/ "and i have to speculate that god himself did make us into corresponding shapes like puzzle pieces from the clay" /
Michelle "Mickey" Hopper has a lot of problems. An alcoholic father ignoring the loss of his youngest daughter, her sister, Sarah...
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...Monday, October 29, 1984... video killed the radio star - the buggles
Mike, Lucas, and Dustin deposited their bikes in the rack outside the Hawkins Arcade just as Joyce Byers' car pulled up to drop Will off. Dustin looked between the group and an approaching Will. "Do you think Mickey's working today?" he asked.
"Yeah, Nancy said she was gonna go to a movie with them, but Keith had to cover for someone at the arcade," Mike filled in. "Let's go say hi."
The boys turned away from the arcade and dropped into the video store next door. The video store and the arcade were owned by the same person so they often shared employees. But, because of Mickey's history with drugs (which, because it was such a small town, was known by nearly everyone now), she was often kept at the video store, away from large groups of kids.
But of course, that didn't discourage the four middle school boys who came running into the video store when they saw Mickey sitting at the front counter, fidgeting with the rubber band around her wrist as she read a book. "Mickey!" Dustin yelled to get their attention.
"Hey, dorks. Come to relieve me of my boredom?" she questioned playfully.
"Duh," Lucas laughed as they all leaned up on the counter. "Got anything good?"
"You have no idea. Hold on, I'll be right back." Mickey ran into the back room and threw the new movie down on the desk in front of them. "Check it out: advanced copy of The Terminator. Technically, we're not supposed to rent it out yet, but I've already taken it home to watch twice and Keith's watched it like five times. So, if you guys wanna take it with you, my lips are sealed." Mickey brushed a finger along her lips like a zipper and winked.
"No way!" Mike exclaimed, picking the tape up to examine closer. "You're serious?"
"Dead serious," she smiled. "What else could make your Halloween week more fun? Plus, I trust you guys to bring it back once you've all gotten a turn to watch."
"You're so awesome," Dustin said, taking it from Mike's hands with a look of awe on his face.
"I'm aware, but thank you. Now, go play some games for me." The blonde waved them off as the middle schoolers traveled next door to the arcade of video games. Mickey was left to return to her book, but with a contented smile on her face left from the little boys' excitement.
Only another hour passed when Nancy and Steve dropped by to visit Mickey as promised. Steve was always bringing Mickey food when she was working through meal times and that day was no exception.
"Thank the god I don't believe in!" Mickey exclaimed when the couple entered the building. "I've been counting down the minutes, dude. I'm starved."
She greedily reached for the fast food bag in Steve's hand, but he moved it back, just out of her reach. "Excuse you, madam, but manners are still appreciated," Steve said.
