3 The Girl On The Register

Today is Saturday and the time is 11:37 PM.

My mom and I just came from the hospital to go meet someone - an old woman named Pat. I didn't see the old woman because there were lots of people in her room. They talked inside for 14 minutes and then mom came out and we left.

It was already dark when we left.

"Is she going to die?" I ask mom.

Usually, when people gather in a hospital bed, it either means it's their birthday, or they're going to die. I reasoned that because of the lack of children and because of the lack of balloons, she was going to die.

"No, honey why would you say that?"

"I just thought so."

"That's rude. Patricia used to babysit me when I was younger."

"Why is she in the hospital?"

"She's old and her muscles are weakening. She used to complain about her diabetes when I lived here and - I don't know. We never caught up after I finished college."

"So she's dying."

"Noah, stop that."

"Sorry."

I said sorry because her voice was louder. My mom easily cried and if I hadn't said sorry, her eyes would start to water and that would be dangerous because she was driving the car.

As we moved along Hane's Blvd. we passed through several stores. Their lights were particularly blinding because we were moving at a speed of around 100 kilometers per hour.

"Are you hungry?" she asks.

I said yes and so we stopped at a convenience store to go get some food.

The street outside was empty apart from a few policemen who were sitting on the tables. They were drinking coffee. One of them had a gun to his side and the other's did not. I inferred they must have left it home. The officer with a gun noticed me looking at his holster and he smiled so I looked away and followed my mom.

There was subtle music coming from the inside. It was The Smiths.

Mom pushed the door open and a cold air greets my face.

"What do you want to get honey?" she says.

"I'll look around."

"Alright. I'd go get something for your dad."

I went to the noodle's section and got myself 2 cups of seafood-flavored noodles. Then, I went to the chocolate aisle and brought 2 Twixies, 2 Hersheys and 2 of those milky bars whose name I can't pronounce. I brought them over to the counter but mom wasn't there so I put them on the table and waited for her.

There was a girl behind the counter and I could tell she was handling the register. Her hair was different because it was green. She wore a black jacket and what looked like a teared-up overcoat on top. She was wearing eyeliner and her eyebrows were very sharp. She noticed me scanning her face and raised both of her eyebrows. I looked down and proceed to wait.

"Four-fifty-five." she says.

"What?"

"Four-fifty-five. Your items cost four-fifty-five."

I wasn't going to pay for it because I was waiting for my mom so I just stood there and wait for her.

"Are you going to pay for that or what?" she says.

A line was forming behind me.

"I'm waiting for my mom." I told her.

"Excuse me? Do you mind?" some guy behind me said. He was wearing a black shirt, very dirty denim and what looked like brown boots.

"You got nothin' better to do?" said a black woman further behind.

I didn't look at them but I could tell they were angry because the guy had a very loud voice. I moved aside and gave the line.

"What is wrong with you." the guy with a black shirt said.

I could see my mom coming over. She apologized and talked to the cashier and the guy and the black woman behind. I couldn't hear what they were saying but I could see them look at me. The guy who had a black shirt on tried to touch me but I pushed him off and he went out.

We followed after.

"Oh, I forgot to bring something for Tyler. Wait here hon." mom says.

She came back inside and so I sat on one of the benches that were close to the door.

I notice the officer with a gun was still looking at me and sure enough, he started walking.

"Everything fine bud?"

He was very close and that made me sick, so I didn't answer.

"What's your name?" he asks.

"Noah Eschwick." I reply so maybe he'd bug off.

"Where do you live?"

"Faulberg."

"That's the next city. Is something troubling you?"

I didn't reply because I wasn't in trouble.

"Look, son, you can trust me, all right? Who was that woman with you?"

I still didn't answer. He was getting closer each time; I was getting sicker.

Mom came out with more bags. She was shocked to see the officer.

"Everything all right officer?" she asks.

"Nah, just checking 'round," he says. "This your boy?"

"Yea, he is. What seems to be the plight?"

"Nothing. It's just... weird these days. You gotta watch out for you kids, y'know."

"Yea, well we've got a long drive ahead. Thanks for the heads up." mom tells the officer and he finally left.

When we walked to the car, the store was already empty.

I looked back at the register and I saw the girl behind it looking at me.

"She thinks you're cute." mom says, nudging my elbow.

"She's cute." I told her.

Mom starts laughing and starts doing what you would call teasing.

It didn't work.

"Oh my, you're growing." she says. "Her tag said Abigail"

I look back at her one more time and then we left.