Marie crumpled up the paper she was writing on. She turned to another blank page in the notebook she’d bought when she came in to work. She had a wastebasket filled with half written notes to her ex boyfriend. Half of the notes were about getting back together, while the other half were final goodbyes after a few months with their relationship in a gray area. She wasn’t sure how this one should go. She wouldn’t be deciding yet, as the door of the E-Z Stop swung open. A woman with short blond hair walked in. Her glasses shifted from dark to clear as she walked to the beverage case. She was wearing tight black dress pants and a colorful shirt that didn’t reveal much skin, but it was hugging her body almost as tightly as her pants. Marie started thinking not about her last boyfriend, but her last girlfriend. This woman reminded her of a cross between her ex girlfriend and the woman who she caught cheating with one of her old boyfriends. She had seen her here before, usually getting gas. She walked up to the counter with a pack of Orbit and a Diet Sunkist. Marie picked up the gum to scan it in. “Howdy. Did you have gas?”
“Nope, just the gum and soda.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“I’ve seen you come in a lot, but I never caught your name.”
The girl smiled a bit. “Are you trying to build a better rapport with your customers?”
“It never hurts.”
The woman smiled. “Michelle. I’m taking some classes at the college and working as an assistant manager at Herberger’s. Would you like my hobbies and interests?”
Maire started laughing. “Sure, why not? I just…you look like someone I used to know.”
“Good way or bad way?”
“Actually, two people I used to know, one of each.”
“Well, I’ll try to strive to be the good one.”
Marie laughed some more. “Good call. Three-oh-three is your total.” Michelle took out three dollars and then took three pennies from the give a penny dish.
“If I need to re-gum, I’ll come back later. Right now I’m off to pull a quick fill in shift. See ya later.” Michelle smiled as she walked out the door and to her car. Marie took her pen in hand and started thinking again about what to write. She heard Michelle’s Toyota leave the lot, and for a moment she was lost in thoughts about her. Her thoughts were broken up by the sound of a bottle landing on her counter. She turned and saw a woman with black hair and dark glasses who Marie didn’t remember coming into the store. Her leather jacket looked very new, and she seemed almost annoyed with the fact she hadn’t been rung up yet.
“Sorry…j-”
“Just the Dew and the V8.”
Marie scanned the bottles while the impatient woman started putting on a pair of biker gloves. “Three tw-”
“Keep the change” the woman said, as she walked out the door. She had left a five on the counter. Marie just watched her down the Mountain Dew as she revved up her motorcycle. Soon, the woman was gone, and Marie was wondering what to do with the change. As she was counting it out, a man emerged from the video lottery casino.
“Hey, I think I have a winner.”
Marie looked at the print out. Sure enough, the man had won well over fifty dollars. “Good job. I’ll need you to fill out the back and I’ll need some ID.”
Marie looked up and the man was already half out of the door. “I forgot my ID, so call it a tip” he said as the door closed behind him. Marie watched the man walk towards the Super 8. She was up over fifty dollars on the last few minutes, but she still had no idea what to write her ex.
