Flower Boy≫ SSOHPKC

.01

Often when there were no customers in the store I'd have to get up, and take on the task of arranging all the items so that they were organized. After working here for the longest time I knew where everything belonged by memory as well as what sections of the store got the messiest.

Usually popular areas such as the drawing supplies, or the fabric were in a state disarray consistently. Other areas stayed relatively clean with the exception of when a toddler came in and destroyed it because of their parents who obviously didn't care. The thing that perplexed me was that the flower area was always one of the nicest areas of the store.The flower area had always been one of the most popular places for people to gather supplies from yet for some reason it always seemed to be the neatest.

Whether it truly was or not wasn't something I had time to debate or not as I had many other duties along with the job, and side responsibilities to conquer. Along with making sure everything was organized and cleanly I also had to stock shelves, take inventory, and order new shipments based on the inventory.

I also had a personal responsibility to observe flower boy.

Most of the time when he came to shop, and eventually buy a fair amount of flowers it was after he got off work, or so I assumed, around 7:30 pm, but some days he'd come in around noon in the midst of my lunch.

Around this time was always busy as people had the mindset that they could quickly pop in with ease to collect whatever craft items they'd need. It didn't go so smooth when eight other people had the same mindset. This made for a rush hour of sorts as I work desperately trying to please each customer, and work the rather small store by myself. Despite the hard work of rush hour just as the last customer left and I retired behind the counter to eat my lunch, which today happened to be sushi from the place down the street, flower boy would come ambling in.

He always looked relaxed, and completely at ease as he greeted me with a friend,t wave before wandering back to the flower section. I smile slightly watching as he meticulously picks out different flowers, careful to only pick ones that were full and usually bright in color. Returning to my lunch I eat silently while looking through inventory sheets and analyzing what we needed.

A small cough brings me out of my land of sushi and inventory as I see flower boy standing in front of me, his glasses askew and blue eyes lit up. Suddenly aware of how terrible I must have looked I push all the papers to the corner of the counter and straighten my posture.

"How can I help you sir.", I state.

It took all my willpower not to say flower boy.

"Um do you carry any like darker purple flowers?", he asks. A light blush coats his cheeks as I bite my lip uncertain of whether we did.

"Let me look.", I state.

Getting up from my perch I walk out to inspect the flower section even though I'm sure flower boy had carefully combed it over himself. When I come up empty handed I resort to the back to search through items not yet been stocked due to the sudden flow of customers and my growling stomach. A deep sigh leaves my lips when I realized that there weren't any at all.

"Um I'm sorry sir, but we don't have any.", I say.

At this moment I internally begging that his face won't fall, or show any sign of disappointment; I can't stand when customers are unhappy. It makes me feel like I've failed at my job.

Thankfully flower boy just nods, okay with it. I watch as he wordlessly goes back to the flowers picking out a few more. I smile watching from behind the counter as he is precise about which ones he selects.

A few minutes later he returns to the counter his bounty of supplies in hand. Carefully I ring up the items careful to scan all the faux flowers, and remember what all he bought. Fake flowers, hot glue sticks, floral tape, and some sort of greenish flower wire I wasn't even aware we sold. As I tell him his total he works to dig out his wallet handing me a few bills of varying amounts.

"Thank you.", he states as I hand him his change, a receipt, and his bag of materials.

"You're welcome, and have a good day."

"I think I will.", he says smiling.

"Good, and come back soon.", I state watching as he heads toward the exit. Flower boy looks back at me with a large grin as he nods.

"Oh I definitely will."