theme: metal lunchbox

Eileen had run out of paper bags.

She had scanned the kitchen, searched her drawers...

Came up with nothing.

She didn't have much of an option. She had to be at work around 9, and she had to have something to carry her lunch in.

Eileen sighed, getting down on her knees and pulling a dusty metal lunchbox out from underneath her bed.

She hadn't used this lunchbox since first grade; it was encompassed by blue and pink flowers on the sides, with metallic hearts that stuck out on the top and bottom.

Sucking in her breath, she proceeded to compile food into the cramped box.

It was going to be a long day at work.

Noon was approaching.

Eileen worked the counter that day.

Business was relatively slow; there were only a few customers (not including a gang of middle-school aged boys playing videogames in the back).

The alarm in the kitchen began to ring, signaling her break. She reluctantly pulled out her metal lunchbox, hurriedly shoving food into her mouth. She looked up and saw the teenaged boys staring at her, but she managed to shrug it off.

Eileen was then startled by fits of laughter and snorts.

Before it could register in her brain what was happening, the tallest kid swiped the lunchbox from the counter, dumping its contents out on the floor.

"Hey, this looks like my little sister's lunchbox!" he sneered, observing it. "Too bad she grew out of it when she turned five."

His friends were cracking up with condemning snickers.

Eileen frowned. She knew that she couldn't lay a hand on him; she was still technically on her shift.

"Oh, whatcha gonna do bout it? Cry?"

He dangled the lunchbox in front of Eileen's face. She didn't even try to get it. She knew he would just make her look stupid by pulling it away again.

She could do nothing but sit there and take the blows.

Eileen wasn't aware of who had just entered.

"Hey!"

But she did recognize his distinct voice.

Rigby stormed over to the boys, seething with rage. "Give her back her lunch. Now."

Eileen had never seen him so unbelievably pissed off before. She had to hand it to him, though... he seemed like something to fear.

"Ooh, look at this old dude," the kid said, laughing with his friends. "I think he might hit me with his cane, a-"

Rigby knocked the lunchbox right out of his grasp with one throw. He glared at the boy.

"Beat it," he growled, nodding to the door.

The gang scurried out, muttering things out of Rigby's earshot.

Eileen smiled. "Thanks so much, Rigby."

"Don't mention it," he told her, gathering some of her lunch in his arms.

"But really, Eileen... a metal lunchbox?"

A/N: Next theme... fizzy pop! :D