Aug 09, 2007 14:04
As per the usual protocol, Kenneth was doing his third dusting regimen before I even punched in, and I rolled my eyes patiently as the electronic system searched for the authorization to allow me to work. I always thought that technology was overrated. If I punched in every day, at least six hundred or so times in the last few years, it should be far more rapidly able to access my information. Yet it always seemed to take about a thirty second intermission before allowing me into the payroll. Even Bedrock had a more efficient schematic.
Kenneth started his next routine, which involved taking each book out of the shelf, wiping it, and then turning it back to front three times before returning it to the shelf. I often wondered why dust was considered the plague of books. I continued my diligence of doing nothing for the next six hours. Finally I heard the synthetic bell which meant an intruder was due to ruin my almost record of six hours and fifty minutes of doing nothing for money.
"Can I help you?" I moaned.
In from the otherwise boring display of humanity strolled in a thin darkly tanned guy with a maze of tattoos embedded along both arms. An army jacket with high black boots and a golden earing loop impaled through the top of his ear cartilage, he simply smiled and gave no verbal reply. He went straight for the novels with authors beginning with 's'. I immediately felt nervous, since everyone who buys "Catcher in the Rye" seemed to have something to prove. I walked over to Kenneth so I could tell him it was time for a break.
"You really worked hard today", he exclaimed almost in iambic pentameter.
He enunciated every syllable to the point of nauseum. I had to prepare myself for any conversation which required him talking back to me. I once punched myself in the side so I could focus on that rather than his voice right before he talked. He was just that annoying.
"Thanks, back in fifteen," I declared almost forty feet away and still walking.
The only perk that seemed worth mentioning is that bookstores are the ideal place to find a spot to be near nobody. Sometimes there would be a few people studying KAPLAN notes or sleeping. Either way they were unlikely to do much that annoyed me. I heard someone whisper "bang" in the "s" isle. I didn't care but something made me swiftly roll my eyes to the right. I saw the army dude sitting with his legs crossed staring at the ground, or his crotch, and almost ducking for cover. Maybe he too enjoyed the seclusion. Too often when one is seen doing that, nobody dares even ask. I wasn't one to break that streak either.
There were many areas where perfect women stare into your being with their Photoshopped smiles and sculpted bodies. Magazine covers taking row call each month, reminding us all how flawed we appear. Once in awhile Rolling Stone would have the ugliest rocker on the front, and he always had to be grimacing, whereas Gwen or somebody else would look amazing. Magazine covers rarely enticed me with their headlines, and rarely did I ever own a subscription to anything. If a magazine called, "IQ" or "Mythology of Time" or something to that effect ever emerged I would doubt an actual person would ever be coverbound. That would be sublime.
Forty five minutes have passed, and it was almost time to go back to the front desk. Maybe that customer would have a mind bending realization which caused him to leave soon. I slowly made my way back. By that time, Kenneth has wiped the windows clean and was moving on to his third cup of chai. What a spaz.
"Make sure you arrange the cash this time. It took me twenty seconds to do that so it's not that hard", he stated.
"No problem. If it stays this busy I could do it with my mind. Look, already done", I quipped.
I always knew that the last fifteen minutes of work seemed to be a week long in itself. Luckily there were only forteen minutes left for me today. Army boy approached the register with Catcher in his left hand. Big shock there.
"Just that", I said.
"Yeah."
Sometimes I fantasized about zombies taking over the town and the only salvation is to either join the brain eaters, or kill everything that drools. Perhaps Raccoon City only lived in my head, but the idea wouuld be invigorating. I imagined shooting each one while eating beef jerky and listening to Angels of Agony. I enjoyed mindless acitivities, so why not shoot them while diving into the jerky?