Now hold up…

“Behind the counter” McSketch barked at me and gestured with something in his hoody.

I very carefully moved around and tried talking “Yeah, whatever you want man.” Hoping that somehow this would de escalate

In order to go behind the counter, I had to pass near him.

As I did, he snaked his other hand from his pocket and snatched my drink. Which in turn caused me to drop the box of condoms that were held in the crook of the elbow from when I was texting Liz.

The resulting drop and sound made him look down.

It turned out that was a bad idea of his.

Now I don’t know what Amara did, but the slightly built lady with the exotic complexion behind the counter must have been waiting for an opening.

I heard a “Crack-Thunk” then McSketch dropped like a sack of potatoes.

When I looked back Amara dazzled me with a smile and patted a baseball bat.

“Mind staying till the cops arrive?” She asks.

The family that were by the slurpees looked up a the statement and left without their drinks.

Amara rolled her eyes at them as they climbed into a sedan with out of state plates.

“I already hit the silent alarm. Could use someone to help give a statement”.

I sighed and said sure.

I reached for my phone to call Gertrude and let her know I’d be late.

There was another text from Liz.