#Chapter2
Inventory Sucks, And So Does Grayson
Lucille
I slept before having to work. Oh, yay! Inventory! Note the sarcasm. Stupid Grayson, stupid job, and stupid obligations, I huffed.
I clocked in, strolling to the back to find Grayson. I swear he lives here. I walked over to him.
/"Here I am, O’boring one,/" I said.
/"Do you know what your problem is, Lucille?/"
/"Nope, but I’m sure you’ll tell me./"
I rolled my eyes.
/"You think life is a joke./"
/"Well, you’re wrong. Life is fun, and I enjoy it. You prefer to be serious and boring. Hey, we all got to be something./"
I shrugged.
/"If you learn life isn’t all fun and games, then you would become an adult!/" he snapped.
I glared at him.
He handed me a clipboard.
/"Here, start counting./"
I took the clipboard. As soon as Grayson walked away, I mocked him.
/"Here, start counting./"
I counted until it was time to eat. Man, I was starving.
I sat down and opened my lunch bag as I pulled out food and ate. I looked around, noticing how different it is with no one here. It’s kind of lonely.
I ate alone. After lunch, I went back to work. Grayson and I were at opposite ends of the stockroom.
I’m used to being around people. I never understood what’s it like to be by myself. I had no one to joke with or talk to, and it was lonely.
I sauntered over to Grayson. At least, someone is here besides little ole me.
/"Did you need something?/" He asked with a gruffness.
He counted, never looking up from his clipboard.
/"I thought it would be better if we worked together./"
/"Why?/"
/"Why not?/"
/"Why work with someone who’s boring? How did you refer to me? Oh, right. ‘The fun police.’/"
He looked at me with intensity. I stood there, saying nothing.
/"Oh, that’s right. In the middle of your fun, you forgot people had feelings./"
He shrugged. I looked at him, noticing a hurt expression. I didn’t know what to say. I walked back to my side and counted, staying quiet.
Once my shift was over, I walked over to him and handed him the clipboard.
/"All done,/" I said.
/"Thank you, Lucille./"
He took the clipboard from me as he continued to jot down numbers.
/"Aren’t you going to go home?/" I asked him.
/"In a little while. I want to finish before the store director arrives./"
He continued to count and write. I stood there, then offered my help.
/"Do you care if I stay?/"
He stopped writing and looked at me.
/"Shouldn’t you go home? I don’t want to keep you from your fun,/" he said.
/"Well, if I stay to help, you’ll get done faster, so you can go home too./"
He looked at me, then handed me a clipboard and fresh sheets. I took it from him as we counted inventory.
If anyone has ever done inventory, it isn’t enjoyable. It’s boring, but you need to make sure a store makes or loses a profit. You make sure people aren’t stealing from the company.
Company theft is a tremendous problem. It comprises taking a few extra minutes for lunch or leaving a few minutes early. A person takes a pen or whiteout. They take anything they didn’t pay for at their job. I never understood it. Why steal from a company that pays you?
I’m fun, but I would never steal from my company. To me, it’s stupid. Plus, I like my job. Now, Grayson, I’m still wondering about him.
After working a few more hours, I finished. Inventory exhausted me. I handed my clipboard to Grayson.
/"Thanks for staying, Lucille./"
/"Sure thing,/" I said.
He smiled at me. Huh, that’s the first time he had ever smiled at me. Usually, he glares.
As I walked away, I stopped and turned to him. /"You have a delightful smile. You should use it more often./" He looked at me. I smiled and winked at him before leaving the stockroom.
I can’t believe I got Grayson to smile. Did hell freeze over?
When I got home, it was four in the morning. Ugh, my parents would have a fit. I walked in to find Dad sitting at the table, drinking a cup of coffee.
/"How was work?/"
/"Boring,/" I said. I sat down at the table. /"Who knew counting could be so daunting?/"
He chuckled.
/"I’m surprised you’re not giving me a lecture about staying out all night./"
I placed my chin on my hand.
/"Because you’re not out doing crazy shit. It’s a sizable difference./"
He smiled as he took a sip of coffee.
/"On the plus side, I got Grayson to smile. I didn’t think the guy had any teeth./"
He laughed even more.
/"He might not have a reason to smile,/" he said.
/"But he should because I’m there and an absolute delight./"
I grinned, making him chuckle even more.
/"Lucille, sometimes, people don’t have the best life. They make do with it./"
/"That doesn’t mean a person can’t smile and have fun. Life isn’t always bad./"
/"No, but not everyone has it easy. Lucille, do you like this boy?/"
/"Pft. That’s a ridiculous question. Grayson is older and boring. Who would like someone like that?/"
He gave me a look as I got up, going to bed. Mom woke up, coming into the kitchen.
/"Was that Lucille?/"
/"Yep,/" he answered.
/"And?/"
/"And work is fine. Lucille likes this fella at work but won’t admit it. He might be the answer to all our prayers./"
He smiled.
She looked at him with surprise.
My parents wanted me to settle down. Why? I don’t have a clue to their logic. A carefree and crazy attitude makes me happy. It’s what made life fun. I didn’t expect someone who has steel-grey eyes to change my mind.