Post by Simon Burkett on Jul 19, 2006 15:32:11 GMT -5
Simon ambled across the parking lot into the cool shade of the store-front. Cooler shade, he amended, it was still very warm, but out of the direct sun the edge was taken out of the heat. A couple of girls were selling iced tea from a stall outside watched over by the their hawk-eyed mothers and he suddenly regretted having nothing smaller than a ten. Maybe he'd get some on the way out.
Inside the store had the same, generic layout of stores across the world; aisle upon aisle of packets, produce and pop-tarts. Simon had sudden overwhelming desire for pop-tarts. Only he didn't have a toaster, or a place to plug a toaster in for that matter. He sighed and looked for more practical student sustenance.
Five minutes later he had a basket part-filled with soda, pringles and a multi-pack of mars bars; everything a growing lad needed to get ahead. As an after-thought he added a couple of cereal bars, a tiny gesture toward healthy living.
A short wait for the checkout later and he was stuffing his purchases into his bag and his change into his pocket. Now he had a quarter to buy some iced tea.
He was about to leave the store when he spotted the information desk. While he was sure they meant information regarding the store, the staff were almost certainly local and might be inclined to help a wandering young man.
"Uh, hi," he greeted the woman behind the desk a little awkwardly. She stopped looking bored long enough to paint a wholly artificial smile on her face. Dealing in customer service had exactly that soul destroying effect.
"Yes sir, how can I help you?"
"Sorry to bother you but I, uh, just got into town and I'm looking for a place to stay, like a hostel or something?" He sounded pathetic, even to his own ears.
A few different emotions ran across the womans face as she regarded the young man before her who apparently didn't want to ask a completely inane question, or complain at volume about something that was not her fault. She finally settled on a somewhat more genuine smile and seemed to relax a little.
"A place to stay huh," she said, "not too many hotels round here, and I'm betting you don't want to pay that much?"
Simon shook his head a little apologetically.
"Well, I don't know if it's any good to you, but there's a house a ways outside town that caters for a bunch of kids, some sort of boarding house I think, you might want to try there. It's a bit of a walk though."
Boarding house huh? It was better than nothing. Simon didn't much fancy being bitten to death by bugs trying to sleep rough through a warm Mississippi night.
"I don't mind walking," he said, "thanks, I'll give it a look, hope they have room for one more."
The woman, Jeanette, he noted belatedly from her badge gave him another smile, "you take care honey," she said.
Simon blushed a little, "thanks, uh, I will." He hurried away from the desk. A woman had just called him honey.
Back outside he bought a cup of iced tea and, after thanking the two girls, trudged back out into the sun and down the road, sipping his drink as he went.
Inside the store had the same, generic layout of stores across the world; aisle upon aisle of packets, produce and pop-tarts. Simon had sudden overwhelming desire for pop-tarts. Only he didn't have a toaster, or a place to plug a toaster in for that matter. He sighed and looked for more practical student sustenance.
Five minutes later he had a basket part-filled with soda, pringles and a multi-pack of mars bars; everything a growing lad needed to get ahead. As an after-thought he added a couple of cereal bars, a tiny gesture toward healthy living.
A short wait for the checkout later and he was stuffing his purchases into his bag and his change into his pocket. Now he had a quarter to buy some iced tea.
He was about to leave the store when he spotted the information desk. While he was sure they meant information regarding the store, the staff were almost certainly local and might be inclined to help a wandering young man.
"Uh, hi," he greeted the woman behind the desk a little awkwardly. She stopped looking bored long enough to paint a wholly artificial smile on her face. Dealing in customer service had exactly that soul destroying effect.
"Yes sir, how can I help you?"
"Sorry to bother you but I, uh, just got into town and I'm looking for a place to stay, like a hostel or something?" He sounded pathetic, even to his own ears.
A few different emotions ran across the womans face as she regarded the young man before her who apparently didn't want to ask a completely inane question, or complain at volume about something that was not her fault. She finally settled on a somewhat more genuine smile and seemed to relax a little.
"A place to stay huh," she said, "not too many hotels round here, and I'm betting you don't want to pay that much?"
Simon shook his head a little apologetically.
"Well, I don't know if it's any good to you, but there's a house a ways outside town that caters for a bunch of kids, some sort of boarding house I think, you might want to try there. It's a bit of a walk though."
Boarding house huh? It was better than nothing. Simon didn't much fancy being bitten to death by bugs trying to sleep rough through a warm Mississippi night.
"I don't mind walking," he said, "thanks, I'll give it a look, hope they have room for one more."
The woman, Jeanette, he noted belatedly from her badge gave him another smile, "you take care honey," she said.
Simon blushed a little, "thanks, uh, I will." He hurried away from the desk. A woman had just called him honey.
Back outside he bought a cup of iced tea and, after thanking the two girls, trudged back out into the sun and down the road, sipping his drink as he went.
