A/N: This is a AU piece, nothing is as it should be. Ranger isn't refered to as Ranger yet because he is still a teenager as is Stephanie. SO be easy on me. I have had this short little story rolling in my head for a while thanks to my friend, Jewbacca, The Jewish Wookie, aka Will: "Being a cart pusher is the bomb-diggity, yo!"
Hollie
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It was the summer of 1995 and Ric had decided it was time to take some responsiblity in his life and get a job. He put in applications everywhere for a summer job. Everywhere within walking or bike riding distance. He wanted to save up his money for a car. Next year he would be a Senior in high school and he wanted to impress a particular young lady. Since he had been held back a year in middle school he was older than the other kids in his class. He had turned 18 last August and would be 19 this summer. His family didn't have much money, so if he wanted a car, he was going to have to earn it.
He was willing to wash dishes at the local mexican resturaunt, flip burgers, and even clean bathrooms if it meant he could get a car. He knew he wanted to impress that blue eyed girl and he wanted to marry her some day.
He went back to all the places he put in applications with, but no one wanted him. Since he was Cuban, the Mexican resturaunt didn't want him. The burger joint was fully staffed for the summer and the offices wanted some one a little older to clean the bathrooms. He was disappointed. He decided to take the long way home on his bicycle and saw that a Wal-Mart had opened up about 5 miles from his house. He said what the hell, and went inside and filled out an application. As he was finishing up the store manager took a seat next to him in the snack bar. Ric handed him the paperwork and he proceeded to read it.
"This would be your first job, Ricardo?" the manager, Mr. Felix, asked.
"Yes, sir." Ric replied.
"And why do you want a job with Wal-Mart?" Mr. Felix asked.
"I'd like to buy a car, sir." Ric told him with a big smile.
"You don't have a car? How do you plan to get to work?"
"I live only 5 miles away, I walk or ride my bike, sir."
The manager nodded, "Well, Ricardo, welcome to the Wal-Mart family." Mr. Felix stood and shook Ric's hand. Ric smiled a big smile.
"Follow me and one of my assistant managers will get the rest of our paperwork started."
Ric was excited. He couldn't believe he had got a job. He had no idea what he would be doing, but he was willing to do anything they asked him to.
The first day he worked they had him watching videos and doing some training on the cash registers. Well, they decided really quick that he wasn't going to work as cashier. Seemed there were 5 empty registers and a long line at Ric's register and they were all young females. Mr. Felix pulled Ric from the registers and had him watch some more training videos.
The next day Mr. Felix put Ric in the grocery department, stocking cereal. Mr. Felix watched him closely. He was a hard worker. Mr. Felix did notice that the customer traffic on the cereal aisle was a little thick and again, all young women. Mr. Felix did think Ric was a good looking kid, but this was ridiculous. After Ric finished 2 pallets of cereal, Mr. Felix had him watch a few more videos. The next day He was going to try him out in the lot collecting shopping carts.
Ric didn't mind trying out the various jobs that the store had to offer. He was happy to have a job. Mr. Felix said the next day he would be out in the parking lot collecting carts, so he could wear comfortable clothes. He wore a pair of jean shorts that came to his knees and a his basketball jersey. When got to work Mr. Felix teamed him up with one of the other cart pushers. He was having a great time. The sweat, the physical aspect of the job had him loving it. Mr. Felix was very happy, so he decided that he would put Ric out there permanently.
The second day of cart pushing had a few problems. Ric didn't notice, but Mr. Felix was concerned. There had been six fender benders in the lot that day, all of them women drivers. Mr. Felix called Ric into his office.
"Ricardo, I have noticed that where ever I put you, you have young ladies watching you. I also notice that it doesn't seem to distract you from your work. I was thinking of trying you out somewhere where you have little to no customer interaction. I want to put you in recieving. Would you like to try that out?"
"I will do what ever you ask, sir."
Mr. Felix was impressed with Ric's enthusiasm. So he had him with about 5 other store associates unloading trucks. Ric liked this, too. It was a physical job and it made him love it more.
After a few weeks of unloading trucks with out incident, Mr. Felix was finally satisfied with Ric's position. The day before the 4th of July was a busy day. They needed a few extra cashiers. There were only 2 associates in the store who were trained on registers and not on one. Ric and Mr. Felix. Mr. Felix wasn't sure about putting Ric on the register, but had no choice. Mr. Felix went over a quick training refresher with Ric and put him on the register. Immediately, Ric had about 5 people in his check out line. He made quick work of each order and gave each customer a smile and a "Please come again". Mr. Felix really liked Ric, but he was scared his looks were going to cause a riot.
Once the lines died down, Mr. Felix sent Ric out to help the guys with carts. He was happy to help. Mr. Felix was relieved that there hadn't been any commotion at the registers. Everyone had been calm and relaxed.
After the lot was completely clear of carts, Mr. Felix called Ric to his office once again.
"Ricardo, I am proud of you today. You have done a great job. I know you've only been here for a month, but I think you deserve a raise. I'm going to give you an extra dollar an hour. Great Job, son." They shook hands and Ric was so happy. He would hopefully get the car sooner. His goal was to get the car by his 19th birthday, so he could have it before his dream girl's birthday, two months later.
He worked everyday he was asked to work, even got overtime. His mother was proud of him and he was looking forward to taking that blue eyed, burnette to dinner on her 18th birthday.
The payday before his birthday he counted the money had saved up, $2500.00. He was more than happy. His parents agreed to add him to their car insurance until he had enough to get his own.
He bought a used 1989 black Ford Bronco for 2,400.00. It needed a little work, but he had 2 months to get it in shape.
He continued to work after school went back into session. Now he worked 34 hours a week compared to his summer average of 52. He wouldn't be making that much money now, but it was better than nothing.
He spent every day he had off working on that truck. It was running like new. The finally touch would be a fresh paint job, slick black, that would cost him 2 paychecks, just enough time.
The truck was finished the week of his dream girl's birthday. He asked to take her out for dinner on her birthday and she gladly accepted.
Her and her friends couldn't believe that Ric had asked her out. She was excited. She watched him get into his truck and She climbed into her mother's LaSabre that she had driven to school that day and carefully followed Ric's Bronco to Wal-Mart. She watched him get out of his truck, put on his vest and name badge and walk into the store. She was impressed. He had a job, he had a very macho truck and he had asked her out.
She decided since she was here to do some shopping. She wanted to get a new outfit for her date with Ric. She found the perfect jean skirt and a bright blue tank top that brought out her eyes. She had no clue where they were going to be going so she picked out a white button up shirt to wear over the tank top. She went to the fitting room to trying the out fit on. She wanted a second opinion, she would ask the lady working the fitting room.
She stepped out and came face to face with Ric. Well, why not get the answer from the horses mouth.
"What to do you think, Ric?"
"You are beautiful no matter what you wear, Babe." He smiled big.
"How did you know I was in there?" She asked.
"I saw you looking at the clothes and I watched you go in."
"Oh, so when do you get a break?"
"In about 30 minutes, you going to wait for me?"
"I thought maybe we could talk a little, since we don't talk a lot at school."
"Meet me at my truck." He kissed her cheek and hurried back off to work.
Thirty minutes later Ric met his Babe at his truck as promised. He brought her a soda and him a Gatorade, he was going to be working in the lot for the rest of his shift that day.
They talked about school, he told her about his truck and all the work he did to it. She was even more impressed.
"You mean to tell me, you got this job for me, to buy this truck just so you could take me out for my birthday?"
"Yeah, I've had a crush on you for over a year, but with laws and stuff, me being 18 and you 17 at the time was a major no-no. So I waited."
She smiled at him and he smiled back then captured her lips in a kiss like she never had before. Last time a boy stuck his tongue down her throat she kneed him the nuts, but this was different. It was gentle, not hard and sloppy, like all the times before. She didn't want this kiss to end.
"Wow" she said when the kiss broke.
"Babe, I don't want to see anyone else but you. Would you be my girlfriend?"
"Seriously, Ric?" She asked, stunned.
"Seriously, Stephanie." He smiled.
He pulled her to him and kissed her again like the first time.
Ric head back to work and Stephanie headed home.
Ric day dreamed the rest of the day away. He gathered the shopping carts and took them into the store almost robot like.
Mr. Felix had asked Ric to come to his office before the end of his shift. So at 8PM, Ric went to see Mr. Felix.
"Ricardo, I see you got your vehicle."
"Yes, sir and it has served it purpose."
"And what purpose was that, son?"
"I got the girl!" He exclaimed.
"But you always have so many girls looking at you? I don't think I understand."
"I have eyes for no one but my Babe. She is my dream and I stole her heart, Mr. Felix. She stole mine over a year ago. Oh and by the way can I work Saturday morning rather than at night, sir? It's her 18th birthday and I'm planning on taking her out to dinner."
"Take the day off, Ricardo, you are one of my best employees, you deserve it. It will be a paid day, too. Have fun, son." Mr. Felix was happy for the young man. He set a goal and accomplished it. Mr. Felix thought that Ricardo would go far in life, make something of himself. Little did Mr. Felix know, exactly what would become of Mr. Ricardo Carlos Manoso.