She’s gone before I can ask who’s covering. No one, of course. It’s just me, juggling the register, stocking shelves, and calming angry customers who want to know why there’s only one lane open.

By the time the store closes, I’ve cleaned up three spills, restocked the dairy, and dealt with a screaming match in aisle 6. The only sound left is the hum of the freezers.

I lock up, lean against the door, and whisper, “Yes, friend. This is fine.”

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5630767&forum_id=2\u0026mark_id=5304212",#48314424)