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Raaawr My doorbell no
longer sounds like a cat in heat, now it’s more like a mooing cow.
Today is Wednesday and is the one day a week I’m alone in the
store.
I smile and look to the door. What I see there makes my smile
disappear and my heart sinks.
Miss She-Devil (from the dress return debacle) saunters over to the
counter. Oh, Dear Lord. Please give
me strength. I smile stronger this
time and ask, “Good Morning, Miss. How are you today?”
She smiles back and replies “Oh, I’m great Hon. How are you
today?” Uh,
What? I’m immediately suspicious of
her because she’s smiling like the cat that got the cream.
I say, “Well, we aren’t too busy today so I guess we could be
better. What can I help you with?”
She responds, “I just wanted to come over here and apologize for my
rude behavior the other day. It was totally unacceptable and I’m
really truly sorry.” She’s trying to look contrite but it comes off
as constipated.
I’m shocked. I stutter my response, “Um, wow. I, ah, thank you.
That’s really nice of you to do that.”
Then it comes.
She puts on a sad smile and sighs. “I know you understand as a
woman, we like to wear nice dresses for our men. But three hundred
dollars for the dress I bought was probably overkill.” She laughs a
bit too cheerfully and places a hand on her cheek. “I honestly
don’t know what I was thinking. My husband owns the club across the
street and that dress was far too formal to wear there. He didn’t
even look at it twice.” What. The.
Hell. Did she just say she was Nik’s
wife?! I take a close look at her.
She can fake sweet pretty well. If she were auditioning someplace,
I’d be impressed.
She is thin, a little taller than me and maybe a year or two older.
Her long bleach blonde her is bordering silver. Her eyes are blue
and look ice cold.
She-Devil sighs hard and musters up the sweetest voice she can and
tells me, “It would be such a huge help if you would please take the dress
off my hands. I made a mistake and I promise I’ll never do it
again.” She sounds like a five year old. “My husband is really mad
at me. I really need that money back.”
This doesn’t make sense to me.
Firstly, why would Nik care about a measly three hundred dollar
dress when his shirts are silk and probably cost that much for a
single shirt?
Secondly, he owns the club! The club is very popular (according to
Mimi); they can’t be strapped for cash.
The confrontation flush I get is already attacking my chest and
climbing up my neck.
I clear my throat and say, “I understand you have a predicament and
I’m very sorry for you. Even if I take the dress from you I can’t
re-sell it. If I can’t re-sell it, I can’t offer you a refund. So
unfortunately, my answer is still no.” Somewhere deep within me
courage blooms, “And that is my final answer.”
She-Devil’s murderous scowl reappears. Oh, hey you! There you are! I’ve missed
you. She hisses at me, “This is
BULLSHIT! You think you’re so high and mighty in your damn clothing
store. Well, guess what? Your clothes look like shit. I’ve seen
better shirts at Target! You think you’ve seen the last of me,
think again! I’ll be back every damn day til you give in. And you
will, Honey.” She looks me down at me, smirks, and says, “I suggest
you lose twenty pounds if you want to look good in the clothes you
sell.”
And then she’s gone. Oh, Hell
no! Shit just got serious.
I walk into the staff room, grab my keys, lock up and I’m out the
door.
***
    “ You can’t use a draw four
there!”
Max has been doing this since we were kids. Making up his own rules
to games which he knows won’t even help him win.
I respond, “Pretty sure I can, bud.” I place the card down and he
groans.
Trick can’t control his laughter and asks, “Why do you even bother,
Nik? You know you’re gonna win. He knows you’re gonna win. It’s like torture
watching you two. Hilarious torture!”
Ghost watches from the sofa smirking.