Mall story

[Thursday]

Here's a little something new. I needed something different to get the creative juices flowing. I bet youll be able to guess what inspired it. Don't really know where its going if anywhere.

[Thursday]

“Do you guys have anything that smells like waffles?”
My goes blank as I attempt to process the girl’s question. She’s not much older than me and her Abercrombie mold boyfriend is trailing behind her looking uncomfortable as most people with a Y chromosome do walking into Bubbles!, the store of choice for body care and beauty products in five counties. The girl’s bling-ed out tee-shirt is distracting me and I’m not sure if I heard her right. I mutter something really intelligent like
“Uh…what?” Seriously her shirt could be seen from space. There are more rhinestones on that one shirt than in the entire Claire’s down the mall.
“Waffles!,” she squeals. “Something that smells like freshly cooked waffles. It’s just so yummy and Alex just loves the way it makes me smell after making breakfast.” Based on the adoring glance she shoots the guy behind her, I can only assume that he is Alex, lover of waffle smells. I throw a quick glance his way and he nods, in that way guys do where they think they can answer questions without even talking. I stare at her for a few beats, thinking.
“Um, okay. Waffles.” I lead them over to a display of generic vanilla scented lotion and give the daily spiel about the sales and promotions going on.I don’t demo the products like I’m supposed to. It weirds me out to rub lotion onto other people’s hands. Instead I just let her smell it like a normal person. She gets lotion on her nose and I decide not to tell her. It’s those little instances that get me through my day.
“Oh perfect! Okay, I need this one, and this. Oooh what’s that? Is that one on sale?” After ten exhaustive minutes of picking out products and the girl shoving them into my arms like I’m her personal shopper, she’s finally ready to check out. I’m pretty sure her boyfriend is checking out my ass on the way to the register but the girl is chattering away obliviously. It’s these stupid khaki pants! They always make my butt look huge but my manager just laughed when I asked if I could wear black pants instead for this reason. I glare at him but he suddenly becomes very interested in the lip gloss display by the front counter. His girlfriend doesn’t seem to mind until it comes time to pay and she looks at him expectantly. With a face full of resignation, he whips out his credit card pays for her fifty two dollars worth of lotion and body mists. She hangs on his arm adoringly and I can’t help but pity him a little as I hand over the pink paper bag with BUBBLES spelled in cursive across the front. Even though he bought it, Little Miss Waffles decides he needs to carry it too. But only a little. After all, he was still checking out my ass. Damn pants.

[Thursday]

When my parents suggested that I get a job, I think they were a little surprised when I went along with it so easily. Truth be told, I was tired of being broke and I did need something to fill in those long summer days. They suggested I be a lifeguard since I’m such a good swimmer and all, not to mention how good it would look on my college applications but I wasn’t really down with that idea. I do not want to be responsible for people’s lives. I can’t handle that pressure. Now, I’m not saying that if I was at the pool and I saw some kid drowning or whatever, I wouldn’t jump in and save them. I totally would. I just don’t want to go to work with that hanging over my head. And yes I know lifeguards at pools mainly just blow their whistles and yell at kids to slow down. But you never know. Something exciting might happen on my watch. And who really wants to sit in the hot sun all day getting terrible tan lines? So I told my parents that I didn’t want to be a lifeguard. I said it was because I was already at the pool so much for practice, I didn’t want something I loved to start feeling like a job. I think they believed me even if they were a little disappointed. As an alternative, I went to the mall and grabbed applications for every place that was hiring. Even those annoying kiosks where the people never leave you alone. The only call back I got was for Bubbles! Not that I minded. I didn’t really want to work at the Payless or the vitamin store where all the muscle heads go to buy protein powder to mix with their steroids. Then before I knew it, I was selling over-priced lotions and shower gels to little old ladies and people like Waffle girl. It’s not a bad job really. The work is easy and I am more moisturized than I have ever been in my life. It’s mainly the customers that give me grief. My manager, Nicole asked me during my interview if I considered myself a “people person”. So of course I lied and said I was. It wasn’t a complete lie. I am somewhat of a people person. Just not these people.

[Thursday]

After Waffle girl and her skeazy boyfriend left, I only had ten minutes and counting left on my shift.
“Good job with that couple, Myra!” Nicole told me enthusiastically her blonde hair bobbing around her face as she walked over to me. Nicole was one of those people who are always brimming with energy. Sometimes just watching her made me tired. She’s a couple of years older than me and goes to the University and is majoring in something call industrial organizational psychology.
“Thanks,” I replied, trying not to look at the clock.
“Any big weekend plans with the family?” she asked me oh so casually. Nicole tries not to show it but she has been way into my brother since he came into the store one time to bring me lunch. I’ve never understood why so many of these girls are attracted to him. Cameron is just so…my brother. And he’s only ever said like two words to her when I introduced them.
“Not really,” I said honestly.
“Oh too bad,” she says in a much less happy voice. “You have practice today?”
“Yup.” This is a lie. The team doesn’t practice on Thursday but I like to go by myself and work out without an audience. Well, as big of an audience but that’s something else entirely. Seven minutes to go.
“You are so dedicated. I wish I could be as in shape as you are.” I smile at her but don’t try to deny it. After all, it’s the truth. I’ve been swimming for as long as I can remember and it is a great work out. So by default I’ve got the long, lean body most swimmers have, although my boobs are a little too big in my opinion. I am convinced they are what’s bringing down my times. However most of the girls on my team are jealous and needless to say I’ve never had any complaints from Aaron or the few other boyfriend I’ve had. But Aaron isn’t allowed to have an opinion anymore. Nicole and I chat on for a few more minutes as we walk around the store putting things back in their places. I swear most people are incapable of walking into a store and not touching something. I allow myself one look at the clock and am rewarded to see that it’s time for me to go. I untie my pink apron and hang it behind the door in the tiny stock room. Nicole clocks me out and checks my purse to make sure I haven’t stolen anything which is kind of hard considering it’s been locked up for my whole shift.
“Bye Myra! Have a good night!”
“You too!” I call over my shoulder as I head out. Leaving the store, I can finally get the smell of the various products out of my nose and I make my way to the employees only door around the corner. It’s the secret hallway all the mall employees get to take to the parking lots and I have to say it’s one of my favorite things about working there. Opening the door into the hot summer sun, I find one of my favorite security guards, George sneaking a smoke.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” he says quickly dropping the butt and stepping on it. I put my hands on my hips and throw him a look.
“Okay, It’s exactly what it looks like.”
“Oh George. What would Louise say?” George is probably older than my grandparents and his wife Louise runs a small cookie shop in the food court. After he retired he took this job to spend more time with her which is the sweetest thing ever and he always good for a laugh whether he’s chastising me for being late or trying to set me up with various young men who work at Sears or whatever. Ever since my break up with Aaron he’s been trying to “help” me out. Louise brings me cookies at Bubbles! and George always walks me to my car when I have to close.
“I know, I know Myra. But it’s been a long day. You know what I mean?” I do and so I pat him on the shoulder, he’s not much taller than me (though he claims to have been six foot back in the day) and give him a kiss on the cheek.
“I won’t tell this time,” I promise. “But if I find you out here again you know I’m going to have to do right?”
He looks at me sheepishly and nods.
I laugh.
“See you later George.”
“Bye Myra. Tell that no good ex-boyfriend of yours I got your back!”
“Will do!” I call and head to my car.

[Thursday]

The thing about Aaron, my ex-boyfriend is that he is a lifeguard at the pool I swim at. Yes, the same one my parents wanted me to get a job at. It was just another reason not to get that job. Not that I go out of my way to avoid him or anything. That’s impossible since we both swim on the same team, me on the girl’s division and him on the guys. Our practices and meets are always at the same times and places. I can’t even go a week without seeing him so I still go the pool at my normal time, even though I know he works then. I also don’t want him to think he gets to me.
Since it’s summertime, the air conditioning in my car has of course decided not to work but I just suck it up and pretend I’ll just sweat off a few pounds during the short drive. It’s a relief to get to the pool. One look at that sparkling blue water and its all I can do to not just jump in while still wearing my work clothes. I force myself to go change and pull on my blue bikini. We have to wear regulation one pieces for the team so I try and break out my two piece every chance I can to even out my tan. It hasn’t been working yet. I quickly braid my hair into one long braid. My hair goes down to the middle of my back and if I leave it down it inevitably gets in the way somehow. My coach keeps telling me to cut it, but I just can’t bring myself to. Being a teenage girl, there’s only so many parts of my physical appearance that I genuinely enjoy and my hair is one of them. In addition to being freaking long, it’s also light brown, sort of a bronze color and slightly wavy and thicker than I’d like it be. So the hair stays despite Ms. Fielder’s frustration. In her opinion it’s not my boobs slowing me down it’s my hair.
Out of the locker room and into the sunshine I can breathe easier. It’s familiar. The tang of chlorine and sunscreen and maybe a little smoke from the people barbequing at the park nearby. I know most of the life guards and the families that go there and I smile as I say hi. My friend Georgia, is splayed on a deck chair, her voluptuous figure on display in a tiny red bikini. She is in love with Stephen, one of the life guards who works with Aaron. She’s been spending most of her summer trying to get his attention. And well if it doesn’t work, she’ll have a great tan.
I bend over and grab a handful of water then splash her as I walk by. She squeals loudly and flips over, almost forgetting to grab the strings of her bikini where she untied them to prevent tan lines. I’m pretty such Stephen’s noticed her alright.
“MYRA!” she growls at me. “Was that really necessary?”
“Of course,” I tell her sweetly. “You looked like you were getting hot.”
“Oh really?” she says, tying the straps of her suit and standing up. “I could say the same about you.”
“Wha-“ I barely get the word out before she rushes me and we both fall into the deep end of the pool. I surface quickly, sputtering and laughing and dunk Georgia the second she comes up. A whistle sounds. I whip my head over to the tower. Phillip is on duty. We had English together last semester and are on pretty good terms. He helped me struggle through Hamlet and I taught him how to breast stroke properly.
“Sorry!” I call. He shakes his head at me and smiles so I know we are forgiven. I swim over to the wall where Georgia has climbed up on, squeezing the water out of her blonde mane.
“So how was work?” she asks when I get close. I tread water by the wall, trying to warm my muscles up a little after standing behind a cash register for most of the day.
“Eh. Same old same old. You been here long?”
“Not too long. Stephen isn’t even working today. Neither is Aaron.”
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Really? Well that’s a nice surprise.”
“Girl, you guys need to resolve your issues.” She says rolling her eyes and leaning back on her elbows.
“What issues? There are no issues. We’re…cool.”
“Hmmm mmmm,” is all she says. I really have no idea what she is talking about. Aaron and I broke up months ago. Everything was said. So what if it’s a little awkward? That’s just how it goes sometimes. I decided and change the subject. In no time I get her gossiping about all the people we know.
“Oh! And what are you doing tonight?” Georgia asks suddenly.
“It depends on what you have in mind.” I say cautiously.
“There’s a party tonight in Verbena Court and we’re going!”
I groan audibly.
“Oh come on! It’s summer! All you do is work and practice! You need to get out! You need to meet boys and you need to loosen up.”
I groan again.
“Come on! Pretty please please!”
“If I say yes, if you shut up and let me practice in peace?” I ask giving up. It’s really no contest with Georgia. If she wants me to go to a party with her, I will.
“Yay!” she cries happily. “Come over to my house before so we can get ready. I will most definitely drive. Our hair and makeup would get all gross in your car.” This is true so I don’t argue, even though Georgia is a terrible driver. She has more traffic violations than our whole school put together probably.
“I’m going to go swim now and try and avoid thinking about what a disaster this party is going to probably turn in to.”
“No! It’s going to be totally awesome. I’m going to be there! How could it not be?” She grins at me and I splash her again so she retreats to the safety of her deck chair.