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

“Yule Tidings ” by Kenzie Weitzeil

Submitted to Contest #19

“Mama, can I have this?”“It’s your money Sally, it’s up to you” came the absentminded retort of the girl’s mama, scrolling through her phone. “But, don’t you think you should be getting something for your sister for the holidays?” Little Sally seemed to mull over this notion of getting something for someone other than herself.It was always a difficult task to stay in the moment, to concentrate on the ever-mounting purchases laid out on the rolling conveyor line that never stopped. It was the holiday shopping season, and I had taken this posi...

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“Snowglobe ” by M.L. Grace

Submitted to Contest #19

“Erm,” she searched for the right words, tugging her apron up a little further. “I could check the other locations for you.” Page was in the middle of a shift at the home decor store where she worked and was, as usual, dealing with a very upset customer. Why did people think it was okay to verbally assault retail workers? The things customers complain about are ninety nine percent of the time, outside of the control of retail workers. “I demand to see a manager!” the woman in front of her shrieked in a voice that sent...

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“Endless Time” by Lilyanna Salazar

Submitted to Contest #19

“We ran out of the small hoodie in white, but you can order it online if you would like,” Michelle aggressively tells the customer for the fifth time today. Dealing with customers during the holiday can be ten times more stressing than a normal day. Everyone is hyped up on the energy of Christmas running from store to store, swiping credit card after credit card, buying tons of presents for everyone you like. Michelle is ready to go home but she is only halfway into her ten-hour shift. Her hand is cramping from all the scanning of obje...

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“24-Hour Shift” by London Pheonix

Submitted to Contest #19

12:00 A.M.Walking into the store I work in at 12:00 A.M. means one of four things.You're either depressed, high, dead or just an employee starting a typical 24-hour shift.In my case, I've got the wonderful blessing of working at the store. "Welcome to our store." Tara greeted me with a smile. "Please come in, Felix. Emilia has just started sorting the milk cartons."I entered. "But milk is-""You snooze, you lose." She said, still keeping up that smile on her face. This meant I would most likely be given another product that still hasn't come ...

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“Tis the Season” by Sheryl Saldivar

Submitted to Contest #19

It was the worst time of the year, Christmastime, at least it is when you work retail. You work long hours with maybe a thirty minute break if you're lucky, deal with rude customers and their kids who run amok throughout the store taking things off the shelves and leaving them wherever they please. It was Christmas Eve and I had already been working four hours of a nine hour shift when my supervisor came over to me asking if I could possibly stay an extra hour over my shift, one of the other cashier's had called out and they needed someone t...

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“A Brazen Mind” by Banin Amini

Submitted to Contest #19

“Good morning, Retalers!” A voice boomed through the Mart as Brass worried about melting; either from the heat or from the eyes on him. His armor didn’t help, and he wished he could take out his helmet. “We would like to introduce a new member to the Mart. As we all know, Hugh has been having a rough couple of days. Last night, he had a conversation with a friend, the result of which is standing next to me.” The Black pointed at Brass with his loud-speaker as he tried hard to maintain his upright posture. “This is Brass, and he wil...

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“A Master's Work is Hardly Done” by Shannon Meyers

Submitted to Contest #19

During the hot winds, it seemed as if every green adventurer would tumble into her shoppe. She could hear the ding of a small chime once, twice, three times before she could finish putting back the jars she’d needed to complete the last order. There would be no chaos on her watch. As soon as Kalipsi could taste the heat in the air that morning, she knew the kind of day it would be. “Master,” Merek called for her. The boy was young, and a budding artisan but too unsure of his own skill. When Kalipsi came out, there was a line to the door...

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“Holiday Shift” by Cari Morgan

Submitted to Contest #19

“What should I get the kids?”“The board game would be a family gift for us all, or I could just stick to something I know they would all like”“The boots I have been wanting all year are finally on sale, we have just got to go check out Shoe Lot after this.”These are all examples of things you should expect to hear if you work in a mall, especially during the Christmas season - that is when it’s the worst. I sighed, sitting down my mop, wiping the sweat off of my forehead - as they liked to keep the heat at around a solid eighty-nine degrees,...

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“Black Friday” by Karen Haggard

Submitted to Contest #19

"How much is that chair?" barked a plump lady with flaming red hair. Tie some ropes on her and she'd float by in a Thanksgiving Day parade. And to boot, her attire resembled that of Ronald McDonald himself. I'm convinced she's Ronald's overbearing wife. She's the real creator of the famous burger combos, not him. She's working on one called the McBarf as we speak. I name her Rhonda. I'm only an hour into my Black Friday compulsory stint in my father's furniture store, and I want to leave. I'd rather have my toes nailed to the floor than deal...

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“Compline” by Maureen Blaseckie

Submitted to Contest #19

The customer was droning on, waffling between lipsticks. She’d already picked the perfect shade of eye shadow but the lipstick decision threatened to undo the “Sunset Touch” accord. Alice casually looked around, with an occasional ‘oh, yes’ to keep the woman on track to an attractive purchase total. Because the counter was near the entrance a constant stream of people came through the doors and swirled around her. The customer was, of course, oblivious to the ebb and flow of so many lives directly behind her. “But...

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“"The Last Shift"” by Cassandra Delfino

Submitted to Contest #19

Working retail during the holidays can be the worst thing a person can ever experience. Especially for Alex, who isn’t as patient as most people were. Considering it’s Black Friday, not a single person in the store is calm, maybe except for a handful of people, but the chaotic mess was not helping Alex in any shape or form. “Next in line!,” he called in his loudest voice As Alex is busy thinking about what to do once he gets home, the customer pulls up to his register with almost quadruple of everything. “Man why didn’t I quit before the h...

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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

“Yule Tidings ” by Kenzie Weitzeil

“Snowglobe ” by M.L. Grace

“Endless Time” by Lilyanna Salazar

“24-Hour Shift” by London Pheonix

“Tis the Season” by Sheryl Saldivar

“A Brazen Mind” by Banin Amini

“A Master's Work is Hardly Done” by Shannon Meyers

“Holiday Shift” by Cari Morgan

“Black Friday” by Karen Haggard

“Compline” by Maureen Blaseckie

“"The Last Shift"” by Cassandra Delfino

🌟 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: