Author Note: ….trying out persuasion…..

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Chapter 07– Stubborn as a Mule

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Jackie was sitting on her bed reading a magazine and trying to block out Eric's thoughts about what she should say to Donna. Jackie found that if she concentrated on the article about new feminine products available, Eric quit bugging her. Panty liners and Midol did not interest the man!

Donna burst through her bedroom and dumped her books and bag on the bed. "Oh my God Jackie, college is so freaking exciting! I finished classes and met some people I used to go to Junior High with and we went to dinner and one of my professors joined us…" she paused to take a breath. "…I'm surrounded by smart people and it feels so great!"

"As opposed to us dumb people?" Jackie said with a lifted brow.

Donna kicked off her shoes, "No, you know what I meant…people that like the same stuff as me and have the same ideas. God, it was liberating." Donna exclaimed.

Jackie could hear Eric at the edge of her mind like a tickle and she kept thinking of names of tampon products. Poof! He was gone. "Donna, I saw Eric this afternoon. He got a job in management at Price Mart."

Donna shrugged out of her blouse and pulled on a tee shirt. "Good for him. He has the tolerance to deal with Price Mart junkies."

"He thought you'd be proud of him." Jackie added. Maybe Donna should call him and just say hello. That would make Eric VERY happy. Donna looked at Jackie, "I guess I'll call him in the morning. It's getting late and I need to get some sleep."

Damn! The persuasion didn't work so well on Donna. Was her lumberjack skull too thick? There was that tickling again. TAMPONS. MIDOL. CRAMPS. MOOD SWINGS! Gone. Jackie closed her magazine. "I'm going to shower; I'll turn off the light."

"Thanks Jackie. I'll see you in the morning." As soon as Donna's blond head hit the pillow she was out.

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Eric was watching a Happy Days rerun with Hyde in the basement when Kitty came down with an empty clothes basket. "It sure is quiet tonight boys. Eric, did you tell Steven about your promotion?"

Hyde looked over at his friend, "What promotion." Eric tried to wave it off because Hyde would never understand what the perks were to being a salaried employee. "It's nothing dude."

Kitty set down her basket. "Oh it's something all right Mister Man! This promotion is a big deal. Ahahahaha, Eric is a Price Mart assistant manager." Kitty said proudly.

Hyde sniggered and crossed his arms, "Yeah. Gosh, tell me about it Forman."

Eric was trapped. His mom wanted to hear a boastful comment but Hyde was waiting to burn him. "What dad? You need me upstairs?" Eric vaulted over the back of the yellow sofa and ran up the stairs. Hyde rolled his eyes and went back to see Potsie and Ralph Malph fending off a pie throwing contest.

Kitty pulled her fresh towels out of the dryers. "You boys…since when is it a crime to be proud of one of my son's accomplishments? This is a special day. Steven, when he comes back down here you tell him okay?"

Hyde grinned, "Oh, I'll tell him all right."

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Eric waited in the half bath for his mom to walk past him. Then he carefully opened the basement door and sat on the top step where Hyde wouldn't see him. He heard the small TV turn off and saw the lights dim. He thought about how nice it would be for Hyde to give Jackie a hug. She's so little that you could almost just wrap her up like a tiny burrito and squeeze! That would be nice and of course she kisses good. Wait, why am I thinking about kissing and hugging Jackie Burkhart? Hyde should be doing that! Hyde, Jackie needs you to comfort her!

Satisfied with his bit of Jedi mind tricks, Eric yawned quietly and went to bed. Why was he thinking about Jackie all of a sudden? Weird.

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Jackie was running late for her first day as a personal shopper. This was going to be so exciting – she hoped Candace would take her around and introduce her to all the big mall executives….she could shop for their wives and then everyone would have good taste.

She fumbled for the keys to her dad's Lincoln and they dropped to the ground. She bent down but stopped when she spied a familiar pair of boots and a hand picking up the keys for her.

Breathless, she said, "Steven."

Hyde was getting ready to leave for Grooves, but something compelled him to cross the drive and see why Jackie was smiling so much on a Tuesday morning. He leaned against the driver's side door. "Hey, you look happy today."

Jackie's heart was pounding. "Um…yeah, I start a new job. What are you doing?"

He shrugged, "Nothing. I'm going to work and had a feeling I should just come check on you. Looks like you're okay so I'll catch you later." He turned around and walked back towards the El Camino. Jackie felt like sand was running through her fingers. Eric's persuasion almost worked but Steven was a stubborn as mule! Was he impervious to The Force? Yeah, and he'd probably kick his heels in the air like Lucky Charms leprechaun if she was lucky enough.

Hyde unlocked the El Camino and felt the irresistible urge to eat some cereal but shrugged it off. Weird!

Eric grabbed a piece of toast and was about to make a dash for the door when the telephone rang. "Eric, honey…its Donna." His feet did a 360 and he slid over to the telephone hanging from the wall. "Hello?" damn, his voice squeaked.

"Hey…it's me. I think I wanted to call you to tell you congratulation on your new job. I hope it goes well for you."

"Thanks Donna." He replied with a big smile on his face. The Force worked!

"Well, whatever, I have to get to class. Maybe we can go to the Hub soon. Catch you later!" She hung up the phone and Eric was amazed that Jackie's persuasion worked. Well, not perfectly but Donna did call him which she never did this early in the morning. This was a good way for Eric Forman to start the day!

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Angie looked around the selected inventory that was marked down for sale and sighed; Hyde seemed to put a 75% off sign on everything that wasn't rock and roll. Didn't he realize there was an audience for the old Benny Goodman records? Just because the Beatles sold well didn't mean someone wouldn't buy Herman's Hermits. In fact, she loved Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter. Angie hummed the tune in her head while she removed the sales sticker. Daddy would approve of his daughters quick salvage of the vintage music and if Steven had anything to say, he could just talk to WB himself!

Hyde saw his half-sister's car parked next to the curb and groaned. Why couldn't she go take care of his "dad's" other stores? Why did she like to hang out here so often? Whatever. He opened the glass door and she turned to smile.

"Kelso is not here. Why are you here?" He said pushing through the glass.

"Hello to you too! I'm not here for Michael. He called me and told me he has some medical condition, I don't know but…Steven, you can't sell these records at 75% off."

Hyde opened the safe in the floor and pulled out some bills to load the register. "I can do what I want. Groove's is my store. WB gave it to me."

"Well, he asked me to check and make sure you don't run it into the ground." Angie fired back. Hyde took his glasses off. "Angie, I'm making a profit. Don't you think I know what I'm doing? I'm getting rid of that old shit to make room for the new Pink Floyd albums, got the Pretenders, Bob Seger, Rolling Stones and I'm even making a display for The Eagles new release. So let me get rid of the trash."

Angie was almost swayed, "Okay…you make a good argument but try to remember that OLD people still like this stuff."

Hyde grinned, "That's why I marked it down….so they can afford it!" Angie was almost as annoying as Jackie.

"Why don't you go get a manicure and let me do my business."

"God Steven, I don't get manicures and you are as stubborn as a mule. Get it through your head, I'm a business major, I know how the music industry works. Take my advice once in a while."

He looked at his sister. "I'm a music lover and I know what my customers like and I'm giving it to them. Take my advice once in a while."

Women!

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