This Crazy Thing Called Life

Chapter 4

The next morning my mom came to my room as I was getting ready for work
"Hey, are you busy after work today?" She asked.
"No, why?" I questioned. she told me she wanted to do the shopping for school supplies after work. I told her that would be fine and no, I had nothing planned. She left and I finished getting ready. As I walked to work, I felt like I was being watched. I started running and didn't stop until I was at the shop. Once inside, I breathed a sigh of relief. Turning to look outside the glass door.

"You're here already? Suck up..." I heard a feminine voice mutter, and I jumped. I turned to see my coworker, Tamisra, standing behind me, looking annoyed. However, I knew she would bad-mouth me if I was ever even a minute late.
"Good morning to you too, Tamisra," I said politely as I could, heading past her to the back to put my stuff in a safe place. I make myself a cup of coffee from the old coffee machine the boss bought for employees. After chugging my (very sweet) coffee, I head to check inventory. As I am walking over, I hear the bell ding and look up to see Tamisra's blonde hair as she leaves.
"Okayyyy, fine. Just leave. without saying anything or whatever. Sheesh." I say, beginning to take inventory. Suddenly I feel eyes on me.
There it is again. I am being watched. I think as I try to act as normal as possible. I glance around the room, but I am alone. No one but me is working today, so all I have as a witness are the cameras by the entrance and the register.
"DING!" I startle, hearing the bell dangling above the door jingle. I turn to see a person In all black, with a facemask and a black hoodie. I greet him, to which they respond with a simple "Morning". From their voice, I was able to tell they were, in fact. a he.
"Are you looking for anything in particular? Maybe I could help?" I say, attempting to strike up a conversation.
"Actually, yes. I was wondering if you have any books on knot tying and medieval torture?" He says, his dark eyes peering down at me. Wow. Okay. definitely not suspicious. At all. Nope.
Actually, we might..." I say, wanting to nope my way out of this situation right that second, but knowing my boss would be unhappy. I head over to our kids' section. I peruse until I find what I'm looking for in the children's skills section.
"Baking, biking, knitting...Ah! Here we are!" I say, handing him a book on knot-tying.
"And! If you'll follow me..." I then head over to the history section, searching, until I find the book I remember putting away at work the last time I was working. I grabbed it, handed it to him, and headed over to the register. He followed me quietly. He was really beginning to creep me out. I quickly checked him out and waved goodbye as he left. As soon as the door was shut and he was finally out of sight, I breathed a sigh of relief. I suddenly remembered I needed to get the stuff for baked mac n cheese. I'll go to the store after work. I thought. I continued to work, but there wasn't much to do, as Sundays weren't very busy.
Soon enough, the clock struck 6, and my shift was over. My boss, who lived only a block away from the store, usually comes in to help close, so I waited for an extra five minutes like usual. Sure enough, the bell dinged as she walked in. I liked my boss. She was this sweet old lady, probably in her 70s, and her name was Meredith. I liked her. She was short and stout, but not ugly.
"Alrighty, dear. You're free to go." She said kindly.
"Yes!" I said.
"Although, don't forget to-" She started but I jokingly cut her off.
"-Shoot you a text when I get home, thanks, Mrs. Meredith," I said warmly as I exited the building and walked through the plaza towards the grocery store. It was a warm August evening. For once I felt like I wasn't being watched. I walked into the store and pick up my groceries without incident. I walked towards my house a couple streets away. As I walked in I was greeted by my mom.
"Hey sunshine, how was work?" she asked.
"Good." I said. I didn't want to worry her about some random creepy dude. I went to my room and set my stuff down. Then I started on my chores. when I had finished, mom came to my room.
"Hey, are you ready to go school shopping?" She said. I nodded and grabbed my stuff.