So, I started working on the weekends, and I stayed mostly on the side that sold the clothes, but I did spend quite a bit of time on the other side as well, taking each glass piece off of the glass shelves and dusting everything off. Now that I think about it, there were some small appliances, too. By the time I'd finish it all, by going back and forth from that side to the side where I actually helped people and rang up their purchases, it would be about time to start over again.
I would help out as inventory came in, arranging and pricing things. I liked it. I saw a lot of people. Most people knew me, of course, and it was just about the only place to shop, other than the pharmacy across the street, and the grocery stores...of which there were 3 at that time.
School let out and summer set in, and I went to work about every day then. It was never a problem to have a day off if I wanted it. It wasn't like I ran the place or anything, and at first I was never there by myself, but as time went on, the other lady, who was much older than me, wouldn't have to be there when I was. So, that was pretty cool. I think she liked having some days or at least mornings off. I could always find something to do, like rearrange the shelves, fold clothes, whatever. And, there was the never ending dusting.
Because I had my driver's license, I was often asked to take the store owner's car (well, it was his wife's car) and drive their kids places. Sometimes it was just to friend's house, but there were a few times I'd take them to whatever kind of 'practice' they had that day. I didn't mind it. They even had me come and get their car and take their car down the street once to a car wash that my cheer leading squad was putting on to raise money for new uniforms.
I wasn't dating anybody at that point. I had had a long term high school boyfriend, who was a year older than me, but we sort of split up when he graduated. It was okay, really, because he wasn't all that nice to me. (he even cheated on me with a girl that went to a different school. When you're 16, that's a pretty big deal) He was going to college in the fall. (I mention him because he played a small but significant role later on, which I will eventually get to)
But there was another kid whose family owned a summer place by the lake, and we became pretty good friends. I don't remember how we met, exactly, but all of a sudden, he was there. And I liked him tremendously. I felt like I could 'be myself' around him. We'd go out sometimes, but not as a 'girlfriend/boyfriend' kind of thing. He was very nice to me, always a gentleman, and I liked him a lot. He was also a year older than me, and he came to his family's place that summer after he graduated and stayed well into the fall and early winter. I had known him for a year or two already, and he'd take me sailing in his little 'Sunfish' sail boat sometimes...(perhaps it was a 'Sailfish'. I guess it doesn't matter)...maybe it was his friend's boat, I don't even know, but it sure was fun. We laughed a lot and talked on the phone for hours.
I mention this young man too, because he made an impact on my life, and although we never really dated, we did go out some, and there was always something about him that I could just never let go of, to this day. A connection, almost. I think that maybe if I had had the courage to tell him what was really happening, I might have been able to change things. I don't know if it would have made a difference, but he was, at that time, like a rock for me. I trusted him, but I didn't trust myself enough to confide in him, but for just a little bit, which I will get into later. But I always wished I had. Partly what makes me sad to this day, is the lack of confidence I had in myself, fearing that if I had confided in him, that I wouldn't be good enough. I was afraid that I didn't deserve someone like him for a friend, who was kind to me no matter what. But, maybe, just maybe...
He made me feel special, and sometimes I thought I knew what it was like to be 'put on a pedestal', because I felt like he put me there, but I could never chance ruining that feeling. If he knew the 'secret', then I could never be that 'princess' again.
I've always wanted to know what happened to him...he was somewhat of 'the hero' to me, at least in my mind, and he never even knew it.
Before I go further, I also need to say that there was a man who also worked at the store in the summer months. He was a good friend of the store's owner, and I also knew him, but not very well, even though he was a teacher at the school we all went to. What he taught isn't relevant, because AS a teacher (and a person) he sucked.
There were many men who came in the store through the hardware entrance and went straight to the back room. They'd have morning coffee there, and some would come back throughout the day. Some would just come in there early, and stay all morning, but sometimes they'd come in the afternoon, and I was pretty sure they were heavily drinking. I guess they just didn't have anything else to do. I could hear a lot of laughing, but I never went to the back room.
Once in awhile one guy, who owned one of the grocery stores in town and later sold real estate, would tell me a stupid joke that he thought was hilarious as he breezed in or out. I'd be pleasant and try to force a laugh, but I would have much rather he didn't go out of his way to tell me a stupid joke. One time it was a dirty one, and I was terribly embarrassed. He should not have done that.
I guess it was nearing the end of the summer when I started to feel a little too uneasy.
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