Supermarket
Backdated to 6/11
Title: Stocking The Cooler
Character:
a_mind_flip
Author: nikcool
Rating: PG for the language
Theme: Supermarket (C-3)
Warnings: A little strong language, references to an illegal activity, a little racism
Summary: Janie works a typical shift, only to be interrupted by her Mother. A heated argument ensues.
Word count: 1334
Most of the time her job was repetitive and dull. When she wasn't focusing on staying awake, her mind would wander and usually she'd mentally complete a few formulas. She had slips of receipt paper in her pockets with symbols and equations scribbled on them, notes that would be added to the larger collection when she returned home. Recently, her thoughts were drifting to one other person, and that scared her. When she bagged a customers groceries and her only thoughts were about rushing out after work to see her boyfriend, she thought that she might be too attached.
While thinking of him, and stocking the beer cooler, her Mother was suddenly beside her. Janie didn't know the woman very well. She had been told for many years that the woman was dead and only recently did she get to talk to her. Once the dialogue was open, the two of them didn't get along very well. Her mother disagreed with many of her choices.
"Isn't it a little early to start drinking?" Her mother was her height, her build and currently holding one of the bottles that was supposed to go into the cooler.
"I'm stocking the cooler. You're not supposed to be back here, can we talk later?"
"We need to talk now, hon. The hell are you doing working here? Doesn't matter- I said we need to talk."
"I was right here when you said it." Janie took the bottle from her mother, and placed it on the refrigerated shelf. She did her best to ignore the woman as she continued stocking.
"This is important. Leave the bottles there and come with me so we can talk." Janie rolled her eyes, and continued working. She only stopped when her mother pushed over a box of glass bottles without warning. The sound of the crash would send one of the owners to the back of the store. Her pay would be docked and she could not afford that right now.
"Talk. Say whatever you want, but please leave afterwards. You're going to make me lose this job and I need it."
"You and me know you don't need this job. Don't you have a sugar daddy keeping you in the money?" She ignored her mother as she walked out of the stocking area, and to find a broom and mop.
"I support myself."
"And that's why you haven't told your so called boyfriend, isn't it? He doesn't know about the guy who pays your bills, or the person that walks you home at night. I came to tell you to stop it. Dump them and come where it's safe."
"If you mean with you, the answer is no. I'm not dumping my friends. I am not dumping my boyfriend. Please leave."
"It's safe and I'm not going to be using you like they are. You know that, don't you? They all want something from you."
She found one of the brooms in the cereal aisle, between the oatmeal and the farina. A nosy customer watched them curiously. "They're being nice."
"Sweetie, are you sleeping with any of them?"
"That's none of your business. Please, let me finish working." Next, she had to find the mop and bucket which was on yet another aisle. If her mother would leave, she could complete her tasks so much faster.
"You're more than a bed-warmer. I talked to one of them earlier, you're nothing to him. I know his type and all he wants is a pretty accessory to help him feel like he's still attractive in his old age."
The nosy customer was soon joined by another nosy customer, who watched them as they walked to the canned food aisle. "Stop it! You don't know what you're talking about. Stay out of my life, I don't want you around."
"I know what I'm talking about. I've seen that type before. Middle aged man looking for a young-"
"Shut your mouth and leave! Insulting someone that I love is not going to make me go with you."
"Oh honey." Ella sighed. "He doesn't feel the same way. Even if he did, you know it couldn't work."
That set of a string of expletives from the younger woman. The small group watching them was growing, Janie's coworkers shocked at the language from the normally passive and quiet girl. "I want you to leave."
"Why are you getting so defensive? Is it because I told the truth? You do know what a prostitute is, don't you?" Ella didn't have a chance to add to that statement, because Janie slapped her.
She took it, and didn't hit her back. This was all for a reason. She had to get her daughter somewhere safer. She had to get her away from all of these people that were corrupting her.
"I'm your DAUGHTER. You're not supposed to say things like that!"
"You're all for facts and math, aren't you? Look at them, and you'll know that's truth. How many are you having right now, they'll all find out about each other. Where will you be after that?"
"Stop accusing me of that! You have no idea about my life, you were never there! I'm not worried about my friends meeting each other, because that's what they are. I have one boyfriend. What I do with him is my business."
"You're lying to him. You lie to everyone." Ella pretended not to notice the glare from her daughter "He's going to take that fancy jewelry and whatever else you managed to get out of him when he learns the truth."
"This isn't working. You're nothing but a hustler who's so offensive that she can't make friends."
"Honey girl, if you want to make it to the end of the year, you'll come to your senses. Between the people at home and your client list you are going to end up in that river."
"Why can't you be happy for me? Why can't you help me? You tried to KILL me. Do you remember that? DO YOU?"
"I explained then that there was a reason. You know the reason and you know I never wanted to. I don't want to hurt you."
"But you did. You did it, and every time I see you, you do it again. Love me. Support me. Be my mother. I need that. That's the only reason I haven't told you to get away for good. The people I have aren't bad folk."
"You don't want me bringing up those so called friends that ditched you, do you? You know, the group that was your bestest friends ever until-"
"Can't make everyone like you."
"Proves your judgement of people is off. Especially white folk. You can do business fine with them, talk to them, but when it comes to it you can't trust them. Come on with me, and I'll take you somewhere safe. It'll be full of people like you and I'll-"
"NO. The friends I have now are the best people I've ever met."
"You should meet better people, because from what I see they're the most fucked up bunch of people out there."
"I suggest you stop talking, right now."
"They're not like you. The guy with the fire- maybe, but most of them are meaningless specks of dust in existence."
They weren't arguing in English anymore. They hadn't been for quite a while. The language was Yoruba, mixed with a little French. Most of the people in the supermarket couldn't understand them, but the few that could pick a few words of it out tried whispering what they knew to the others in the crowd.
"Excuse me! Ladies, I'll have to ask you to leave." The store manager approached them, hoping there would be no more violence. Ella turned around and stormed out.
"Please, I need this-"
"Janie, get your things and go home. I will call you if we need you again."
The young woman nodded, and numbly moved to obey her manager.