Three O'Clock

Taking care of business. Everyday. Meg hears the three o’clock song play over the grocery store intercom like it always does. She knows it’s only meant to silently signify the beginning of rush hour at her job. Still, she enjoys its catchy and upbeat tune. 

“Hello, you're Meg, right? I’m Sam” Sam, a fellow cashier, says. 

“I am. You’re new. How do you like it so far?” Meg says as she turns towards her. 

“I know I've only been here six months, but I love it here!” 

“That’s good. I hope it stays that way.” 

“How long have you worked here?” 

“Three long years.” 

“Hopefully, I won't be here for long. After I graduate from college, I plan to leave.” Sam says with a twinge of light in her eye. Meg had plans and dreams when she was in high school, but after she reached adulthood, she realized her dreams weren’t a priority anymore. 

“Hello.” Meg turns to see a regular, Mr. Lee says as he enters her line. 

“Hello, Mr. Lee. How did you find everything?” Meg says as she starts to scan his groceries. 

“Terrible.” Mr. Lee says with a snickering grin. 

“How’s the wife?” 

“Same old, same old. She sure is enjoying retirement.” 

“Why don’t you retire? I’m sure your restaurant will be fine in your kids’ hands.” 

“You’re probably right, but I guess I’m a stubborn old mule.” 

“Your total is $12.36.” Meg says as she places the last bag on the counter. 

“Here you go, darling.” Mr. Lee says as hands her the cash. 

“Have a great day.” Meg says with a smile as she hands Mr. Lee his change. After Mr. Lee, Meg handles a few more customers before the clock strikes five. She hurriedly logs off her register and heads over to the time clock. She swipes her badge and waits for the confirmation message. But when the text flashes, Meg can hardly believe her eyes. Clock on at 9 a.m. 

“How could that be?” Meg murmurs to herself. Meg shakes her head. She determines she must have just seen the wrong time. She must be tired from working all day, so she decides to head home. 

As Meg walks to the front and starts to walk out of the door, she hears, “Where are you going?” Meg turns to see her manager, Joe, trailing after her. 

“My shift is over. I’m going home.” Meg says. 

“Very funny. I need you to hop on a register.” 

“No, I’m going home.” 

“If you leave right now, don’t worry about coming back.” Joe says. Meg desperately wants to walk out of that door, but the look in her manager’s eye tells her he’s serious. Meg knows she can’t afford to be without a job. She has enough money problems as is. 

“What register?” Meg says with a sigh. 

“Register three.” Joe says without hesitation. Meg trudges back to the checkout area and hops back on the register she was on before. She can’t believe she has to work her shift again. On the bright side, she will have double the money she would have earned if she only worked one shift. 

Meg goes through her shift without a hassle. She has her lunch at one o’clock, then she hears the three o’clock song. Finally, when the clock strikes five o’clock again, she heads to the time clock this time with her aching back and feet. Meg leans against the time clock and swipes her badge. Her heart sinks as that dreaded message flashes once again. Clock on at 9 a.m. 

“No, no! I don’t understand.” Meg cries as she slowly backs away from the time clock. “No, not again.” Meg says, shaking her head. 

“What’s going on?” Joe says. 

“Something strange is happening.” “

I don’t know what you’re babbling about, but I need you to get on a register.” 

“This isn’t fair. I want to go home.” 

“You know what isn’t fair? I’ve worked at this company for 12 years, and I’ve only got a raise a couple of times. My wife left me and got the house and the kids. I’m balding. That’s unfair. Listen, life’s not fair. You have to just deal with it, because you don’t have a choice.” 

“I guess.” Meg says. 

“Now I need to hop on. We have lines.” Joe says. Meg just nods and gets back on register three. This shift she decides to use her words sparingly. She doesn’t want to tire herself out any more than she already is. She also didn’t want to say anything she would regret. During her lunch, she just stares at the wall thinking, trying to stay awake. She fantasizes about walking out in a big explosive way. She imagines shouting obscenities at the customer who so happens to go in her line. She imagines flipping off Joe as she walks out of the door. As she hears the three o’clock song, she contemplates walking out. She decides to wait to see what the time clock says. She hopes for a new outcome, but her hopes aren’t very high. When the clock strikes five, 

Meg trudges over to the time clock. She swipes her badge and waits for the wheel to decide her fate. As that familiar message grazes her eyes, a tear falls from her eye. She has no words as she stares at that cursed machine. 

“Why are you just standing around?! I need you on a register.” Joe says from behind her. 

Meg turns to look at her manager, and with a tremble in her voice, she says, “Can I please go home? I’m so tired.” A second and third tear falls from her eyes. 

“Aren’t we all.” Joe says. 

“I’m serious.” 

“You can go home,” Joe says, “but you can kiss your job goodbye.” Hearing those cruel words, she considers actually walking out. As much as she desperately wants to, she knows she can’t afford to lose this job. She would rather work a thousand shifts back-to-back than risk homelessness and starvation. So, Meg decides to comply and jump back on register three, which she now calls home. She spends this shift taking crying breaks in the janitor’s closet and faking a half smile for her fluctuating patrons. She ponders on two questions throughout the day: Why her? Is she cursed or is this truly what life is about? 

As that time comes around again, Meg goes to the time clock to receive that message she knows awaits her. Clock on at 9 a.m. Seeing that dreaded message again, makes Meg realize that there is no end to her situation. She decides to just accept her fate as denying it won’t make it any easier. 

Meg hops back on her register and stops looking at the clock. Soon after, time starts to blur together. Lunch, song, time clock. She progressed through each new shift like clockwork. Lunch, song, time clock. She isn’t sure how many she completed, but she became okay with this new existence more and more as she did shift after shift. Lunch, song, time clock. 

“Meg, are you okay?” Sam says from behind Meg. 

“I’m great. It’s almost time for my lunch again.” Meg says, staring off into the distance with a faint smile. 

“Hello.” Mr. Lee says as walks up to Meg. 

“Hello, how did you find everything?” Meg says. 

“Terrible.” Mr. Lee says. Before Mr. Lee can let out a snicker, Meg starts giggling. That giggle turns to a chuckle, then a cackle. She wants to stop laughing as her stomach is hurting, but she can’t stop. Suddenly, Meg drops to the ground, still laughing. Then she stops laughing all together, and she can feel her eyes start to shut. “Are you okay? Meg?” she hears an amalgamation of voices around her. As everything starts to fade, Meg can her manager say in the distance, “Move her over. We have lines.”