Down on the Corner

“Danny didn’t leave us a paper again,” Gerald’s sister said, opening the refrigerator door. At the table, their father grunted and their mother rolled her eyes, standing up. Picking up her purse, she pulled out a couple dollars and said, “Gerald, would you be a dear and run down the corner store for a paper?”

“Sure thing,” the young man said, finishing off his bowl of cold cereal. “Do you want me to grab anything else?”

“No thanks,” his mother said as he set the white bowl in the sink. “Just the paper will be fine.”

With a shrug, Gerald lifted the bills and shoved them in his pocket. As he stepped out of the door, he caught a brief vision of his sister’s spread legs and white panties in the corner of his eye. Damn, he shook his head, striding down the walk to the store. I wonder what the little minx wants now.

Putting his sister’s flash out of his mind, the young man quickly reached the corner store. As he opened the door, he heard a woman talking, “You don’t know? How can you not know? You work here, don’t you? You must live around here!”

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the clerk said, “But I don’t. Hell, I got a thirty minute drive in and I can barely afford the gas anymore with what I make, so don’t you dare give me any shit, ‘kay?”

Asshole, Gerald rolled his eyes, reaching for the morning paper. How do expect to keep customers when you mouth off to them? Be nice and apologize to the lady.

“I’m sorry ‘bout that,” the clerk said to the woman. “It’s been a long week and my stress levels are through the roof because of my classes and the two jobs I’m working.”

“Hmmph,” she snorted, crossing her arms over her pastel blue sundress. “See if I ever stop here again.”

Now that’s just wrong, the young man frowned, standing behind her and waiting for his turn at the counter. He apologized. You should accept it.

The woman blinked at the clerk behind the counter and then lowered her eyes, and with a small shudder said in a small voice, “You’re forgiven. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. It’s just that I’m lost and late for a very important meeting.”

It ain’t for an interview, Gerald thought, not dressed like that.

“Not a prob,” the clerk said. “Hey, Gerry there might help you. He lives hereabouts.”

The lost woman turned about, presenting the young man with her generous cleavage as he grimaced at the nickname.

“What’s wrong?” she gasped at the sight of his frown.

“I hate being called Gerry,” he muttered. “My name is Gerald.”

“I’m Sunny,” the blonde-haired woman smiled, a bright dimple glowing on her cheek. “I won’t call you Gerry, okay? I just can’t miss this appointment.”

“Okay,” the young man shrugged, attempting to keep his gaze on her blue eyes. “Where’re you going?”

“It’s this place over on Hemlock Court,” she said.

“That’s off of Elm,” Gerald said, wondering what kind of meeting she was going to. “Continue north here on Linden then at the second stop sign turn left onto Apple. The next sign is Elm and there you’ll take a left. Hemlock’ll be the first street on the left.”

“It sounds kind of complicated,” the woman chewed at her lower lip. “Why can’t I turn left at the first stop sign?”

“’Cause that’s a three-way where Oak dead-ends into Linden from the east.”

“Still,” she said, “I’d think I just get lost again. Could you come with me and navigate? Please?”

Over her shoulder, Gerald saw the clerk mouth, ‘go for it dude!’ With a roll of his eyes, he considered helping the woman. Maybe if I knew why you had to be there.