Jyn scrubbed the counter at the check out stand and checked the ice cream cone shaped clock on the wall. 8 minutes until her shift was over and the store could close for the night. The store was empty, the giant ice cream shaped lights outside were reflecting on the beginnings of the first snow.
Hard to believe. It was halfway through December and they hadn't had any snow yet. If everything worked her way, there'd be a foot and half by that night and she wouldn't have to come into work the next day.
The bell above the door jingled. Seriously? Who needed to harass her for ice cream two minutes before her shift was over?
"I'll be with you in a moment." Jyn said, going to toss her rag in the back sink. The bell jingled again. And again. And again.
"Sorry, can we still get ice cream? It's like five till and we just got out of a movie." The lead customer said, gesturing to the huge group of people behind him. Jyn swallowed hard and plastered on her best customer service smile.
"Sure. You want a sample?" She was really earning that Christmas bonus.
That's right. Christmas. Her least favorite holiday. She'd be spending the whole day at the store. Then home, alone. Just like every year. This time she didn't even have the benefit of her cat's company. She'd had to put Doodad to sleep earlier that year. Thinking about it made her feel all broken-glass-ey inside, so she pushed it away and focused back on the customer in front of her, who was taking his sweet time choosing a flavor.
"Nah, bro. Pick the Cherry Garcia. It's a classic." His friend said, pushing him towards the other end of the display case.
"Come on, guys. She probably wants to get home to her family." The girlfriend of the lead guy said, shooting Jyn a sympathetic face.
Cute.
The guys motored into action, lining up to place their orders.
Jyn inwardly thanked the girl, underneath her first impulse of snottish scorn. She didn't have any family to go to, but she wanted to get out of there all the same.
The bell on the door tinkled once more, and one more customer joined the lineup. Jyn resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She needed to lock the door.
One by one, she made her way through the customers, the big group of movie-goers deciding to take their ice cream down the street. That left one last person, who was eyeing the ice cream like a hawk.
"I'm sorry to make you wait." He said. His voice was smooth and deep. Jyn pressed her lips into a half smile and held her scoop at the ready.
"One scoop of chocolate therapy please. In a bowl."
While Jyn scooped, the customer walked down to the end of the counter by the register and stared out the window. Snowflakes were beginning to drift down.
"Couldn't wait until late tonight, could it?" Jyn said, sighing. The thud of the counter lid closing echoed around the shop. The customer said nothing. She rang up his ice cream and passed it across the counter.
"That'll be $3.05... when you're ready."
"Your accent... It's not from around here." The customer said.
"Neither is yours."
He gave her a hard stare, and Jyn pursed her lips.
"My mother and father were seasonal workers in the cranberry bogs up North. They came up the freeway with me when I was a baby."
"I see. DHS up on your shit for that?"
The customer gave a wry little smile and handed her a bill.
"Every so often... Keeps things interesting."
Jyn handed him his change and then began closing the store in earnest, turning out the front light and preparing to sweep and mop.
"You never said where you were from." The customer said from his booth. Jyn jumped. She'd almost forgotten he was there, she'd been so engrossed in mopping.
"My parents brought me over from England when I was seven."
"I see. I assume you took after them somewhat?"
"I did." Jyn swallowed a lump in her throat. "But not anymore."
"I'm sorry." He said, getting to his feet. "I didn't mean to offend."
"It's fine, it's fine... Really." Jyn waved him off and turned to her mopping so he wouldn't see the tears pricking her eyes. It's just that it was almost Christmas, and she'd be alone once again. She'd survive.
"I upset you." He said.
"No, no. It's fine. I just... Christmas is a hard time. But don't worry." She didn't want to look up at him.
"If it's any consolation... I can empathize with you."
"Thanks... Err..."
"Cassian. Cassian Andor. And I'm sorry to make you close late. Stay safe getting home." He said before disappearing out into the dark and cold.
Jyn blinked. Cassian Andor. Sounded South American enough. She wondered what he really meant by him empathizing with her... But she shook it off. The floor wouldn't mop itself. She had to get to the bus stop before the last bus came or it would be a cold walk home.
She finished swirling the mop across the floor, locked the register, then scooped herself a small scoop of chocolate therapy for the walk to the bus stop. It was her favorite flavor, and god knew she needed some therapy.
Outside, the snow just kept falling. Jyn bundled up in her coat and headscarf before disappearing into the dark and cold.