by JA Lafrance
At one point, even Samantha had hopped off the desk and started filling orders with us.
It felt as though we were in a race against the clock. We didn’t want to have to leave the day crew with any sort of backlog to deal with. They would have enough to handle trying to keep the store orderly and the customers happy.
The sun was streaming in the front windows and we were just about at the end of the shift when the phone in our department rang.
Without thinking I grabbed it on the second ring.
“Express order desk, Alyssa speaking, how may I help you?” I smiled into the phone hoping that the person on the other end of the line couldn’t hear how tired I was.
“Yeah maybe you can tell me if I am actually going to be able to pick up my dammed order today or not. I want to make sure I can.”
“I understand.” I nodded even though the customer couldn’t see me.
“I need to know because I really don’t want to have to drive over there again only to find out that you guys still don’t have it ready.”
“I know.” I sighed inwardly.
“Well are you going to tell me if my order is ready or not?” the woman snapped.
“Can I get your name please?”
“What? Isn’t it showing up on the call display?”
“No, I'm sorry. When the line is routed to this depar—”
“Harris. The last name is Harris.” She cut me off before I could finish explaining. “Do you need me to spell it out for you?”
“Nope, I have your order here. Giselle?” I said, pulling her order to the top of the pile.
“Yes. Is it ready?” The woman calmed down considerably.
“Most of it,” I responded without really thinking, as I scanned the list of items and started counting the number of items that were missing.
“What do you mean most of it?” her anger is rising once again.
“Well there are a bunch of things that are missing—”
“A bunch of things missing. What is missing?”
“Well toilet paper, the flour you wanted, tomatoes, grapes, ground beef—”
“Why is all of this missing? I don’t understand.”
“Well, with everything going on people are buying in bulk or more than they would nor—”
“You guys should be putting limits on things. So that this sort of thing doesn’t happen,” she snapped.
I leaned my head against the wall by the desk.
“We do have limits on many items but there's a lot of people all shopping extra amounts all at once.”
“Then you should be ordering more of everything if you are running out like this. What the hell good is a grocery store that doesn’t have groceries?”
“We have them.”
“Just not all of them, right? Useless, totally useless.” The woman huffed. “Cancel my order. I'll just go to another store. There is no sense in going to yours to get only half of the things that I need.”
“I’m sorry,” I said in a voice just barely above a whisper, tears welling up in my eyes.
“Right, sure you are. I have no clue why they call you lot essential. You aren't a doctor or a nurse, and the one job you do have you can’t even get that right.” And the woman hung up the phone.
I put the phone back down in its receiver trying to bite back the tears that were threatening to overflow.
“Everything ok, Alyssa?” Samantha asked.
I jumped. I didn’t realize that she had even come into the room.
“Yeah, I'm alright,” I said, quickly wiping my eyes.
“Don’t let it get to you,” Samantha said gently.
“I just don’t understand. Don’t they realize how hard we all are trying?”
“Sometimes people forget that we are humans too. That we have families to feed and keep safe, and that we’re trying our best.”
“I know. I just wish people could spend a minute in our shoes. We are just as scared as they are, but they get to stay home with their loved ones while we're out here in the line of fire to make sure they have the things they need for their families.”
“Most of them do, Alyssa; just a small few don’t. The sad part is they scream louder than the ones who do understand.”
“True.”
“Looks like it is time to get you out of here. Is your mom coming to pick you up?” Samantha said looking at her watch.
“Yeah, she should be here any minute if she’s not already waiting outside knowing her.”
“Ok, well, I’ll see you later tonight. Be safe.” She waved as she headed back out of the room.
I sighed and headed for my locker.
I stepped out into the blinding sunshine. I was glad that I was finally going home. The phone call was the final straw for me.
I felt defeated.
No matter how hard I worked, no matter how many hours we spent doing the very best that we could with filling the orders, making sure everyone got what they needed, and cleaning the store, it was never going to be enough for people.
Didn’t they know that we were trying; that we were doing everything we could for them; that we had our own homes and families who needed us too?
Didn’t they realize we were just as scared of the virus as they were, but that we still had to show up every day and do the best job we could so people could eat?
I bit back the tears once again as I walked to my mom’s truck and opened the door.
“Did you see that?” she asked as I went to get into the truck.
“See what?” I asked stopping half in and half out of my seat.
“That. On the sidewalk in front of the store.” She flicked a thumb backwards over her shoulder to a point near the main entrance.
I glanced back out the door. I could see a splash of colour on the concrete sidewalk in the middle of four orange plastic mini pylons.
“What is it?” I asked as I started to get back in.
“Go have a look. I think it’ll make you smile.”
“Momma, I am tired and I have had a long shift and a bad one at that—”
“I know, kiddo, but seriously. Go have a look at it.”
I sighed. Sometimes she could be a royal pain in the ass. I just wanted to go home and here she is telling me to get back out of the vehicle and walk fifty feet to go look at something.
“Can’t I look later when I come back?”
“Naw, I don’t know how much will still be there later. It's going to be raining all day. I don’t know that it will last.”
I didn’t bother closing the door just wandered back to where the first of the pylons was.
And I instantly felt a smile spread across my face.
Someone overnight had come by and made a massive chalk drawing on the ground.
There was every colour of the rainbow and the swirls of the background were like fireworks drawn onto the dull grey concrete.
In giant letters that were closing in on three feet tall it said, “THANK YOU.”
Underneath in smaller letters it said, “We see you too.”
I'll never know who wrote that. But somehow, I felt better about the whole thing. Even though we weren't doctors or nurses, we were still very much essential, and very much appreciated.
Checking Out, Mr. Right
Leah Negron
Why can’t they understand that I’m just doing my job? I don’t make the rules, but if I want to keep my job, I have to follow them.
It’s finally close to the end of my shift when the customer I am taking care of, blows up at me. On the verge of tears from a horrid day, I hear a voice that curls my toes with its smoothness. Glancing at the gentleman that’s next in line, my jaw drops open. Even with the mask on, his handsome features shine through. He has the bluest eyes that I have ever seen with dark wavy hair that I want to run my fingers through.
Can I find love during the pandemic, while I am checking out Mr. Right? — Checking Out, Mr. Right
Checking Out, Mr. Right
Chapter 1
“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but you can only have one of each of the paper products that are in your cart. There were also signs back in the meat department, letting you know that the meats are limited to two items each. Some of what you have in your cart has to go back.”
Looking at this woman, I know it’s going to be at least the sixth person who has gone off on me today. Why can’t they understand that I do not own the store, I do not make the rules, but I do have to follow them if I want to keep my job.
“What do you mean I have to return items that are in my cart? I have a large family, and we need everything that I have in here. Who the hell are you to tell me that I can’t buy what I need? Get your manager over here. I want to file a complaint against you.”
“Yes, Ma’am, but my manager is going to tell you the same thing.” Turning my back on her, I pick up the phone for the intercom and page David to the front end. Turning back to the furious woman, I stand there with my arms crossed against my chest, then I lean against the counter, smiling at this woman even though in my head I’m screaming at her. It only takes a moment for David to appear.
“Nicole, what can I help you with?”
Before I can even open my mouth, the customer starts in with her tirade. “Sir, I don’t know who this young woman thinks she is, but she’s been trying to make me return things out of my cart. I need everything that I have and then some. It’s bad enough that your shelves aren’t stocked very well, so there is no way she is going to make me put back what groceries I do have!”
“Ma’am, I’m sorry you feel this way. As for our shelves, we are packing everything out just as fast as we can. You do know that we are in the middle of a pandemic, and it’s very hard to get supplies right now. As for the things in your cart, if you are over the limits that are clearly marked all over the store, you will have to return items. If you don’t wish to return them, I can have one of the employees return them for you. Until the supply and demand are under control, you’re going to find that all stores are limiting customers until further notice.”
“Well, I never! This is just ridiculous. How am I supposed to feed my family if you insist on taking groceries away from me?”
“Ma’am, we are trying to make sure that everyone gets a chance to purchase at least some items. If we let everyone that comes in first take everything that they want, then there will be others who will suffer and have to do without. This isn’t my policy, it’s the company’s policy, and we have to uphold it.”
Without another word, the woman shoved her cart right into David and stormed out of the store, yelling profanities that had customers looking to see what was going on. I just wanted to get through the day then go home.
“I’m so sorry, David. I tried to explain the limits to her as professionally as I could; she just didn’t want to hear it.”
The customers that had been in line behind her all spoke up, letting him know how rude and obnoxious the woman had been behaving.
“Nicole, don’t worry about it, I know this wasn’t your fault. Thank you all for taking up for her. Nicole here is one of our best employees. She will take good care of all of you. I’m going to go make another announcement about the restricted items. Hopefully, some will listen this time.”
I watched as David made a beeline for his office to make the announcement. Turning back to the register, I quickly took care of the next five customers, then asked the next one to put the closed sign behind her.
After taking care of my last customer, I quickly disinfected my register and the conveyor belt. Once that was done, I hustled to the time clock and punched out. Now it’s my turn to see what I can get for dinner tonight. Since it’s just me at home, I’ve only been buying what I need to get me from day to day.
I haven’t had a day off in almost seven weeks. Some of the employees have gotten sick, and a few have even passed away because of this damn virus. So, every single day is the same. Get up, come to work, get bitched at, punch out, shop, go home, eat, and then pass out. Can you say ‘Ground Hog Day from hell?’ I don’t see how Bill Murray even stood to act the same day over and over again. It’s all I can do to cope with living it.
Chapter 2
Finally, home, I put away the little bit of groceries that I was able to buy. Deciding against eating right away, I make my way to the bathroom. The stress is really starting to get to me. It’s time to do a little something for myself. Letting the water run until it’s almost hotter than I can stand it, the tub starts to fill.
Making my way into the bedroom, I grab a clean nightgown and my Kindle. Nothing relaxes me more than a long soak in the tub and reading a great book. Hanging up the nightgown, I turn on my Kindle to see which book I want to read. That’s right, one of my favorite authors just released a new book the other day. I pre-ordered it last month when he announced the link was live.
As soon as the Kindle fires up, it’s the first book I see, Suspension’s Reward by Lucas X. Black. It’s a good thing that he has no clue who I am or what many of his books have had me doing late at night after reading them. Then again, his bio says he is a real Dom who lives in Texas. I wouldn’t be afraid to take bets that I’m not the only woman to flick her skittle once she has read his books.
Stripping out of my grungy work clothes, I sink deep into the claw tooth tub. The smell of lilacs and peaches reaches my nose. Breathing in deeply of the intoxicating scent settles my nerves.
I quickly read the blurb, ‘Matt Thompson takes a phone call from Nora Horton, principal of his son’s elementary school, reporting that his son, Jeremy, is suspended for fighting. Jeremy asserts to Matt that he was protecting his friend Tim from a bully, an older and bigger kid. Upset with Nora Horton and the stupidity of zero-tolerance policies, he believes Jeremy but feels as though his hands are tied.
He fields a second call from Horton the next day, asking him to come and meet with her after hours, and reluctantly agrees, still furious with Horton. She reports to him that she was reliably told by an array of students and at least two teachers that Jeremy was telling the truth, indeed protecting his friend Tim, who has a prosthetic leg, from being mugged by the other boy. Matt isn’t entirely mollified, but Horton sends her secretary home, then tells him she will make amends, giving her surrender.’ Yes, this is definitely the book I want to read today.
As I slip back into the water, I immerse myself in small-town Texas, with a sexy Dom and a submissive principal. Devouring page after page as fast as I can read, the water starts to cool off. Not ready to go back to reality, I drain some of the water only to replace it with scalding hot water. Once the tub is full again, it’s time to return to Tim and Nora’s story.
About an hour later, I force myself to stop reading long enough to get out of the tub and dry off. Throwing on my nightgown and grabbing my Kindle, it’s time to make a quick bite to eat. It’s a good thing I grabbed chopped meat to make burgers. After making a couple of patties, I throw them in the pan with some sliced onions to fry. As they cook, it’s time to start slicing a tomato and rinsing off some lettuce for on the burgers. Flipping them so that they cook evenly, the aroma of the onions fills the air. Just then, my stomach starts to growl. Laughing at myself, I grab the ketchup and mayo out of the fridge. I was slicing into the fresh rolls I bought so that they can be loaded with all the goodies that were just prepared.
A quick check on the burgers shows they are a perfect medium-rare. Piling the burger and all the toppings on the bun, I head over to the table. Placing the food on the table, I go back and grab the jar of pickles and bag of Dorito’s. Turning the Kindle back on, I pick up where I left off reading. Before I realize it, I’m finished reading the book and have only eaten half of my dinner. Laughing at myself, I quickly finish eating. Once I’m finished, I prepare the other burger for my lunch tomorrow. Hopefully, I will get to take a break long enough to eat it.
Washing the little bit of dirty dishes, I can’t help but dread going to bed. Once I go to sleep, it means I will hav
e to get up so I can go to work for another day’s worth of hell. I don’t understand why people can’t work together. This pandemic is no joke. I lost my best friend Lisa to it. Sadly, she was a cancer survivor, just for COVID to get her.
With nothing left to do except get my clothes ready for the morning. In the living room, I double-check that I locked the front door when I came in. Safe and secure, it’s time to go to bed and pray I don’t have nightmares about work.
Chapter 3
I am hitting the alarm to shut it off, then stretching and yawning. I swear it feels like I just went to bed. Stumbling through the kitchen, I turn the coffeepot on while I make my way to the bathroom. After cleaning up, brushing my teeth and hair the coffeepot dings that it’s ready for me to get my caffeine fix. Thankfully there were no nightmares last night. A good night’s sleep helps, but I could really use a day off to do nothing.
One cup down, it’s time to make a second cup and get dressed. Sitting my coffee on the nightstand, then I strip out of my nightgown. Grabbing the clothes that I had laid out the night before, I start getting dressed. Whoever had the bright idea to make our work shirts light blue needs their head checked. They get dirty so quickly, that’s why I always go back to the deli and swipe one of their aprons.
Back in the kitchen, I fill my 24oz to-go mug with the rest of the coffee. If today is a repeat of the last couple of weeks, I’m going to need all the caffeine I can get. A part of me wants to call and tell them that I don’t feel good, but if I do, they will make me stay home for at least fourteen days to self-quarantine. I can’t afford that. So many are without jobs right now that it makes me feel guilty for even thinking of staying home. I am an essential worker, even if I am just a cashier at the local grocery store.
With my mind made up, I grab my thermos, lunch, and coffee then head for the door. Once outside, I turn to lock up my house. It’s so strange to be out on the streets with next to no cars, no traffic, no one out jogging or walking their dogs. The few people you do pass have on masks and gloves. They step aside, letting you pass. The whole while looking at you like you have the plague, and they don’t want to catch it.