The luminous light fixture above her blinked every 7 minutes and 36 seconds. Erica made light of her boredom, creating a clapping sound whenever it would get dark behind the counter and then brighten again. The dull bell on the entrance door screeched. It was her first customer, Carla, "They got me fucked up tonight, girl. I smoked my whole pack before my last break."
Erica chuckled, "What happened?"
Carla paid for her pack of Newports before informing the cashier of the grievances at her factory job. Erica didn't know anyone she was talking about but it was more entertaining than counting down the light blink. Carla talked passionately about her dislike of all her coworkers until her phone buzzed.
"Let me go on home before my man thinks I'm having an affair," she giggled, grabbing the carton.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"Maybe, or I might call in. Fuck that job," She laughed.
The overhead light flicked and Erica, sat down in the little chair waiting for Ernest.
Her next customer was an older black man, he worked down the street at the same factory Carla worked. Usually, the two would chat inside if they happened to run into one another. When Ernest came in, she jumped up and grabbed two cigars from the case. They waited on the counter when he returned with his 6 pack of corona.
"$14.78," Erica smiled.
"Y'all going up on the cigars?" He asked skeptically.
"You got gum," she giggled, picking up the pack of trident.
"Oh yeah, my bad, I'll see you tomorrow, have a good one."
"Bye."
Lee came inside as Ernest was leaving. Erica wasn't sure what he did for a living but he was always filthy. The older white man was boyishly handsome but he wasn't very friendly, hardly acknowledging her greetings. For him to be so dirty, he always had a neat red beard with specks of gray dotted throughout. His full lips and dark eyes distracted from the soot that covered his face, uniform, and hands. He smoked Pall Malls and drank bud light. Erica went and grabbed the blue carton sitting them on the counter before he returned.
"Good Morning," Erica greeted the gruff man with a smile.
He grunted his greeting, glancing at the cigarette carton, "I don't need those," he noted, staring at her with icy blue eyes. "Last pack I got from here was stale, get me a number 32 lottery ticket," He continued, rumbling threw his wallet.
"They got you closing by yourself, where's the other guy?" He asked.
"He's got Covid. $19.98. Hey, that's the year I was born," Erica giggled.
Lee looked at her irritated and murmured something as he was grabbing his lottery ticket. He trudged out of the store in a hurry. The bell rang for a while after he left, he had pushed it so hard. Erica wasn't sure what the man's issue was. She sat down, knowing she wouldn't have many more customers until the sun came up.
The tiny country store sat in the middle of nowhere only 7 miles away from a Walmart and Kangaroo gas station. The store was previously owned by a prominent family in the neighborhood, now it was left to rot. Sold to a man who could care less about the leaking roof and broken light fixture. Erica had been working there for a few months, it was a good job that gave her a bit of extra money while she was off the grid working on other projects. Her Arts degree plaque on the wall was on the verge of dusting. But she continued to maintain motivation as she worked on the pieces she knew would one day be bought.
**************
The only thing that seemed to change the next night was now it took an extra minute for the light to flicker. It was almost time for Carla to get off. After mopping the floor and counting the register, she waited for her usual customers. Unfortunately, she had two strange ones enter, both rowdy. She could tell the two young men had been drinking. She didn't watch them like a hawk as they stumbled up and down the aisle. If they stole something, oh well.
"Let me get 2 packs of cigars, a pack of Newports, and your number real quick," the taller one smiled, revealing gold-plated teeth.
Erica shook her head but chuckled at his effort, "I'm at work trying to make money not get catcalled."
"I don't want any pussy, I want to take you out and then get that pussy," he laughed.
The other chuckled at his friend's boldness, "What you doing when you get off?" He asked.
"Going home," Erica replied. "$24.45."
"Damn, it's like that, I can-"
The sound of the bell chiming made the two look toward Lee for a moment.
"Why can't I come home with you?" He asked her, taking in what he could see from behind the counter.
The dingy uniform shirt didn't hide her big breasts, "Hell yeah, I'm tryna come too," the other smiled, rubbing hands that were covered in tattoos.
Lee stood behind the two, not paying much attention to anything as he held the 12pack at his side.
"I don't come to your job and harass you, cash or card?" Erica mumbled annoyed.
"Cell phone or House phone?" The tall guy laughed.
Lee signed in frustration causing the men to look at his frowning face.
"You can go ahead. I know you ready to drink," the guy snickered, moving his items to the side.
"I'll wait," Lee stated, staring the young man down.
He shrugged and set his sights back on the pretty cashier, "So what you gonna do?"
"Just pay, I have other customers and I don't date rude boys," she announced.
This argument made her thankful that she only had two more days to work alone.
Lee settled his case of beer on the other counter that read closed. He groaned and loosened the case, opening a can. He took a deep drink as he scanned the dispute between the three. The two guys realized then the man wasn't leaving until they left the girl alone.
"Man, whatever. Here."
The young man handed Erica a twenty and a five.
"Keep the change, broke bitch," he muttered before he and his friend finally took an exit.
"Sorry, and thank you," Erics told Lee as she was checking out the now opened case.
"I didn't do anything," he noted.
Erica shrugged but he did stay and sort of unnerved the two horny guys.
Lee paid for his beer and got two lottery tickets before making his exit.
"Thank you again, see you tomorrow," she called out.
He didn't turn around to acknowledge her, heading toward his truck.
When Erica left that morning, it was a bit murky. She looked up at the dark clouds that drifted overhead, hoping it wouldn't rain before she made it home.
"You need a ride?" A deep voice called out.
Erica, shook her head not looking up to whoever it was offering.
"I reckoned I'd stay here just in case those dudes came back," Lee explained.
Erica glanced back and saw him on the driver's side of the old pick-up truck.
