Chapter 8
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season had finally started to wind down and Kyle was more than happy to have a day that wasn't constant rushing about. He swore that every display in the store had been refilled a half dozen times in the past few weeks. Glancing up towards the front of the store was one of the true signs of just how busy they had been, the mannequins were still in the same outfits that they had been in two weeks ago. He and Kim along with the new girl Trina had been working non-stop as the Christmas shoppers descended on the store day after day. This was the season that let the store survive the calmer portions of the year. He glanced over at the much thinner hats and gloves section seeing Trina putting the last of the back stock on the and shelves. He made a quick note to make sure that they had those due in on the next truck.
"Will this refund go back on my card, young man?" The older lady across the counter from him asked.
"Oh yes ma'am it absolutely will. Now it may take a few days for you to see it but it will go back on there for you." Kyle replied. As the woman turned and walked towards the door Kyle looked across the store to see where Kim had gotten to. He spotted her helping a couple choose one of our few remaining bedding sets. He chuckled lightly to himself seeing her sitting on the edge of the bed taking out first one then the other pillowcase to show them how it would look. She had the tight, slightly worn smile that just about anyone in retail gets working with the public.
"Kyle there just aren't enough scarves to fill out the display," Trina said coming up behind him. "What do you want me to do with all that space?"
"Do we still have that box of hand warmers? They sent us way too many of them and no one seemed to want them. Maybe consolidate the scarves and toss a display box of those in the empty spot," Kyle suggested. "At this point we are going to be light on everything till truck comes in day after tomorrow."
"Umm isn't that like New Year's?" Trina asked looking a bit confused.
Kyle smacked his forehead, "Yes it is and yes that is when the truck is scheduled for."
"But I thought we are closed," Trina asked.
"We are closed but it looks like someone is doing a little holiday work," Kim said coming up to the counter just then. "I'll take this one since you ended up with the last accidental holiday shift, Kyle."
"That's great of you, Kim but this one is going to be huge. If we both take it it might not take us the entire day," Kyle laughed. "Besides its New Year's Eve and its not like I have anything going on till that night."
"Well I guess I'll let you twist my arm there. Anything that gets it done faster and means I am not carrying all those boxes myself sounds good to me."
"I could come in for a few and help," Trina piped in. "That should get it done even faster."
Kyle was about to agree when Kim cut him off. "That's great Trina but I think we can handle it. Besides last time the truck was an hour and a half late and there's no point in having all three of us sitting around." Kim smiled at the young girl but Kyle could see a bit of mischievousness in her eyes. It had been over two months since they had had the opportunity to do any kind of hypnosis play and he could tell she was seeing an opportunity.
"Okay," Trina said cheerfully. "I'm going out that night and it'll give me more time to get ready."
"Hey that will give us time to straighten up the floor a bit and work on some displays. Those mannequins have been neglected," Kyle said with a slight smile.
Kim piped in, "They really have. Its about time for some new positions, oh yeah and some new outfits."
"Really? They're just mannequins," scoffed Trina.