A Dollar

Short Story Day 43 of 365

The convenience store manager gave Angelina a huge break: he hired her.

He knew she had done some time for petty theft but saw something in her that made him think she was a changed 30-year-old. Of course he could have done without the extra nose piercings and the two-toned green hair color, but for a couple of bucks over minimum wage, what did he expect?

And besides, Angelina was willing to work the undesirable late night, early morning shifts.

Her tasks were as varied as the number of items in the store: run the cash register and credit card machine, figure out the 62 options for lottery tickets, run the fuel pumps for those who would pay inside, stock the shelves during down times, answer the phone, stock the hot dog and sausage rotisserie, make sure the rest rooms were clean, and plenty of other minor tasks.

The manager did provide minimum training, but most of it was done on the job.

Oh, and if the register was short against the receipts, it came out of the next paycheck. Too much on any day was cause for termination.

Angelina’s biggest problem was unrelated to the store. Her probation officer was busy making a name for himself by keeping close tabs on the probationers under his watch. He demanded they text him back within 15 minutes to make sure they were where they said they would be. It was unrealistic and obtrusive, but he was within his authority to do so.

Barely.

That’s a major problem when you’re running a convenience store solo.

Right at the busiest part of the evening, Probation Officer MakeAName texted Angelina. She ran to the phone to respond while four people stood in line.

After she responded, a customer wanted a QuikPik3 and an InstantMillions ticket.

“That’ll be three dollars please…out of five, and two is your change. Oh, crap. I hate when they give us these new bills.” She handed the customer his change, “Say, did I give you two or three?”

“Two I think,” the customer said, but paused because one of the bills felt thick. Just before opening the door, he said, “No, you gave me one extra. They stuck together. Did you just mint these?” He tossed the stiff bill onto the counter near Angelina.

She smiled and blinked a hundred times. She thanked him three times before he finished putting the bills back into his wallet.  

The customer turned around and smiled back.

Angelina now had tears streaming down her face.

“Thank you sooo much for your honesty.”

He paused and thought about her words.

“No, actually, thank you. I’ve done something like that a dozen times or so in my life and you’re the first who I believe actually meant it. You’re welcome. You’re welcome indeed.”