Amethyst Read Online Free PDF Page B

roommate, Ben, who just started working in produce.”
    “I know Ben,”
she said delightedly. “He’s hilarious. I didn’t know he was your roommate. Are
you a couple?”
    “No,” I laughed.
“He’s engaged to my best friend, Ally.”
    “Oh, got it.
That’s cool.” She swung around, picked up the front end sheet, and put one hand
on her hip. “Well, we better get to work. Lots to do and I still have to set up
the produce test.”
    As she paused
for a breath, I said, “P-produce test?”
    “Oh, don’t
stress out about that,” she said, smacking the clipboard. “I’ve seen you
carrying around your produce codes; you’ll do fine. I’ll make it easy this
week. Speaking of which, have you ever eaten a cherimoya?”
    “A what?” I said
with a shake of my head.
    “You know, that
green Peruvian that has funny little indentations on the skin.” She winked and
handed me the front end schedule. “You should try it sometime; it’s really sweet.” She pointed at me with her pencil, looked at it oddly, and giggled before
handing it to me. “I’ll gather items for the produce test. You’re on check
stand #8. If you could clean check stands in between customers I’d love ya
forever. But page me if you need back up.” She scooped up the green basket and
bounced towards the produce department, only pausing long enough to slam-dunk
the basket onto a tall stack by the front entrance.
    I signed on to
my computer and was greeted with an array of beeps as the receipt tape advanced
in the printer. Sporadic small orders consisting mostly of muffins, doughnuts,
and fruit kept me busy. During lag times I disinfected the check stands and
thought about Jessica. She was a riot – one of those people who made you feel
good no matter what your mood. She’d probably been voted Most likely to make
people laugh in high school.
    A customer
approached and banged his green basket onto the belt. He narrowed his pale
brown eyes accusingly through his glasses and scowled. I knew the signs of an
irate customer when I saw one, so I braced myself for the onslaught.
    “Listen here
Missy,” he said gruffly, wagging his crooked finger in the air. “I don’t know
why you people have to saturate the produce with water. That sprinkler system
needs to be shut down. I’m sopping wet.” He stretched his arm under my nose.
    My first
irascible old crank of the day had arrived, and it was my responsibility to set
things straight. First, I would shock him by being agreeable; then I’d
apologize and find a solution. Not that I’d admit it publicly, but I’d actually
read the entire employee manual front to back. I felt confident in my conflict
resolution abilities and launched into a “the customer is always right” counter
attack.
    Moments later,
he scratched his chin and studied me as I rang up his order. “Little lady, one
thing you are, is perceptive, and you have more spirit than half the employees
in this store.” After he paid, he assured me he’d see me again and shuffled
away.
    “Wow!” Jessica
commented behind me. “You handled old Dr. Fisher really well.” She glanced over
her shoulder. “He’s known as the store grump, but we love him. Besides that,”
she winked, “he’s related to the owners.” Her pony tail flipped around as she
gazed at me again. “Looks like you can handle the best of ‘em, or the worst of
‘em,” she giggled.
    “Thanks a lot,” I
said sarcastically. “But seriously, if you’d grown up around some of my uncles,
you’d think old Dr. Fisher was a kitten in comparison.”
    “Sounds like
you’ve got some stories to tell,” she said, picking up the clipboard. “All the
more reason we need to hang out. Sooner rather than later.”
    “Sure,” I
replied, thinking that probably wasn’t the best idea because that’s exactly
when the snapshots would strike. And then what?
    “Great,” she
said, not picking up on my lackluster tone. “The produce test is on the first
check stand. Good