Store Clerk

This story may be disturbing to some readers as it depicts a scenario about sexual assault and mental illness.

It was Vanessa’s birthday and her second week on the job, over the weekend she prepared to celebrate by going to the salon, buying a new dress, and also opted for a pair of flats instead of the regular sneakers she usually wore to the store.

Along the way Vanessa bought a pair of sunglasses too, and wore them the rest of the journey. It was a short stroll to the petrol station where she worked as a store clerk.

Turn the key, run inside, disarm the alarm, turn on the television and POS systems, sit, pick up the latest book you’re reading and wait for the first customer to walk in. The only thing different; it was her birthday.

“Happy birthday beautiful,” was the first text on her phone from her boss that morning, his name was Timothy.

Timothy never walked into the store before 10 am, ever, and Vanessa’s birthday was no exception. The outgoing clerk trained Vanessa on her first week and left her there alone on the second as if she couldn’t wait to leave. She seemed very happy to go.

“Is it usually this slow on a Monday morning?” Vanessa asked Timothy in a text.

“Sometimes, take whatever you want from the fridge today,” Timothy replied.

Vanessa grabbed a cold Mountain Dew with a small cake from the fridge and then hurried back to the counter. Still, no one walked in the store.

One car drove in. The man was in a hurry. He quickly paid for the gas, bought two lottery tickets and was just as hastily out the door. For the next hour, no one else walked in.

So Vanessa picked up her book, sat down, and started reading again. There were cameras all around her. Timothy could see everything from his phone, wherever he was, Vanessa was unbothered about being alone.

She heard a ping on her phone again. It was Timothy.

“I will be in at twelve today, I have some errands. You’ll be fine. Call if you need anything.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes in disappointment, hoping it wasn’t going to be a trend.

Another ping, It was her boyfriend Gregory, “Can you leave work on time today? We are having dinner tonight.”

“I don’t know yet, Timothy isn't here. He said he won’t be in until twelve.”

“How can he leave you alone in the store so early on the job? I don’t like this man already.”

“There are cameras everywhere. I’ll be fine. See you later.”

“Happy birthday babe, kiss.”

Vanessa continued reading and didn’t see her latest customer walk in the store; her head was still in her book.

He stood there for a while and watched her with a disturbing smile on his face. For whatever reason the universe provided, he chose that store and her birthday to walk inside.

There was another ping on her phone, it was Timothy again, “Be on the lookout for Cliff. He’s been having a tough time lately.”

“Who is Cliff?” she asked.

“What’s wrong with your cameras? I can’t see anything in the store. Check your cables. They are under the left side of the counter.”

“Who is Cliff?”

“Hi, I’m Clifford. You’re pretty. Where’s the other lady?”

“Hi…Clifford, how are you?” Vanessa asked with bulging eyes.

She looked him in the eye, they weren’t wild, but something wasn’t right. That look and smile were off. His hands were fidgety, and he tapped his left foot on the floor. If she wanted to run away, the back door was five meters towards Cliff around the right corner, escape meant going around the counter closer to him. He was also blocking the entrance.

Vanessa thought about what to do, “Should I scream? No…what can I throw at him? No… stare, just stare him down, no. Talk to him.”

Cliff looked at the cake she had on the counter then back at her, “I’m hungry,” he said and smiled again.

Vanessa smiled back, terrified, “You can take something off the shelf. I’ll pay for it,” she said hoping he would and simply walk back through the door, but he didn’t.

“I like cake, “he said, pointing at the cake on the counter, smiling as he checked her out from head to waist.

“Oh shit!” Vanessa thought staring him down while she searched with her fingers for the panic button.

Cliff just stood there smiling, looking at her, “You’re pretty, just like the other lady. I like cake.”

“Is there anything on the shelf you like Clifford? Look for something you like. I’ll pay for it,” Vanessa replied, still searching for the panic button and staring him down.

Cliff wasn’t smiling anymore. He was getting angry, “I know what you are doing. She pressed it too. Then the police came and took me away. I won’t go back! Give me cake!”

“Sure, you can have it.”

“You pressed it, didn’t you?”

“No I didn’t.”

“Yes you did! I pulled the wire out from outside. We can do whatever we want, no one can see us,” he said walking toward the cake he eyed occasionally inching closer and closer, but he was more interested in her.

“This wasn’t meant for me, was it Clifford?” she asked, feeling under the counter for Timothy’s gun.

“No, but you are pretty, look at this. You’ll like it. I promise,” he said pulling his dangler out of his trousers and showing it to her.

Vanessa tried to panic, but common sense prevailed. She distracted him with more conversation as she tried to find either a button or the gun under the counter. Cliff was getting closer, and there was nowhere to run. Every time she said something he stopped walking and replied, but she was running out of real estate.

“Do you like sandwiches Cliff? There’s plenty in the fridge. Go have a look, we can share sandwiches and cake today, it’s my birthday. Go take a look in the fridge and bring one back for me.”

Her eyes shined with tears but she fought them back, hoping to find something to change his mind. Finally, steel, her hand was on the gun! Clifford’s life was now in her hands.

“Do you like sandwiches Clifford?”

“I’m hungry.”

“I know, and we have lots of delicious sandwiches in the fridge. Bring one back for me too, please.”

“I want cake,” he said, inching even closer.

“I’m hungry too, but I want a sandwich first, then cake, go get us some in the fridge Clifford. I’m very hungry. Then we can have both, together.”

Clifford was suddenly distracted by a customer strolling in, and put his member back in his trousers. He was already close enough to the counter to snatch the cake and bolt. As soon as he did Vanessa’s tears flowed, and the customer who came in reacted to the visual stimulus of a man running out of the store with cake in his hand by running up to the counter. He grabbed his phone and called 911 when he saw Vanessa crying and shaking.

Timothy arrived, right on time for 12 pm. The police were on their way and he was clueless.

“It’s her birthday,” He said to the customer at the counter without even looking at Vanessa.

“Is that why she’s crying in a shop by herself?” the customer asked.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Cliff before?” she asked, wiping the tears away.

“He’s harmless; just give him a small cake whenever he comes in. He’ll go away.”

“Should I give him the cake before or after he rapes me?”

“What happened, did he come in?”

“He pulled his dick out and showed it to me. I almost shot him! He was going to rape me!”

“…he’s never done that before! I’ll call the police.” Timothy replied in disbelief.

“Don’t bother. He’s all yours. I quit!”

“Vanessa wait a minute, I’m sorry about this.”

“Why did the other clerk leave?” she asked with her bag on her shoulder.

“…It was because of Cliff, but up until now he was harmless, I swear.”

“Goodbye Tim, find another jackass to work here, I’m never coming back!”

“Wait until the police get here, they’ll want your statement,” Timothy shouted, but Vanessa was already out the door when she heard the sirens.

She changed her mind about walking home, waited to talk with the police officer, and then asked him for a ride home. Vanessa looked for signs of Cliff along the road but he was gone. When she got home she called Greg, tearfully telling him what happened to her.

“I knew Timothy was a wretch! I’m staying over tonight, bringing dinner. Why didn’t he tell you?”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. It’s my birthday; I want to enjoy the rest of it.”

“Ok, we won’t. I’ll be there in one hour with a surprise. Don’t think about anything else. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Vanessa imprisoned herself in the house waiting on Greg and curled up in the sofa. Every sound made her jump. Cliff haunted her.

The sound of Greg’s car engine was a relief. She looked through the window, but not for Greg, she was looking around. Finally she opened the door and fell into Greg’s arms in tears.

“It’s ok Vanessa. He can’t hurt you. He’s gone. I’ll stay as long as you want. Come; let’s celebrate before it’s too late,” he said, hiding something behind his back with one hand as he brought her inside.

“What are you hiding?” She asked trying to peak behind him, but he didn’t allow it.

“You’ll find out soon enough. I’ll put this in the kitchen and be right back. Stay here.”

Along the way, he put what he was hiding in his pocket so she wouldn’t see it.

“I know what it is, you’re not surprising anyone,” she thought, with a smirk.

They were window shopping two weeks before. Greg watched her admire a necklace in the window of a jewelry store they were passing, and asked her if she liked it.

“It has to be the necklace,” she thought.

Vanessa curled up again in her favorite spot on the sofa and waited for company. Greg sat beside her and put his arm around her.

“Are you ready?”

“Of course I am.

“Are you sure?”

“Will you give me the necklace Greg?” she replied in a giggle.

Greg laughed with her, but then he got really serious, “To be honest, I was at the jewelry store buying the necklace when you called today. I got this for you instead.”

 He opened the jewelry box placing it on his knee. It was an engagement ring! Vanessa closed her eyes for a second, opening them again to see if the box was really there.

“Today I understood what was more important, and I could’ve lost you without you knowing how important you are to me. It won’t happen again. Will you marry me?”

“Greg…”

“Just say yes Vanessa, I love you.”

“Yes.”

She tenderly kissed him and they shared a warm embrace after he put the ring on her finger.

“Now we have two things to celebrate today. Let’s get ready for dinner. Tomorrow I look for Cliff and thank him.” he said.

“Leave him alone, the police will find him first anyway.”

Maybe, but he’ll be back out on the street before you can blink.”

“Then what, you’ll find him and thank him? Leave him alone. I know you’re angry, Clifford needs help not punishment.”

“I really want to have a talk with Timothy too.”

“Gregory, all this is in the past now.”

“What do you think about moving, so you can say goodbye to Cliff and Timothy and all this craziness? We can find a place.”

“I’ll have to find another job, but I will never work as a store clerk again as long as I live!”

Vanessa and Greg moved, but she eventually ended up working as a store clerk again to help pay the bills. It seemed to be the only job offer available. She made sure to ask her boss where the panic button was on her first day. Greg called her from work twice a day every day, and even offered to buy her pepper spray or a Taser. She settled on a gun nestled under the counter instead. It provided some reassurance. From past experience, it was going to be her only option anyway.

THE END