Page 2 of Busting Nuts
After I close the photo album, I look in the box and see what else is inside. Under the album is a piece of tissue paper covering up about a dozen crocheted snowflakes. I pick up one and see that it has a hook on it like it’s supposed to be an ornament. I think about my own mostly-bare Christmas tree back home and imagine how pretty these would look on there.
I take out the snowflakes and discover a beautiful glass star. It’s obviously a Christmas tree topper, and I can only imagine how gorgeous it would be lit up. There’s gold around the edges, and it looks handmade. This star might be worth some real money, and as soon as I have the thought, disappointment hits me. There’s no way Walter is going to let me keep this. And even with my ten percent employee discount, there’s no way I’d be able to afford it. I place it back in the box along with the snowflakes and photo album without looking any further in the box. What’s the point when I can’t pay for any of it?
This isn’t how I saw my life turning out. I went to school and got a degree in art history. Sure, it wasn’t practical, but it was what I loved. I thought I would be working for a museum or art gallery. Or maybe I’d be like Elodie and travel the world to see the art for myself instead of reading about it in books.
Yet here I am, stuck in this dead-end job with no future and no money. I pick up the box to take it to the back when I hear the bell over the door again. Annoyed that my sulking party has been interrupted, I place the box on the floor and nudge it under the counter with my foot. As quickly as I can, I put on my customer service smile in time to see… Walter.
“Oh. I didn’t think you’d be in today,” I say as Walter shakes off the rain like a wet dog.
“I’m not,” he grumbles and pulls off his gloves. “I forgot to get a gift for my mother-in-law.” He rolls his eyes dramatically as he glances around the place. “Have we gotten anything new?”
I think about the glass star in the box at my feet and how that would be an incredible gift. I know I’d be thrilled to receive something so delicate and beautiful. I’m about to open my mouth when Walter’s eyes land on me.
“What I wouldn’t give to stick you under my tree.” His gaze lingers on my cleavage. I forgot that I wore a low-cut top today.
When I first started working here, I noticed the way he looked at any bit of skin I showed. He made his interest obvious, but I ignored it and started wearing baggy clothes that covered my curves. After a while he stopped with the comments, so I thought his interest had passed. Since he was on vacation all week, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with pulling out some of my old clothes. Boy was I mistaken.
“You know I’ve got some time before I have to be at the party. I could hang around here for a bit. We could celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?” I’m trying to cross my arms over my chest, but it’s not something I can do casually without drawing more attention to my tits.
“The holidays, of course.” He rubs his fingers over his mustache as his eyes continue to move up and down my body. “I could use a little Christmas cheer.”
The sound of a cell phone blaring grabs his attention, and then he curses under his breath. As he fishes his phone out of his pocket, I grab the shawl I keep on the back of my chair and wrap it around my shoulders. I’m so grateful for how it covers my chest I breathe a sigh of relief.
“I said I’ll be there,” Walter barks into the phone and then grabs some random trinket off the shelf. “Yeah, well, your sister is a liar, so who are you going to believe?”
After a second, he mumbles a goodbye and shoves the phone back into his pocket. He seems pissed as he gives me a once-over and sees that I’ve covered up his view.
“Why don’t you dust some of these shelves?” he snaps. “I’m not paying you to stand around.”
“Okay,” I say quietly.
“And don’t even think about closing up early.”
“I won’t,” I agree, and my shoulders sag. I’d been thinking of asking him exactly that.
“Good. And when I get back, we’re going to have a talk about your wardrobe.”
“My wardrobe?” I look down at the black shawl covering most of my body.
“If you can’t give me something pretty to look at, then I’ll find someone who can.” With that, he turns and marches out of the store.
The sound of the bell echoes through the empty shop, and I feel tears sting my eyes. I plop down on the stool behind the counter and bury my face in my hands.
“I can’t do this anymore,” I say to myself as sadness turns to frustration.
What am I supposed to do? It’s not like I’ve got savings to fall back on. I live paycheck to paycheck, and I’m still not able to pay all my bills. I don’t have anything of value or?—
I open my eyes and stare down at the box at my feet. Could this be the answer to all my problems? The lady that left it has no intentions of coming back. I’ve been at this job long enough to know when someone will change their mind. This was a box of junk to her, and if she brought it in to Walter, he wouldn’t think twice about swindling her out of it.
That star is something special, I know it. I’ve seen antiques come and go in this place, and I learned about glass blowing and hand-crafted metal in college. That star is worth some real money, and it might be enough to get me out of here. Maybe not for long, but for long enough to find a new job.
My thoughts begin to race as I plan my next move. I could do what Walter does and pawn it, but I know I’d only get a fraction of the value. The best thing to do would be to call my old professor Mrs. Linzer. She’s someone I trust with this kind of treasure and she knows people who buy expensive antiques.
I check the time and see I’ve got three more hours until I can close.
Suddenly, I’m not feeling so sad.