Chapter3

#Chapter3

Shopping

Nora

I pulled into a hardware store’s parking lot, then entered the store. I checked the electrical aisle. I grabbed a shopping cart, heading to the outlets and switches.

I stared at the items. An older man with an apron approached me.

/"Did you need some help?/" The man asked me.

/"I need to buy outlets and switches, but I don’t know which ones I need./"

/"Well, most outlets are fifteen amps, and you want tamper resistance./" The man removed an outlet from the shelf and showed it to me, explaining everything. /"Toggle switches are fifteen amps./" He handed me a switch, explaining its function.

/"You know a lot about home improvement./"

The man chuckled. /"I hope so. Would you like me to help you find what you need?/"

I read Clarence on the man’s name tag. /"Hi, Clarence. I’m Nora./" I extended my hand.

Clarence shook my hand. /"So, are you remodeling a house, Nora?/"

/"It’s not so much remodeling. However, the house needs repairs. It was cheap but needed a lot of work. I'll watch YouTube videos./" I pushed the shopping cart.

Clarence chuckled.

/"What? I’m self-sufficient./"

/"I suggest you turn off the power before changing outlets and switches. You don’t want to electrocute yourself./"

/"It’s useful advice. So, how long have you worked here?/"

/"I own this store. I enjoy home improvement, and people always need things for their house. Plus, I like the community. People are friendly here./"

/"That is a relief. I’m afraid I won’t make any friends. My brother and sister are in relationships, along with my best friend. I bought a death trap for a house. Plus, I’m learning to rely on myself. Is that a bad thing?/" I don’t know why I’m telling Clarence my life story, considering he didn’t know me. /"You don’t want to listen to my issues. I’m sorry./"

/"Nora, you seem like you don’t have many people to talk to./"

/"Well, no, but I’m working on it./"

Clarence laughed. /"You seem like a nice young lady. If you need repair advice, I’ll be more than happy to help you./"

/"I appreciate that. I don’t want to burn down my house./"

Clarence helped me find what I needed, along with some tools. He explained everything to me, which helped. He got me started, and I went up to the counter, checking out.

/"Thank you, Clarence. You’ve been a big help./"

/"Anytime, Nora./"

I left the hardware store, heading to the grocery store. I needed to pick up a few items. Then I could search for videos about electrical issues.

*****

Matt

I pulled into the parking lot of Clarence’s hardware store and got out. I went to get a house doorbell.

/"Hey, Matt,/" Clarence said.

/"Hey, Clarence. Do you have any doorbells? Mine took a shit./"

Clarence laughed and led me to the doorbells. I found one, pulling it off the rack.

/"How’s the house coming?/"

/"It has its moments. If my cousins stopped trying to set me up, that would be great./"

Clarence chuckled. /"Are your cousins still harassing you?/"

/"When aren’t they harassing me?/"

Clarence laughed as we went to the counter. He walked behind it and rang me up.

/"Whatever happened with that one girl you told me about?/"

/"She met someone./"

Clarence gave me his full attention.

/"I learned that I missed my chance./" I grabbed my bag. /"Thanks for the doorbell./" I left the hardware shop. I walked out to my car, then headed home.

*****

Markus

I came from the back, carrying a box of inventory.

/"You missed Matt,/" Clarence told me.

I set the box on the counter. /"Let me guess. Matt told you we were harassing him again./"

/"No, I asked if you and the others were harassing him./"

I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

/"I have a new customer. She bought a house, needing repairs. She said her name was Nora./"

I did a double-take. /"Say what?/"

/"Yeah, she was petite, brown hair, blue eyes, and friendly./"

/"Holy hell./" I let out a groan.

/"What?/"

/"Nora is the girl that Matt likes./" I facepalmed myself, running my hand down my face.

/"I’m guessing neither knows the other was here./"

I gave Clarence a skeptical look.

/"This is a suggestion. If a girl buys a house, needing repairs, chances are, she’ll be back./" Clarence walked away.

Well, damn. Clarence is a genius. Now, to figure out a reason to send Nora to the hardware store. First, I need to find Nora’s address. Who better to call than one of my loving cousins?

I pulled out my phone and made a call.

Yo.

/"Hey. Do you know where Nora moved to?/"

How the hell should I know?

/"You’re a big help, Parker./"

Well, you’re a dumbass for calling me. Are you sure you’re related to me?

/"I wonder that, myself./"

I hung up and called Presley.

What’s up?

/"The ceiling./"

Oh, haha, you’re hilarious. Can you hurry it up? I’m busy.

/"Doing what? You know what. Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. Do you know where Nora moved to?/"

Nora bought some shack on Cherry Street.

I dropped my phone.

Hello? Hello? Is anyone there? Christ on a bike. I’m going to hurt Markus when I see him.

Presley hung up, and I stood there, speechless. That was a first, but it gave me an idea. I left the counter, going to the lighting section. I searched for a light fixture and pulled it from the shelf. I carried it over to Clarence.

Clarence arched a brow at me. /"Is there a reason you have a light fixture?/"

/"Because I need to replace a broken light fixture. Well, it’s not broken yet, but it will be./"

/"Uh, huh./"

/"I need you to ring it up for me./" I held out the light to Clarence.

/"Let me get this straight. No offense./"

/"None took./"

/"You’re buying a light for a light that’s not broken yet./" Clarence held the box in his hands.

/"Yep./"

/"Do you plan on breaking the other light?/"

/"Define break./"

/"I don’t want to know./"

/"Yeah, that might be for the best./"

Clarence and I went to the counter. He rang up the light for me as I paid for it.

/"Now, keep this light fixture here. When the person comes in to buy a light, hand it to them./"

Clarence looked at me like I lost my mind. /"Markus, you’re my best employee./"

/"I’m your only employee./"

/"That’s why you’re my best employee./" Clarence smiled.

After we graduated college, Hayden got a job coaching at a local high school. I searched for a job in business, but every job I applied to deny me when they found out I was gay. I met Clarence when Matt took me to the hardware store to buy something for his house. We talked, and he gave me a job.

I helped Clarence with his store by using marketing and cutting down on excessive inventory. With his knowledge, we applied it to advertising and offered classes on necessary home repairs.

Clarence is the type of person you want on your side. I couldn’t ask for a better boss than him. Now, to put my plan into action.

*****

Nora

I returned home, bringing my bags into the house. I put the groceries away. After I finished, I searched YouTube on how to change a light switch. I did what Clarence suggested. I turned off the breaker first. Well, I turned off all the breakers since none of them had labels.

I turned on the video and followed the steps. I removed the old switch and replaced it, pausing the video to keep up with it. Once I hooked up the switch, I put it back and covered it. I went downstairs and flipped the breaker, then went to test the switch.

I flipped it on, and the light came on. That is a plus. I made a sandwich, then figured I could do some more repairs. I sat at the table and ate as someone knocked on the door. I answered it, surprised to see Markus.

/"Nora! What a pleasant surprise! I didn’t know you lived here,/" Markus said.

/"Yeah, I bought the house a few days ago. I didn’t know you lived around here./"

/"Yeah, I live a few houses down the street./"

/"Would you like to come in?/"

/"Sure./" Markus entered the house, looking around.

/"I know it’s not much, but it’s a work in progress./"

/"I know./"

/"Excuse me./" I left the kitchen, running to the bathroom.

*****

Markus

While Nora was busy, I moved a chair under the light fixture. I unscrewed the nut on the globe and let it drop. It fell onto the floor, shattering. I got down, putting the chair back.

I walked over to the doorway. /"Nora! Something happened in the kitchen!/"

Nora ran downstairs and towards the kitchen. She stopped when she saw the broken globe.

/"What happened?/"

/"The strangest thing happened. I was standing here, and the globe fell./"

/"What will I do? I don’t have another globe./"

/"Why don’t you pick up another light fixture at the hardware store? I’ll help you replace it./" I was acting helpful.

/"Would you help me?/"

/"I would love to./" I smiled.

/"Okay, I’ll be right back./" Nora left.

Yeah, I know I’m an ass, but these people need help. Matthew can’t get his head out of his ass, and Nora gives up too quickly. That’s when being half Gray comes in handy.

I left Nora’s house and strolled across the street, whistling. It’s showtime, folks.