Chapter 2 - KETO

2022

Delores had his bath in the shower and then took his towel out and wiped his body dry. He then stepped out of the shower and into his bedroom to get dressed up and start something. As he dressed up, he heard a ringing coming from a phone. He didn't know where it was coming from so he looked searched around looking for the possible cell phone that could be in his room. He finally found it in the pocket of the trouser he supposedly wore last night. The caller rang again and he managed to answer this time.

"Good morning, hello" Delores said.

"Don't you hello me! Would you get your tardy ass over here Neville!" The caller yelled.

"Neville?" Delores asked himself shocked that that was the name of the owner of the body he had transmigrated into.

"Are you talking back at me?!" The caller yelled.

"Oh, no, no, sir. I was just wondering. Where should I get my tardy ass to?" Delores asked nervously.

"Are you fucking kidding me?! Get your ass over to Jenkins stores in the next ten minutes or else your fired!" The caller yelled and then he hung up.

"So this is my life now" Delores said frustrated. Then he quickly got dressed and stepped out. It was his first time stepping out since his transmigration.

"10 years and a whole lot has changed" Delores said to himself. Then he turned around and saw a Prius parked right outside his house with the keys left on it. He got into his car, set his location up on the map and then drove off to his workplace. He walked in and met an angry man about 50 years old staring at him with contempt.

"I'm guessing you must be Jenkins" Delores said nervously.

"This is the third time this week Neville, if this happens again, I'm gonna fire you" Jenkins said sternly.

"I'm also guessing that's what you said the last time" Delores said to himself but Jenkins overheard him.

"Don't push your luck, Henry Cavill. The only reason you haven't been fired is because the customers are drawn to your British accent" Jenkins said and then he placed the stores workers uniform on his chest.

"Change into this, it's new, just for it today" Jenkins said and then he left.

"Hey, where do I change?" Delores asked but Jenkins ignored him, so he took off his clothes in a way that seemed to be dramatic. Everyone at the store stared at him with their mouths wide open. Delores didn't notice the eyes on him. It was when he was about to put on his uniform that he noticed and immediately, everyone pretended like they weren't staring and drooling over him. He got weirded out and put his uniform on quickly. Then he stood behind the counter next to his co-worker; Sam.

"Of all places to change, Neville" Sam said with contempt.

"I asked Jenkins where I could change and he just ignored me" Delores said in his defence.

"This isn't your first time working here, stop acting like it is" Sam said.

"If I tell you this, promise me you won't freak out" Delores said.

"Tell me what?" Sam asked.

"I'm actually a girl whose soul got transmigrated from ten years ago. I was just a high school student and now I'm a 28 years old man who works at a store" Delores whispered.

"For God's sake Neville, what the fuck were you on last night? Please do not say this outside" Sam said.

"But it's the truth, I swear" Delores said.

"Why are the fine ones always the dumbest" Same said to himself as he attended to a customer. "Good morning, what seems to be the problem?" He asked with a smile.

It was already nighttime and the store was set to close for the day.

"Good night Jenkins and Neville" Sam said. "Oh and Neville, please stay away from too much alcohol" Sam advised and then he left.

"Neville, please turn the sign that says opened the other way" Jenkins said. Before Delores turned the sign, a car pulled over and a woman hurriedly came out of the car.

"Please, don't close yet" The woman begged. She got into the store.

"Good evening ma'am, how can I help you?" Jenkins asked. Delores kept looking at the woman. She seemed very familiar to him.

"I know it's a bit late but today's my daughter's death anniversary; October 3rd and every year I always get her her favourite snack- keto-friendly toasted almond crunchy bars. I went from store to store looking for it and they were all out. Do you happen to have any?" The woman asked Jenkins. She wasn't loud enough for Delores to overhear what she was talking about.

"Sadly we've run out of them too. But I do have one in my pocket right now... Here" Jenkins said as he reached for his pocket and brought out the crunchy bars she had been looking for.

"Oh, thank you so much. So how much is that?" The woman asked as he searched her bag for money.

"No need ma'am. May your girl rest in peace" Jenkins said with a smile.

"God bless you" The woman said with a smile and then she left. As she was leaving, Delores felt the urge to greet her and he did.

"Oh, hey there" The woman said with a smile and then she left.

"Boss, who was she?" Delores asked.

"An angel. She looked so beautiful" Jenkins praised.

"No, like, what did she want?" Delores asked.

"Her daughter died some years ago today. She wanted to honour her daughter by bringing her her favourite snack; Keto. Can you imagine she's been going from store to store just to get it for her daughter? Such a thoughtful lady" Jenkins said with a smile.

"Yeah" Delores said. "...that's my mother" He said with a smile. "She remembered" He said with a smile on his face.