Write a short story about someone in the middle of a very long and busy retail shift.

Posted in Funny on Mar 30, 2021

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✍️ 41 stories

“A Good Innings” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #19

Why was I ever deluded enough to think this was a cushy job? In my defence, I wasn’t the only one and that’s not just surmising, because I know people who were turned down for this job and think I’m a lucky so and so – except even if they don’t say it, I’m pretty sure they’re thinking of an expression other than “so and so”!But they didn’t get the job. I did. To this day I’m not quite sure why, though, okay, fair enough, I didn’t tell any lies on my CV, but three weeks in the Friends of the Hospital Shop hardly counts as “Extensive Retail Ex...

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“The Engagement” by Arthur Tiberio

Submitted to Contest #19

Behind the white expanse of the customer service counter, surrounded on every side by whiffs of orange, rose, and tincture of Roe, Amelia fiddled with the thin band of gold, still unfamiliar in its spot on her fourth finger. She turned it first one way, then the other, and the metal spun reluctantly but steadily, occasionally catching on the odd curvature of the joints. None of the infinite variations of position, though, were proving in the least bit comfortable. The hand felt ... leashed, somehow, which was ridiculous. It wasn't as if it w...

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“Ho Ho Ho” by Nicole Rook

Submitted to Contest #19

“Is there anything else I can help you find? Perhaps a matching scarf to go with your new coat?” Michelle asked the finely dressed incognito celebrity. It was obvious to her that the celebrity’s bodyguard, a large man in a black suit, red tie and loaded down with multiple bags from the malls multitude of stores stood only a few feet from her, that this shopper wasn’t her average shopper. “ Good idea girl,” The celebrities bleach blon...

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“I'm Dreaming of a New Job for Christmas ” by Arianna Harding

Submitted to Contest #19

"Sir?""Excuse me I need help over here!""CAN ANYONE HELP MEEEE?"If my life had a soundtrack right now it would be a chorus of chaos; crashing cymbals and screeching violins accompanying a tone-deaf choir.Hi, my name is Dave and I work in retail.Over the holidays.Sacrificing my dignity and my sanity for $13 an hour.In other words, welcome to my own personal Hell.Today has been particularly crazy because the store I work at is having a "buy one toy get one 50% off", and customers, pardon me I forgot that we are supposed to refer to these miscr...

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“Dragons do not make good customers ” by Millie Spence

Submitted to Contest #19

It was 9 AM on a Friday. Black Friday to be precise. Ruby was shaking in her boots, ready to be greeted with angry alchemists looking for bottles of immortality for 70% off. She was rummaging around the candlelit shop when she heard the bell of the door ring, signalling someone was there. She popped her heard over the counter slightly, causing a pile of spell books to fall off of the counter. She heard the person scoff, disgusted.“You should be more careful.” An old looking fairy cast a judgemental eye over at the teenage witch. Beside her w...

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“Christmas Chaos.. Or Is It?” by Dianne Bramble

Submitted to Contest #19

Kate swore that after last Christmas, she would never work retail again. Yet, here she was in her friend's bookstore two days before Christmas. What had she been thinking!Her friend, Ginny, had called her yesterday in tears.“Please Kate. I know you hate retail, especially at Christmas, but I'm desperate. Two of my best staff called in sick and I can't find anyone to replace them. I really need your help!” She pleaded.Kate rolled her eyes. She couldn't leave Ginny in such a bad situation. She took a deep breath and said “Sure, Ginny. As luck ...

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“Joys of Christmas ” by Cathryn Grossenbacher

Submitted to Contest #19

It was a snowy day in Chicago, Angelique had started her first day at Bob's Barrel of Toys and she was very excited. She had always seen herself as a hard working woman and loved children so this was going to be a piece of cake, right? Or so she thought. Little did she know, this would be the most eventful day of her life. 8'o clock, right on the dot. Angelique had been stocking the shelves when her coworker opened up the front doors of the store. Suddenly, her ladder began to shake and a loud rumbling was heard. Clinging onto the ...

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“Dave Walks Among Us” by Maryn Thompson

Submitted to Contest #19

In retail, you see pretty much every crazy thing and/or person imaginable, but you never expect to meet someone THAT crazy. When I say crazy, I mean, pretty sure just escaped from mental hospital crazy. Who else goes into a grocery store wearing tattered black robes and carrying a scythe? This guy wandered around for 15 minutes just looking at everyone. That’s not the strangest thing people do in stores, but at least they do it in normal clothes. Eventually, he comes up to my register. I managed to get the one tucked in the corner and I’m ki...

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“Do you Hear me: a Christmas Story ” by Ash Burdell

Submitted to Contest #19

Do you Hear me: a Christmas Story A rainbow of hues blur together in my peripheral vision as my eyes haze over in defense from the swarm of individuals who demand my attention. Christmas themes of reds and greens are fighting generic holiday displays glowing white and blue, and florescent Yellow light is piercing into my eyeballs and adding a sickly sadness to the tacky light displays. My ears are consumed by the hoard of customers who have joined to produce a debilitating dull roar. Occasionally a shrewd comment lifts to the surface an...

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“Rest Day” by Celest .

Submitted to Contest #19

She arrived, barely on time. Greeting the people that are already inside the store, she rushed to the back room to set down her belongings, grab her apron and get her work started. She couldn't wait for this shift to finish.Walking to her throne. The cashier. She was met by Dan, an older-but-not-old-old co-worker that wasn't supposed to be there. "Good morning Grace" Dan beamed at her, extra cheerfully to her liking."Good morning, where is Albert?" as she asked, she looked around hoping to find her friend somewhere. Yes, it was weird, she ha...

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“A Smiley Christmas” by Yair Ron

Submitted to Contest #19

"We at Smiley's Toys want to wish you a Smiley Christmas!" the giant green emoji shrieked from the great screens towering over the cavernous space. The sound surrounded the worker, the high-pitched voice of god emanating from the vast and well disguised speaker system covering every foot of the massive store.The neon green face smiled at her beatifically, the red stocking cap that marked the season hanging foppishly on its brilliant head. Three years working here and she still wasn't used to that emerald grin leering at her from every damn c...

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“The Night Shift” by Natalie Alvarez

Submitted to Contest #19

"Yes, uh-huh, right over there ma'am, no sir, yes, okay, of course, right this way, will that be all? your total comes out to...." Holy crap I'm exhausted and Black Friday hasn't even officially started. I have to be here for just five more hours. Five more hours and then you can go back to your room, watch Netflix, eat some leftovers and fall asleep happy."You need the money, you need to eat and not starve." I try to tell myself to make me feel better about working in this piece of crap store, but Jesus Christ this is insane. There are abou...

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“Sunday” by Serenity Storey

Submitted to Contest #19

You know that song “Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show? I used to think that song was so cool. But that was Sunday. Now it’s Sunday and I hate it. I hate that song and any other song, movie, show, book, and whatever else that talks about time loops. Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee is shitty enough as it is, but repeating a Sunday in Leiper’s Fork is incomparably worse. I’ve been stuck at this old rundown gas station register for more Sund...

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“The Snowman” by Sylvia Bailey

Submitted to Contest #19

I was four hours into my shift, but it felt like I’d been there for about 800 years. If you’ve ever worked retail, you know that after a couple of hours, it all starts to blur together. If later on, you’d asked me to pull the woman who yelled at me because I told her I couldn’t process her return without the receipt out of a lineup, I might have mixed her up with the… other woman who yelled at me because I couldn’t process her return without a receipt. Yeah, people really take issue with that particular store policy. They’re also enraged by ...

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“The Old Ones” by Kayla Thompson

Submitted to Contest #19

Another day in the office, or the store would be the more correct term I suppose, can be a blessing or a curse. “Michael!” This screech from the manager is a sure signal this day is to be one of the not so blessed ones. One foot barely behind the counter and jacket still half on, all I can do is respond with a smile, “Yes Mrs. Yates?” “Where have you been?! The store has been packed since the doors opened! It’s chaos in here!” her face was red with fluster and her hair was reminiscent of something one sees on a rollercoaster. “It’s 9:50, I...

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Write a short story about someone in the middle of a very long and busy retail shift.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 41 stories

“A Good Innings” by Deborah Mercer

“The Engagement” by Arthur Tiberio

“Ho Ho Ho” by Nicole Rook

“I'm Dreaming of a New Job for Christmas ” by Arianna Harding

“Dragons do not make good customers ” by Millie Spence

“Christmas Chaos.. Or Is It?” by Dianne Bramble

“Joys of Christmas ” by Cathryn Grossenbacher

“Dave Walks Among Us” by Maryn Thompson

“Do you Hear me: a Christmas Story ” by Ash Burdell

“Rest Day” by Celest .

“A Smiley Christmas” by Yair Ron

“The Night Shift” by Natalie Alvarez

“Sunday” by Serenity Storey

“The Snowman” by Sylvia Bailey

“The Old Ones” by Kayla Thompson

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a short story about someone searching for the perfect gift for their partner.

Write a short story about someone watching a convincing infomercial.

Write a short story about a shop that takes place over a span of years.

Write a short story about someone based on their shopping list.

Contest #19

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

211

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: