Near the End?
1421 Words
Two weeks later, on a Thursday, Laura had that day and Friday left before she transferred to Clarksville.
“Well, Dreama and Catherine. I am going to miss both of you.”
“We will too,” Catherine told her.
“I am going to miss the customers,” Laura told them.
Laura said she would come back and visit when she can.
“Hey, Laura. Can you come in the office for a minute?”
“Okay,” Laura said nervously.
Laura and Tyler went to the office and closed the door.
“Laura, if we need you to fill in, everyone else wants you to come back to take over for me. I am going on vacation on about a month. I will be gone for a week.
“Tyler, I don’t know what to say. I am flattered.”
“What did Robyn say about this?”
“She said she would be okay with it. I have noticed you are very friendly to customers.”
“Oh, wow. I am going to tell my Dad and my girlfriend about this.”
The store phone rang.
“Thank you for calling the Madison Speedway. This is Tyler. How may I help you?”
It was Robyn calling.
“I am actually talking to her about it now. She is happy about it.”
Laura then went back to work and got a hot chocolate. She worked the rest of the day. She hated having her arm in a sling. But, she knew it was best in order for her wrist to heal.
“Tomorrow is my last day here,” Laura cried.
Laura tried not to cry but several customers noticed it. They all told her it will be a new adventure.
Laura heard her phone ring. It was Kings Daughters Hospital. Laura went to the stock room to take the call.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello, Laura. This is Regina from the hospital. I just wanted to remind you that you have an appointment at 4 P.M. next Friday for an x-ray.”
“Okay, I can be there at 4 o’clock next Friday,” Laura told Regina.
“We will see you then,” Regina told Laura.
Laura went back to work.
“I have appointment next week at the hospital for another x-ray,” Laura told everyone.
“I hope your wrist is healing well,” Catherine said.
“It should be. I just want to get this damn cast off. I know I will have to shave my arm. I hate it when my arm itches.”
Tyler asked Dreama to go sweep the parking lot. Catherine went to clean the outside windows. Laura put more food on the grill. She also made tea.
Lois came in at 2 P.M. After Dreama swept the lot, she came in and swept and mopped the floor. At 2:30 when Laura and Tyler left, Laura told Lois bye in case she didn’t see Lois again.
“I’m going to miss you,” Lois told her.
Laura and Tyler left and went home. Randall called Laura.
“Hi, Dad,” Laura said.
“Laura, can you stop at the liquor store and get me a six pack of Bud Light?”
“Okay, just leaving work now. I’ll see you when I get home.”
Laura pulled out of the parking lot.
“One more day left of working here. I am getting to know everyone here. Monday, I will be on my own. I am sure if I need help with something, Tyler and Dreama can help me. I will miss them.”
Laura was trying to get used to driving with one hand. She stopped at the liquor store. A man in his late forties held the door for her.
“Thank you,” Laura said.
Laura got some wine coolers for herself and a six pack for her father. She had to get help with carrying it out to her car. Laura then went home after paying for the alcohol. Her phone rang. It was Katie.
“Hi sweetie,” Laura said.
“How are you, Katie? I was getting ready to call you.”
“Laura, would you like to go out tomorrow night?”
“I would love to. Would you date a woman with a cast on her arm?”
“I probably would. Who has a cast on her arm?” Katie asked flirtatiously.
“I do, sweetie. I have to go back to the hospital to have it x-rayed next Friday.”
“Won’t you be working at the Clarksville store next week?”
“Yeah, tomorrow is my last day at Madison.”
“Oh, okay. Clarksville will be a busy store.”
“I can handle it. I will feel lonely as I won’t know anyone there. I must go. I am almost home.”
“Bye, Laura. I will call you later.”
“Bye, Katie.”
Laura arrived home a few minutes later. She brought in the alcohol. Randall gave her money for the beer. Laura opened a wine cooler.
“Dad, I am really going to miss everyone when I start at Clarksville on Monday. I will feel so out of place.”
“Every job I’ve had that’s how it always is,” Randall told her.
Laura was starting to get drunk. She drank some of her wine cooler.
“I have to pee,” Laura told Randall.
Laura must use the bathroom when she drinks alcohol.
“I was nervous about going to Clarksville, but not now. A couple more wine coolers will relax me,” she said to herself.
Laura went back to the living room. She stumbled as she went back to the couch.
“Laura, are you all right?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”
Randall noticed that she almost fell coming from the bathroom. Laura then finished her half empty bottle. She went to get another one.
“The manager said he is going on vacation in about a month. He told me that he wants me to take over that store for the week he is gone. I told him I was flattered to be asked that.”
“They must not want you to leave,” Randall said.
“I don’t want to leave, but I am doing what I was hired to do.”
Laura finished the second wine cooler and took a nap. She tried not to sleep on her cast.
Laura woke up an hour and a half later. She watched TV and sat outside with her father. Laura looked for something to eat but didn’t know what she wanted. Laura decided to make some pasta.
She always loved pasta. After she ate, she washed her clothes and called Katie.
“Hi, sexy,” Laura said.
“How are you doing?” Katie asked.
“I had something to eat. I also drank a couple of wine coolers.”
“Are you drunk?” Katie asked.
“I don’t know but my wrist isn’t hurting,” Laura laughed.
Laura and Katie tried to figure out where they wanted to eat tomorrow night.
“We can decide that tomorrow,” Laura said.
“How are you liking your car?” Katie asked.
“I love it. I love the push to start instead of having to put the key in the ignition. I can just leave the key in my pocket or in my purse. The manager at the Madison store said that when I take over the Clarksville store, I will be the only female general manager in the district.”
“Really? That will be unusual,” Katie said.
“Some of the people will not like taking orders from me. They will either get used to it or quit.”
“Right,” Katie said.
Laura then asked Katie out on Friday night.
“I would love to,” Katie said.
Laura recommended Golden Corral.
“I haven’t been there for a while,” Katie said.
Laura said she would pick up Katie at about 6:00.
“I can’t wait,” Katie said.
Laura asked Katie if she would like to stay at her house Friday night.
“I would like to,” Katie said.
“Okay, I will talk to you later,” Laura flirted.
“Bye, Laura,” Katie flirted.
“Hey, Dad. Is it okay if Katie stays here Friday night?”
“I guess it is,” Randall said.
Laura was upset that Randall doesn’t want his adult daughter in bed with another woman.
“Dad, I think you will like Katie.”
“I know I will,” he said half-heartedly.
Laura decided to ride the four-wheeler.
“Be careful, you’ve been drinking,” Randall told his daughter.
“I will, Dad.”
Laura went to check the gas and oil in the four-wheeler.
“I need to put gas in it,” Laura said.
She got the gas can and tried to lift it with one arm. She also tried to lift it so she could fill the four-wheeler. After the gas tank was full, she put the gas cap on and put the gas can away. Laura then got on and rode it.
“I will go over to Katie’s apartment and bring her over here.”
Laura was trying to decide if they would go out to eat first. She decided to wait until tomorrow night to decide. Laura went to bed at 8 PM.
- Writer
