Once again things in ~'s are Jess' thoughts. I work in the fashion section and all of these ideas were drawn from things that actually happened to me or my friends at work. (Except the part about being begged to work in fashion) I know that it is a bit stereotypical that Jess feels that only girls work in the fashion section, so for the record it isn't really true. However most guys that I know seem to feel that way when asked to help out, so I decided to throw that in there.
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"It's an emergency." Rick said, with a pleading look in his eyes.
~If it was a real emergency you'd get down on your hands and knees and kiss my feet~ "Why can't you ask Joe or Mark? I'd really rather not…"
"Jess, please. Kate didn't show up today and we really need you down there. Ellie's down there, she's really nice and she'll help you out. We'll let you work in men's fashion or in shoes. Please, it's an emergency." Rick beseeched.
Jess rolled his eyes and sighed, "Fine, I'll do it. But just this once, okay?"
Rick nodded enthusiastically, "That's fine, just as long as you'll help out today. I promise never to ask you again."
Jess rubbed his forehead as he was led down to the change rooms. What was he getting himself into? It almost seemed like a rule that only girls worked in the fashion section.
"Hi Jess! Thanks so much for helping me!" Ellie practically jumped up and down for joy and rushed forwards.
~Please don't hug me~ "No problem." Jess muttered.
"It's not really that hard," Ellie continued, stopping a short distance before Jess before taking a step backwards.
Jess noticed her take a step back and smirked ~she must be a mind reader~
"Just take clothes off of that rack and put it into a shopping cart and then put it back where it belongs. Make sure everything goes into the right place or else customers get pretty angry" Ellie picked up a sweater and showed him the tag, "The tag has a number on it. We have a chart under the counter that says which numbers go into which section." The girl pointed at the ceilings "You can just use the signs to help you decide where things probably go. If it says denim, then that is where you put jeans."
~Did you figure that out yourself? ~ "Great, doesn't sound too bad." Jess smiled and started to grab armfuls of clothes and dump it into a shopping cart.
"Alright, I'll do ladies, and you can do men's. If some one asks any questions just come find me if you don't know the answer."
Jess nodded and took the cart down into the men's section. It wasn't too hard to find where things went. He checked the tags while he put things away to make sure that everything was in the right spot. He frowned when he saw a table with shirts on it. The shirts were all messy and some were lying on the floor. Finally, Jess grabbed a shirt and folded it. He looked at the shirts that were still folded. ~How does anyone get shirts that neat? They must have no spare time~ Jess frowned and tried again to fold the shirt, but it still didn't come out right.
"Here's a little hint." A voice came from behind. Jess jumped and spun around to see Ellie. The blonde girl set the shirt on the table and slowly folded it, "It still looks messy but if you give it a little bit of a shake," The girl gently shook the shirt against her leg, "it comes out looking much neater" She set down the shirt and smiled.
"It doesn't seem that busy right now. I could probably call Rick and go back to working in the foods section." Jess replied.
Ellie frowned, "No, you should see how busy it is in ladies and kids. I actually came to ask if you wouldn't mind taking over ladies while I go clean up kids. There are lots of customers in there and I can't leave it alone. I've put everything away, so just help out the customers and pick up anything that finds its way to the floor"
Jess sighed and nodded, slowly walking to the ladies section. Ellie squeezed his arm thankfully and practically skipped away ~Boy, she gets happy easily~
Slowly looking around, Jess noted that Ellie was right. It was pretty busy with lots of ladies digging through the clothes.
"Excuse me, young man." A little lady asked, "Would you mind helping me find some panty hose?"
Jess looked up and noted the hosiery sign hanging from the ceiling, "Alright, I'll just show you where that is." Jess led her to the section with panty hose and was a bit overwhelmed by the sight ~why on earth do they need this many kinds of panty hose~
The lady smiled, "I need to find one that is charcoal colored with sandal toes."
Jess looked at the rows and began inspecting the boxes, "Let's see, they should be in here some where." Jess saw a box that said charcoal on it and picked it up. There was no mention of sandal toes but Jess showed it to the lady, "Will these do?"
The lady squinted at the box and shook her head, "No, those aren't at all what I want."
~Does it really matter? They'll probably rip the first time you put them on~ Jess continued to look at the boxes. ~Control tops, sheer, back seam, how many kinds were there? ~ "Here's one" Jess grabbed a box triumphantly and showed it to her.
"Perfect, how much is this box" The lady glanced at the price and winced, "Well I suppose the price is the price. Thank you for your help, young man." The lady said before walking away.
~Finally, some one who appreciates my talents at being able to read boxes to find what they want~ Jess turned to walk back towards the change rooms when he felt some one grab my arm.
"Where do you keep the men's bras?" A deep voice came.
~What the hell? ~ Jess turned to see the big man holding his arm, "I beg your pardon, sir?"
"Bras for men, where do they keep them?" The man repeated in a whisper.
~Men wear bras? ~ "We have normal bras, but I think that's it." Jess answered uncertainly.
"It figures. You know that's sexual discrimination. If I want to wear a bra I should be able to, shouldn't I? I'm complaining. This store will be shut down in days. You'll be a out of a job, kid!" The man was shouting now.
~Store shut down? Out of a job? Promise? ~ "Please calm down, sir." Jess looked around and saw many people staring.
The man glared and dropped Jess' arm, retreating to the store exit. Jess sighed and rubbed his eyes. He was getting a headache working here. Not only was he tired and frustrated, now everyone was staring at him.
Finally Jess opened his eyes and returned to the change rooms. He noticed that the rack was full again, and almost all of it was clothes from the women section. Jess grabbed started to put shirts into his cart again. Eventually he found a sweater. Jess frowned and looked at it. It could be either men's or ladies, he wasn't sure. Jess looked at the tag to find the number.
"What do you think you are doing?" A large lady yelled as she exited the change rooms. "How dare you look at the size of my clothes?"
"I'm sorry ma'am, I was just trying to figure out which section it goes into." Jess said politely as he eyed the lady. ~Better be nice, she could probably take me~
"Are you implying that the clothes I wear isn't feminine? It should be obvious that it is a ladies sweater! Call your manager right now! I want to talk to him!"
Jess sighed and went behind the counter to the phone. Twice in one week, customers demanded to speak to Rick. Jess reached for the phone but it was grabbed from his hands.
"What do you think you are doing?" The lady shouted as she knocked the phone off of the counter. It landed on the floor with a loud crack, "Do not think of talking to some one else when I'm not done with you yet!"
Jess sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. The lady was still yelling and his headache was getting worse. Finally Jess opened his eyes, "I'm sorry ma'am. I hope that I can make it up to you by offering you 10% off of your purchases today."
The lady stopped in mid-rant and smiled, "That's more like it." The lady grabbed a few pairs of shirts and jeans and threw them into an already heaping cart.
Jess winced as he led her to the cash registers. Rick wouldn't be happy about this. Then again, he'd probably be a lot happier than if the lady sued the store or something worse. Jess explained to Collin, one of the cash registers, "Give her 10% off of her items." Collin looked at Jess, obviously a bit confused. Jess just shrugged and walked away.
"Excuse me, but could my daughter wear some clothes out?" A middle-aged lady asked as Jess approached the change rooms. Jess moaned. He had been hoping to finish putting all the clothes away and not have to deal with any more customers.
"I'm not sure about our policies. This isn't my usual department. If you don't mind, I'll just run and ask some one and be back in a few minutes." The lady nodded and Jess turned and briskly walked towards the children's clothes.
"Ellie! What do I do if some one wants to wear clothes out?" Jess asked, slightly out of breath.
"Just cut off the tags and escort them to the cash registers. Make sure to tell them that they can't be wondering around the store while wearing the clothes." Ellie smiled and returned to the jeans she was folding.
Jess half ran back to the change rooms, "Alright. If you're done with everything you want to buy then I'll have to bring you to the cash"
The lady smiled appreciatively, "Thanks, that's very sweet of you to hurry like that." The lady turned to the change rooms, "Hurry up princess, this nice boy is going to help us out!"
Jess couldn't help but smile. This ladies happiness seemed to be contagious. Jess went to the counter and grabbed the scissors. The girl came out in a pink sweater and blue pants. Jess cut off the tags and led them to the cash.
"Wait a second, honey. There's a hole in the back of the sweater." The lady said, grabbing her daughter's shoulder. She turned to Jess, "I really don't want to buy a sweater with a hole in it."
Jess nodded, " I can understand that." ~I already cut of the tags? You can't go around shopping for a new shirt now! ~
"But this was the only sweater like it! I like this one! All of the others are ugly!" The girl complained, stomping her foot.
"I don't care, I'm not buying a sweater with a hole in it!" The lady grabbed a purple sweater, "We'll get this one instead."
"I don't want the purple one, I want the pink one!" The girl screamed. She turned and ran back to the change rooms.
Jess turned and watched the girl go, and looked back to the mother. ~Who to stick with? ~ Finally Jess followed the girl the change rooms, she was the one wearing the stores property. He stopped outside of the change rooms and turned to make sure that the mother was still following. She stormed into the change room screaming.
"It's my money! I'm not buying a shirt with a hole in it!"
"You never let me do anything that I want to. I hate you mom!"
~What a spoiled brat~ Jess backed up so that he was behind the counter. He didn't want to appear to be eves dropping. He rubbed his temples; his headache was getting worse again. ~That's it. I'm never dealing with people again. ~
It took fifteen minutes for the mother and daughter to re-emerge from the change rooms. The girl was dressed in the original clothes and the mother dropped the purple sweater on the counter.
"We're going with the pink one." The mother said as she stormed towards the cash. The girl sniffed and wiped her nose.
"Collin, they're wearing the clothes out." Jess dropped the tags onto the counter "This one's for the shirt, and this is for the pants." Jess turned and left.
"Jess, you can go work in foods for the rest of the night. Ellie's got things under control now. You did a good job in men's, if you'd like we could make it a permanent position." Rick laughed.
~Make it my permanent position and there will be head rolling down these stupid halls~ Jess groaned, "No, please don't."
Rick seemed to thing Jess was joking and laughed, slapping Jess on the back, "You're a good kid, you know? Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that tomorrow would be your first day of cash training."
Jess watched Rick walk away and sighed. He knew everyone had to get cash training but he wasn't looking forward to it. That meant he'd have to deal with customers even more.
The day dragged on for what seemed like forever before Jess' shift was over. He headed upstairs and took his coat out from his locker.
"You seemed to visit cash a lot today." Collin said from the couch he was sitting on, "What was going on?"
Jess sighed, "I just decided that I'd make you're day busier."
Collin laughed, "I hear you're doing cash tomorrow. Good luck."
Jess glared and left, making sure to swipe out on his way down. Tomorrow would not be a good day.
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Probably not as much as you'd all like about bras, but I was having trouble working it into the story. I didn't want to have our boy spending all day in the bra section. If you want to see Jess working cash let me know. This means he has to deal with even more irritated customers. Thanks for all of the nice reviews; it's what makes doing this worthwhile. I'm sorry that I took so long to continue the story but I had real problems getting it started.