"Come on Mom. Everyone's waiting for me. I'm going to be late."
Angrily, Julie Davis replied, "For God's sakes Johnny, would you just wait a minute? Once we get the store closed, we'll get out of here. Ok?"
She turned and sternly said, "Dammit Karen. Will you hurry up? I don't have all night. Lock the front door so we can get the hell out of here."
Julie Davis had opened Davis Furniture with the money she received in the divorce settlement from Johnny's father. Bill Davis always thought it would be a bad idea to get into business, especially in this part of town. Now, 10 years later, the crime rate had increased and the area had deteriorated even more. No wonder he decided to move to the west coast afterward to start life anew.
Julie worked hard to make her business a success. However, success did not come without its costs. She had been divorced from Johnny's father now for 10 years and had pretty much sacrificed her social life. The long hours required to maintain a profitable business left little time for romance.
Not that Julie didn't get many offers. At 44, she was still quite attractive. Her long blonde hair was not nearly as blonde as when she was in her twenties, but the touches of gray were hardly noticeable. There was a wrinkle here and there, but all in all, her blue eyes shown as brightly as when Johnny was born. 5'-6", about 125, maybe 130 pounds. Her 36 C breasts were now D's with a little bit of a sag thanks to Father Time, but her legs, hips, butt and stomach remained relatively tight.
Really, it was a shame. Julie really needed a man now and then. At least that's what Karen thought. "If anyone could use a good fuck, it's that miserable bitch Julie," she would mutter to herself each time she got yelled at. Karen seemed to get the brunt of Julie's aggression but, seeing as how she really needed to keep this job, she kept to herself. Karen's husband Bill would always get an earful whenever she got home from a particularly brutal work day.
Now, Karen and Bill did the best they could, but in this economy, both incomes were necessary to keep their household afloat. Bill had a good job, thanks to the numerous student loans he took out to pay for college. Karen worked full time at Davis Furniture until they were in a better position to start a family. Then, she couldn't wait to give Julie a piece of her mind. But until then, she would continue to be the faithful employee she had always been.
Bill hoped that when Karen did get pregnant, she would keep her figure. God, he loved how sexy she was. Raven hair, strikingly blue eyes, to go along with her athletic figure, at 28 Karen was a true knockout. Maybe that's why Julie gave her such a hard time. Jealousy perhaps?
Or, maybe it was seeing how her son Johnny always looked at her, the lust in his 18 year old eyes. Ok, he lusted after just about any female that moved but Karen really was gorgeous.
After all, he was all hormones at 18. Tall, blonde hair just like his mom, Johnny was a good looking kid. Julie just wished he would find a girlfriend his own age. He had dated here and there, but nothing really serious throughout high school. "Use your brain and not your dick" Julie would think to herself.
Maybe that was the other thing that kept Julie so miserable. Neither one of them seemed to be getting any. Julie had wondered if he was still a virgin. Anyway, she remained celibate by choice. She hoped Johnny would out-grow his shyness.
"Sometime tonight, will you Karen?" Julie shook her head as she went about straightening the furniture displays.
"Mom. Let's go!"
Karen thought to herself as she walked toward the front door, "Please God, just get me through tonight." She reached to turn the lock when all of a sudden a large man, wearing a dark overcoat and ski mask, holding a very large gun entered the store. Seeing Karen, he pointed the gun at her and said, "Keep quiet bitch and lock the door!"
Karen stood there, petrified, afraid to move or even breathe. Her thin hands trembling as she clutched the keys. "NOW!"
Karen shook as she locked the door. The man pushed her towards the back of the store and the others. Johnny was the first to see him. He was much larger, a physically imposing figure standing there in the doorway behind an obviously shaken Karen. "What the ....." was all he could mutter as he remained frozen in place with fear.
"Shut up asshole. All of you keep quiet and no one will get hurt." The masked man pointed his gun at all three.
Julie turned around and stood face-to-face with the gun. Even in her shock, she managed to utter "Get the hell out of here asshole before I call the cops." She stood there in mock defiance, part anger, mostly fear, and partly playing the lioness protecting her cub.
"What the hell do you want? We have no money here."
The masked man cocked the gun and pointed it directly at Julie. She gulped hard, but tried as best as she could to show no fear. Deep down inside she was trembling.
"No one try to be a fucking hero and we'll all get out of this ok. Now, everyone over there." He motioned over to a back corner of the store, a display area featuring a large bedroom set.
Karen quickly walked to the display, followed by Johnny and finally Julie. With her back to him, the gunman grabbed Julie from behind and held her there with the gun to her head.
"That will do. Now, nobody do anything stupid and this will all be over soon." Karen and Johnny turned to see the gun next to Julie Davis' head.
Johnny yelled out "MOM!"
"Now, now, that's enough out of you Junior." Reaching into his coat pocket, the masked man pulled out a roll of gray duct tape and flipped it to Karen. "Hands behind your back Junior. And you Missy, tape 'em tight."
Julie gasped and the gunman pulled her close. "Don't be a hero. Everyone will be alright if you all do as you're told. That especially means you Mom." He pressed the gun tight to her head and Julie stood motionless.
Johnny looked at Karen and put his hands behind his back as he was told. Karen, her hands still shaking, tore off a large piece of tape and wrapped it around his wrists again and again.
When the intruder was sure he was bound secured, he said "Tape his mouth as well." Karen obeyed and tore off a section of tape and secured it over Johnny's mouth.
Once Karen had finished, the gunman pushed Julie over towards them. He pointed his gun at the two women and said "Give Mom the tape and put your hands behind your back as well." Karen handed Julie the tape and quickly obeyed. Julie did as instructed, thrusting her chest forward and turned to face the gunman.
"Now, take what you want and leave us be" Julie said.
"All in good time Mom. First, since I'd have to put the gun down to tape you and I'm not about to do that. So, we'll have to be a bit more creative with you. Strip." The masked man raised his gun and pointed it right in Julie's face.
"The hell I will! Fuck you, asshole!" Julie snarled at the intruder.
She was ready to do just about anything he said, but this latest order was too much for Julie. No way was she going to stand there naked, in her own store, in front of her son, employee and this guy. Even if he had a gun.
The masked man stood there, pointing his gun at Julie for a minute, then two. Saying nothing, he slowly made a half turn towards Johnny, pointed the gun at him and waited. Finally, he said, "Are you sure about that Mom?"
Julie stood there, frozen, as the gunman stared down her only son. Anger mixed with fear inside her. She started shaking and seconds seemed like eternities. Slowly, ever so slowly, fear for her son's safety overwhelmed her defiance and Julie finally said, "Ok. Enough."
