Savior of Mine

SoM 1: Best of Business

POV: CHRIS WOLDEN

"Because that makes no fucking sense, Josh. I have a tab for a reason, I'm asking you to put it on the tab." said a voice that sounded no older than 16. Raspy, and angry.

I heard her and what seemed to be an older man in his 20s arguing back and forth until I saw them when I was walking into the gas station.

"Yeah, and you've used the tab every day for the past 2 weeks kid, I can't keep doing this. Both of our asses will be fired." The clerk said.

"Don't fuckin go there dude, you know my situation and..." The girl said who was now quieting down when she turned her head and saw me walk through the door.

I just casually walked to the back of the stores to get a Red Bull when I saw what she was trying to "Buy". What kid buys beer? And better yet what kind of person lets her get away with it.

"Listen, you're not giving me enough as it is, and I can't get a job anywhere else. What do you expect me to do? Tom is taking my money that I make already just to pay back the shit I got on my tab so please Josh. Please I need this." I heard the girl plead over the 12 pack of beer.

It's unbelievable. I finally grabbed the flavor I wanted and walked to the front where the girl was grabbing the pack off the counter.

"Man, you're talking with Tom when he asks what the hell you're doing, get the hell out." The clerk who I know as Josh now said in almost a playful manner.

"Thanks again Josh, I promise I'll pay you back as soon as I can. I- I promise." The girl said before glancing back at me with a dirty look and walked out and around the corner of the gas station.

"Just that for you today?" The boy asked me while I was still occupied with wondering what the heck that kid was going through.

"Uhm, yeah just this." I said while grabbing my wallet out. I payed and hopped in my truck to head home.

As I was driving, I see the kid, in the rain, walking by herself with the pack of beer to her side. But what's more messed up than that is a creepy man in a pickup truck asking he if she needs a ride.

"It's none of my business so I best be minding it." I said while I passed her and drove on home. It was pouring out by the time I got there wondering if the kids inside now at least, warm and safe. It was pretty cold out too.

It must have been clear I was hard in thought when my wife caught a look and asked me what's wrong from the kitchen.

"Oh, I just was thinking about something I saw today." I said as I sat down with my boys right before she came around and placed the dinner in front of us.

"Well, what'd you see?" She asked, clearly excited. I cleared my throat before seeing all three of them looking at me.

"Well, I went to grab a drink from this gas station down the corner 'cause I couldn't this morning and when I was walking in, I heard this arguing back and forth from a kid in my guess high school and some other guy in his twenties who was the clerk." I said before going on again while the boys looked totally into it. Maybe thinking it was a fight that was about to break out or something.

"She was begging for him to put what she had on the counter on her tab but clearly from what he was saying back to her, she had done this multiple times beforehand. So, they went back and forth until I walked in, and she quieted down a bit before going off again." I said and took a bite of the potato's that were on my plate.

"But what really made me concerned is that she was talking about the beer she was trying to buy, and he wasn't stopping her from buying it. She eventually persuaded him, and he let her go. By the time I had finished and payed she was out the door and down the street. I got in the car and saw her walking down with that 12 pack of beer in the pouring down rain. Just a little dinky thing strolling down the street with some alcohol." I said and stopped to take a drink and shook my head. I was still in disbelief.

"Did you not stop and ask what was wrong, maybe give her a ride. It's been raining since 2 this afternoon and it's freezing out. It's November Chris." My wife said who had her hand on her chest and stopped eating in worry.

"Hollie, I'm not a woman. I'm a guy in a big pickup truck. You know how sketchy it is if I were to pull up next to a little girl and ask her for a ride because 'those beer bottles are sure heavy'?" I told her picking up a big scoop of peas.

"Yeah mom, that would just be creepy." Hudson spoke up.

"Well maybe go there tomorrow again at the same time. She could be working there from what it sounds like. You could try to make some type of conversation." My wife said clearly clueless of how shifts work.

"No, the guy would be working there. I'll go in the afternoon and see if she's there. I don't have a 5th or 6th period class, so I'll be off early. Although she might be in school." I said finishing the last bit that was on my plate.

"Eh, I wouldn't bet on it dad. A kid buying alcohol probably means she's been expelled. Why would she buy that on a school night if she goes to school. Going back to school the next morning after drinking the night before is bad news." Gavin spoke up while he was getting up from the table and putting his dish in the sink.

"Thanks mom." Both the boys said in sync before going down the hall.

"You got practice tomorrow, Hudson!" I yelled before hearing him holler back a yes sir and shutting the door. I turned back to Hollie just as I was getting up to see her look at me in pure sadness.

"What?" I asked while putting my plate in the sink.

"I'm just thinking about that poor girl now. What if it wasn't for her? What if it was for someone else?" She said also following me out and into our bedroom.

"Hollie, she was begging and pleading him to let her put it on her tab, meaning she probably spent all her money on beer prior and then didn't have any more to pay for the next pack. She's probably addicted or something. It's sad but it could be true." I said while kicking off my shoes.

She sighed and sat on the bed next to me before coming up behind me and hugging my neck.

"Well, if you do see her again try and help her. You may think it's none of your business, but you never know what she's going through, and you never know who she might need. You work with kids all day. Kids her age, and you're a coach see what sports she likes." She said and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Go take a shower Chris, rain makes you smell." She said and lay down on her side of the bed.

"Your real mean sometimes you know?" I said and smirked while walking to the bathroom. All I heard was her laughing on the other side of the door.

I tossed and turned all night thinking about the kid. Why would I care so much for a child I don't even know? I had to be up early the next morning just so I can go see more kids that had their life together in the slightest but how come that girl can't? Why did she have to be buying beer on a school night instead of studying for a test, or going out with friends? It's gonna be a long night.