"Aughhh, I knew that December was a busy month, but I never imagined it'd be like this!" I called over to Joshua, who was busy trying to cope with all the customers begging for him to help them. I was at the register, trying to make some headway on the loonnng line of customers waiting to check out.
"I know, Stace; it's totally crazy," Joshua smiled over at me. Joshua is one of the people who work for my mother's store, Paradisa. I'm the youngest on the staff; in fact, if my mother wasn't my mother, well, it'd be illegal for me to work there. I'm glad I can. I love clothes, and working in a store like this one helps me stay on the cutting edge very easily.
There were only 20 shopping days left, and everyone seemed to be needing to buy presents for their daughters, girlfriends, sisters, mothers. It made for a very busy store. I was glad though; the more volume we got, the better the store would be doing. My mother gave up a lot of money and security when she left her position at Bellair's Department Store as a buyer. Opening your own store is a risky venture, but it was totally worth it. It made my mother happy, and I suppose she needed the distraction. My father, from whom she'd been divorced for about a year, was engaged to his girlfriend, Samantha.
The wedding was this month. I was happy for them, and I like Samantha a lot. But even though my mom knew she couldn't ever be married to my father again, and she wouldn't want to be, it still hurt her a little, I think, to see him with someone else.
I know the feeling--although I'm sure not to the same magnitude she has. I've had quite a few boyfriends, and one, Robert, even cheated on me. But I'm not bitter. Robert and I are friends now, and I've even helped him through some tough times.
But I definitely know what it feels like to have your heart broken.
Boy problems were not on my mind that afternoon, however--the upcoming wedding was! After all, it's not every day your dad gets married. It was in a week, and even though I tried not to let it show too much in front of Mom, I was excited. They'd rented out a room at the Tavern on the Green for the reception, and since Samantha does fashion photography, it'd be very chic and very fun.
Joshua snapped me out of my daydream. "Stacey, why don't you work the floor for a while. I need a change of pace." He ran his hand through his short, spiky, platnium-dyed hair.
"Sure," I said. "Be my guest."
He grinned and took over for me.
Just then, my mom emerged from the back. "Oh Stacey, honey, could you put these out for me? They just came in," and handed me a bunch of necklaces. They were silver and turquoise, and very delicate-looking.
"These are great," I said, fingering them.
"Are you trying to hint at something?" Mom teased.
"Who, me? Nahh..." I grinned.
"Back to work," she said, and disappeared into the back again.
As I was putting the necklaces on display, my best friend, Claudia Kishi, came into the store. Her face was tear-streaked. I left the necklaces where they were and ran over to her.
"Claud, what's wrong?"
"I know, Stace; it's totally crazy," Joshua smiled over at me. Joshua is one of the people who work for my mother's store, Paradisa. I'm the youngest on the staff; in fact, if my mother wasn't my mother, well, it'd be illegal for me to work there. I'm glad I can. I love clothes, and working in a store like this one helps me stay on the cutting edge very easily.
There were only 20 shopping days left, and everyone seemed to be needing to buy presents for their daughters, girlfriends, sisters, mothers. It made for a very busy store. I was glad though; the more volume we got, the better the store would be doing. My mother gave up a lot of money and security when she left her position at Bellair's Department Store as a buyer. Opening your own store is a risky venture, but it was totally worth it. It made my mother happy, and I suppose she needed the distraction. My father, from whom she'd been divorced for about a year, was engaged to his girlfriend, Samantha.
The wedding was this month. I was happy for them, and I like Samantha a lot. But even though my mom knew she couldn't ever be married to my father again, and she wouldn't want to be, it still hurt her a little, I think, to see him with someone else.
I know the feeling--although I'm sure not to the same magnitude she has. I've had quite a few boyfriends, and one, Robert, even cheated on me. But I'm not bitter. Robert and I are friends now, and I've even helped him through some tough times.
But I definitely know what it feels like to have your heart broken.
Boy problems were not on my mind that afternoon, however--the upcoming wedding was! After all, it's not every day your dad gets married. It was in a week, and even though I tried not to let it show too much in front of Mom, I was excited. They'd rented out a room at the Tavern on the Green for the reception, and since Samantha does fashion photography, it'd be very chic and very fun.
Joshua snapped me out of my daydream. "Stacey, why don't you work the floor for a while. I need a change of pace." He ran his hand through his short, spiky, platnium-dyed hair.
"Sure," I said. "Be my guest."
He grinned and took over for me.
Just then, my mom emerged from the back. "Oh Stacey, honey, could you put these out for me? They just came in," and handed me a bunch of necklaces. They were silver and turquoise, and very delicate-looking.
"These are great," I said, fingering them.
"Are you trying to hint at something?" Mom teased.
"Who, me? Nahh..." I grinned.
"Back to work," she said, and disappeared into the back again.
As I was putting the necklaces on display, my best friend, Claudia Kishi, came into the store. Her face was tear-streaked. I left the necklaces where they were and ran over to her.
"Claud, what's wrong?"