Cashiering is so easy it’s boring. It eventually becomes an endless line of faces I don’t care to remember, with mundane items I scan on auto pilot.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6ZJLkFNQU
A pineapple. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAawcnUFvkT
A pizza. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTBdzfR1Ah
A gallon of milk. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEGODeSHtn
I check the clock for the tenth time during my shift. It’s only 4 PM. I don’t clock out till midnight. I sigh.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb4VAWR0x0
New customer. I greet them with a standard “How you doing?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuj6fVEpIj
A hood covers their face, they nod in response.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfE5nw5U43
A shovel. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXDs9cdkYE
A roll of duct tape. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tAMq6jXo7
Rubber gloves. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqObqHKg5Y
I raise my eyebrow and take a second look at the customer. I see stubble, a scar on his chin. His head is down so I can’t make out the rest of his features. He’s tall.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzLffIlhLl
A hunting knife. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E3fgMAtEC
A pack of Ziplocks. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ3Fp7XW4Z
A flashlight. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UZaO6uULg
I glance around to check if anyone else is seeing what I’m seeing. The other customers in line are paying more attention to the magazine selection than Ted Bundy over here.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe7m2iSQXy
Welp. Gotta do my job.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NOd0QOfJf
Three gallons of bleach. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7UnPYUJYt
A box of garbage bags. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RRq5YBhEp
A meat grinder. beep.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIWALZXG8U
What. The. Fuck! I risk yet another glance. He’s looking at me. Shit!15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0dm6UyIjs
“That’ll be two hundred forty three dollars and eighty cents.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7K8PMiSY8u
He pays in cash. Of course he pays in cash.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwTSvuQ9Pr
“Have a good one.” My voice cracks.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSStRxvlgn1
He nods and walks away. I realize I never heard him speak.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCCMkkgG32
I’m put off. Then the next lady in line wants to know where the eggs are when they are literally in her eye-line and it’s a normal boring day at work again.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMENi89ULi6
After my shift is over I’ve got a headache and my feet hurt. I’m ready to go home, soak in my tub and binge watch something.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78ZCWqGP8j
It’s cold outside, winter has been holding our town at gun point for a week. I put my hands in my sweater pockets to warm them on the short walk to my car.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2AupNu0sX
As I’m approaching the employee parking lot I see a dark shape huddle down behind my car, the only one in the lot other than my boss’s truck. What the hell? I instantly remember the shady customer. My heart starts beating fast.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDSTgFHNPI
I ain’t going over there by myself. I head to go straight back inside the store. I see my boss, Rick. He’s locking up.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSSnajquZ6
“Hey can you walk me to my car? I think I saw someone hiding over there. . .”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzKcJW1Dng
“Hiding?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T71mZkBaJ
“Yeah, like someone ducked down behind my car.” My teeth are chattering, I regret not bringing a jacket.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg0834oxoU
“Yeah, I’ll walk you.” He finishes locking up and we briskly walk to the employee parking lot.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZLmIS4ZzW
He circles my car a couple times while holding his phone as a flashlight, indicating with his hand that I stay back. I’m happy to comply.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qTNy5qGwg
“I’m not seeing anything. If there was someone out here they’re gone now.” I can see Rick’s breath.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXeVlp5SCX
“Thanks for checking.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcRSzQ58L8
Inside my car I check the back, just in case. Empty, other than the fast food wrappers. I breathe a sigh of relief.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1OEkgBuAl
It’s a calm ride home. It’s not until I’ve pulled into the parking garage that I notice a slip of paper on the dash board. A receipt. I don’t remember making any purchases, and I’m in the habit of throwing trash in the back. (Don’t judge me)15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXc3yZaQGxy
I scan the list of items and my heart stops.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTnzxbYSlf
:SHOVEL: :CTTAPE: :GLOVES: :EKNIFE: :IPLOCK: :HLIGHT: :(3)BLEACH: :GEBAGS: :RINDER:15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDe2xXC3Vb
There’s something written on the back. I turn it over, my hand shaking.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZEe9yrusY
You forgot to check the trunk15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFj4gkaYmI
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyDlgfPvnu
and then Add to home screen.