? Because I’m a mall cop?”

  I rolled my eyes in embarrassment.

  The female officer called over to me, “Are you really on a date?”

  My cheeks found a way to blush double-time at the question. “Uh, yes I—er, we are.”

  She grinned. “Want us to take it from here?”

  Roy and I looked at each other and he answered, “If you don’t mind, yes, please.”

  He took his wallet out, a badge tucked into its sleeve, and gave her his card.

  I followed suit. “If you guys need anything, just call us.”

  “Us?” said Roy, “Does that mean there might be another date?”

  “Another? We’re not done with this one.”

  “Oh, really?” Roy stared off into the distance as if in thought. “I don’t know,” he said, before laying it on thick, “officer. Are you sure you want to date someone who isn’t a mall cop?”

  I rolled my eyes. "You still hungry?"

  He shook his head. "No chance.

  "Good. We need to go somewhere quiet.”

  Already pulling bills out of his wallet, he grinned that gorgeous grin. “Way ahead of you, again, officer,” and slipped the money under my coffee cup.

  We made our way to where Molly was in deep conversation with the female officer and insisting she didn’t want to press charges. I’d leave them to sort that out and decide what charges had to be laid.

  “You okay?” I asked.

  “Oh, sweetie, you know me,” She said, her smile big as ever, “I’m always fine. Just like that man you’ve got there.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You never stop.”

  “Nope. Not while I got time left.”

  We gave each other an enormous hug. The first of what I was sure would be many, an
d she said, “Now you two go and enjoy your third date in the way you should.”

  Roy laughed. “You’re the best, Molly.”

  “Hey, now,” I said, “give me a chance.”

  “You’re right.” Roy extended his hand to me, “Staff Sergeant Jenkins, pleased to meet you.”

  I huffed out a sigh and swatted his hand away. “Let’s get out of here, Officer Giggles, and see what you’re made of.”

  “My pleasure, ma’am,” he said, and followed me out the door and into what would become the best, and last date, I’d ever need to have.

  About C.J Lazar

  C.J Lazar was born and raised in Steeltown, Ontario, Canada. A city where fun and trouble were always just around the corner and he made the most of both.

  Now that experience fuels romantic adventures of twists and turns with enough heat to keep the pages turning.

  www.cjlazar.com

  We See You Too

  Allison M. Cosgrove

  Not all heroes wear scrubs — We See You Too

  We See You Too

  I sighed and looked in the mirror. The face looking back at me smiled but inside I wasn’t feeling it. It had been weeks since my life had been ripped away from me.

  I bit back the tears that threatened; no sense in crying. It wouldn’t fix anything, but I couldn’t help but feel like the world was ending; that nothing was ever going to be the same again.

  Momma kept saying that it was for the best, that it was our job and our duty to do the best that we could for everyone.

  I knew logically what she was saying was true, but I missed my friends. I missed my boyfriend, Mason. I missed the life that I had been building since I had moved away from home less than a year before.

  I just wanted my life back.

  “Alyssa, are you ready?” Momma called from upstairs. “We should get going. You don’t want to be late.”

  “I know, Mom! I'm almost ready,” I said, grabbing my knapsack and tossing a charger in it as I raced out of the basement up to the kitchen to make myself some lunch for work.

  “Didn’t you make your lunch already?” she called out.

  “No, Mom, I was getting ready,” I mumbled back.

  “My God, child, you are so disorganized sometimes. I’ll go start the truck—hustle it,” she said and I heard her walk out the door as I quickly put cream cheese on a bagel and grabbed a granola bar, throwing both in my bag.

  I ran back down the stairs and tossed on my shoes and grabbed my jacket before stepping into the cool spring night air.

  The moon was bright in the sky. It was the perfect night for a fire out back—not too hot and not too cold. Maybe next weekend Momma would light one.

  “Let's roll out,” Momma said as we backed down out of the driveway.

  I slumped in the seat.

  “What’s on your mind?” she asked, never taking her eyes off the road.

  “Nothing,” I mumbled looking out the window. I didn’t want to talk about it.

  She said nothing, just kept her eyes on the road.

  “I was talking to Mason tonight.”

  “Yeah, what did he have to say?”

  “Just the usual. He was working tonight.”

  “Yeah?”

  “He was bored on break, so he called me.”

  “That’s cool.”

  “I can’t wait to get back there; to see him, when this is all over. We're planning a picnic together. He’s going to come and pick me up and take me back to his hometown.”

  We stopped at a red light. The streets were almost deserted. Something that you almost never saw on any other night.

  “That’ll be cool. It’s a nice place; been there a couple of times myself.”

  “I know and you didn’t take me with you.” I laughed, sitting forward in the seat.

  “You were busy doing your own thing, so what was I supposed to do?” She shrugged as the light turned green and she turned the corner.

  “Yeah, well, it still would have been nice.”

  “There will be plenty of time for that when this is all over.”

  “Whenever that will be.” I slumped back in my chair and looked out the window at the passing houses.

  “It'll be when it will be, kiddo.”

  “I know, Mom. I just don’t know how much more of this that I can take.”

  “You will hang in there. You’re tougher and stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

  “I just want my life back, you know?”

  “Oh honey, no one knows that better than me. I want my life back too. I want the lives of my family and friends to return to normal but above all else, I want everyone safe,” she said. “And if this is the way that it’s gotta be to ensure that everyone makes it to the other side, then so be it. Ain’t nobody ever said that we have to like it; we just have to do it for now.”

  “I want to move back in July.” The words came tumbling out of my mouth before I had a chance to think about what I was saying.

  She glanced over at me and I squirmed a little bit.

  “What?” I blurted out.

  “Nothing.” She didn’t take her eyes off the road again.

  “No, I know you want to say something so just say it.”

  “Look kiddo, it’s your life. You gotta do you.”

  “You don’t think I should move back.” I felt the anger rising from the pit of my belly in a red-hot wave. She was always like this.

  “I never said that. I just don’t know that it’s the right time to do it, is all I’m saying.”

  “My life isn’t here.”

  “I know that.”

  “I just want my life back,” I said biting back the tears.

  “I know. We all do.”

  We drove the rest of the way in silence. I knew what she was saying, it just didn’t seem fair that everyone’s life was put on hold like it was. The only time that I got out of the house at all was to go to my overnight shift at the local grocery store. It was not what I wanted to be doing with my life, but it was something. When I had to move home after the lockdown started, I had spent days in my room. I didn’t want to see anyone, not even my family.

  Not that I didn’t love them, but this wasn’t where I belonged anymore.

  I wanted the life I had just started to build away at college.

  “Alrighty kid, I’ll catch you in the morning,” Momma said, pulling up in front of the employee entrance.

  “Have a good sleep, Momma,” I said and quickly gave her a kiss on the cheek before stepping out of the truck and headed inside.

  “Alyssa! Thank god you're here!” Samantha, the night shift supervisor, exclaimed as I was punching in for the night.

  “Hey, what’s up?” I said, turning on my heels to face her.

  “It has been crazy in here today. I don’t know what the hell happened with the damned day crew, but it seems like nothing has been done and the store is an utter mess!” She looked like she had been through the wringer already.

  “Ok, so where do we need to start?”

  “I have Joey and Bill on cleanup around the store. I wish that I didn’t have to, but it is too much for just the guys we normally have on board for that. I honestly don’t know what the heck the day crew was doing.”

  “Well, I know from being there the last month myself, it’s a tough go.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I spent an hour on the phone with one customer one day, and all they wanted to do was yell at me because they were missing a whole lot of their order. No matter how I tried to explain there wasn’t much I could do about it that we just simply didn’t have the things that she was looking for, she just wanted to yell.”

  “You’re right. I keep forgetting about that aspect. I wish people would understand that it wasn’t our fault that a lockdown was initiated and because of that everybody wanted to buy toilet paper.”

  I laughed.

  The entire thing did seem like something out of a wild zombie apocalypse movie.

  Even Momma had laug
hed when she had bought the last package of toilet paper the one night and someone had remarked how she should “get it while she still could.”

  Who knew that this would have ever been a way of life? Who would have ever guessed we would all be scrambling for toilet paper, yeast and flour?

  “Ok, so can you go have a look at where we stand with the orders? I know we’re about a half a day behind on them as it stands.”

  “Yeah, I’ll toss my stuff down and get on that first.” I nodded and headed for the express pick-up area of the store.

  “I’ll send Joey and Bill down to help as soon as they get the store back in line,” Samantha called after me.

  I gave her the thumbs up and ducked into the room.

  On the desk on the one side of the room was the stack of orders needing to be filled. The one on the top read that it was for the 10:30 am pickup slot today. That meant it was going to be at least a day late.

  I quickly flipped the pages. There were at least a hundred orders and at least half of them were from earlier in the day.

  I sighed. I could tell that it was going to be a really long night and I hope that I would get Joey and Bill back to give me a hand, because there was no way that Vanessa, Julie and I were going to be able to get through this alone; even with the fact that the two of them were already on the floor picking orders.

  Best get cracking. Don’t want to fall even further behind, I thought as I sighed inwardly.

  I didn’t like the overwhelmed feeling that was creeping up from the pit of my belly.

  I grabbed the first page off the top of the stack before the feeling had a chance to take hold. I rolled my cart, grabbing a scanner on the way by and headed out onto the floor.

  I barely had time to breathe all night. The hours flew by even though for the longest time it felt like we were getting nowhere with the orders. No matter how many I filled, the pile never seemed to shrink. It only got marginally better in the last two hours of my shift when Joey and Bill finally got back into our department.

  I ran around the store trying my best to avoid the others, while still getting everything into my cart and scanned as quickly as possible