the weekend
The good thing about Saturday morning shifts is there aren’t many customers before noon.
But it’s still hard when you were up too late the night before. Amelia unpacks a box of books, checking the contents against the shipping manifest. Lifting out a handful of physics texts she carries them out front to shelve.
When the bell tinkles she looks over to see that it’s Adam. “I need a spindle of writable CDs this morning” he says.
“They’re over here. Sure you want CDs? You know they’re more expensive than DVDs because of the levy, right?”
“Yes, I do know, but I need them for an old laptop that only takes CDs.”
“Ah. Too bad,” commiserates Amelia. “Anything else?”
He thinks. “Let me look around a bit. There might be.”
“OK,” she says, “I’m just putting out some new books. Just give a holler when you’re ready.”
Adam looks through the rack of greeting cards, wondering what card you would get for the most beautiful girl in the world. These cards are all too foolish. Some have sexual implications that make him a little uncomfortable. Maybe a card isn’t quite right anyway.
He’s skips the iPad display. Even if they weren’t beyond his price range the Apple toy doesn’t fill any real need he knows of. But when Adam sees the Ubuntu mug he knows it is just perfect.
Not the big clunky travel mug, the delicate porcelain mug. It will remind her of him every time she sees it. Drinks from it. Every time her lips touch … wait a minute.
Calm down.
Surely it would be obvious to anyone how smitten he is with Barbie. Glancing around guiltily, Adam is relieved to see that Amelia is still in the back room.
Breathe deeply, from the belly, get a strong ki flow. Adam feels himself coming back under control. Once in balance, he carries the mug back to the register just as Amelia emerges with more text books.
Amelia asks “All set?” and he nods agreement, smiling. She sets the pile of texts on the counter so she can ring his purchases through.
Adam feels a little sorry for this drab, ordinary girl. She seems pleasant enough but she’s so … colorless. Poor thing, not blessed with golden hair like beautiful Barbie.
It’s too bad all girls can’t sparkle like his Barbie.
