Author's Note: I forgot to put the disclaimer on the first chapter. I do not own The Outsiders.

I arrived at work ten minutes early. Thanks to Darry. Usually when I get to work, I sit down for a few minutes and look at an old car magazine before I clock in. But as I walked towards the break room, I noticed that it was busy and knew that there was no way I could sit down today.

Sure enough, as soon as my boss saw me, he called out, "Clock in Curtis, I need you on the register."

I waited until I was in the break room, clocking in before I let out a disappointed groan. I was really hoping that I could work outside filling the gas tanks. The weather was perfect. Not too hot. Not too cold. And I really didn't want to be stuck inside all day on the register. Besides, I prefer working on the cars. Even though I will admit I like being able to help the customers when I am on the register.

After I clocked in, I went to the front of the store where I took over the register.

"Thanks, Curtis. I've been going crazy here. It's been non stop for the past hour." My boss told me. He always calls people by their last name.

I grinned. "I guess it's a good thing my brother insists on being early for everything, huh?"

My boss nodded. "Yeah. I'll be outside if you need me."

I watched as he walked outside and quickly straightened some papers that were sitting on the counter. It wasn't long before I had a customer. An elderly lady purchasing some gas for her car. I smiled at her as I handed back her change.

"What's a sweet young man like you doing here?" She asked. "Shouldn't you be in school?"

I felt my cheeks get warm as I told her, "I dropped out to help out my brothers."

"Oh, well, I have to go. My seven grandchildren are coming over today and I still have a lot to do."

"Have a good day ma'am." I said as she turned to leave.

"Thank you. And don't work too hard." She replied.

I laughed. "I won't!"

I had left the register open during her sale so I could straighten out the money in the register. Even though I'm a bit of a slob, okay, a huge slob at home, I'm very neat at work. And one thing I can't stand is when I'm on the register and the money is in all different directions. Fortunately, I only had to turn a few bills so they were all facing the same direction.

I spent the morning helping customers and stocking shelves. Wishing that I could be outside working on cars or at least filling the gas tanks. I really did not want to be inside.

"Sir?" I looked up from the floor where I was stocking some motor oil. A middle aged man stood above me.

I stood up. "Yes? May I help you?"

He nodded. " I noticed that there's a sign by your potato chips that says, buy three bags for a dollar and seventy- five cents."

"Yes, that's correct." I replied.

"So if I buy two bags, I only pay one dollar and sixteen cents, right?" He asked.

I looked at him in disbelief. He was not the first customer to ask me this and I knew he wouldn't be the last. Still, I couldn't help feeling slightly annoyed. After all, the sign said buy three for a dollar and seventy-five cents. If customers could buy the chips at fifty-eight cents, then the chips would not be on sale. I forced myself to grin at him and politly say, "I'm sorry sir, you have to but three bags to get the sale price."

"Oh, my wife only wanted me to buy two bags. but, I guess I'll go ahead and buy three." He told me. A minute later, I was ringing up his sale.

"Thank you, come again!" I called out as he left the store.

As that customer was leaving, my boss came inside. "Go ahead and clock out for lunch, Curtis. I think I can handle things."

"Okay." I replied. Then I looked at him. "Is it still nice outside?"

"Yeah, it is. Now hurry up and take your lunch break." He told me as he rang up a sale on the register.

I went to clock out for lunch. Then went to sit outside to eat the peanut butter and chocolate hazelnut spread sandwhich I had made the night before along with some twinkies and a bottle of chocolate milk. The sun felt warm on my skin as I ate and I wondered if I stood a chance of working outside for the rest of my shift instead of inside on the register. I really didn't want to spend my entire shift inside on such a nice day. I wanted to be outside where I could enjoy the warm weather.