we both matter, don't we? | stranger things

1. Freddy's Tunes

Starcourt Mall is never empty, not even at 8 in the morning.

Freddie leaves her bike next to the entrance, well protected with a lock. People don't steal in Hawkins - but better safe than sorry.

—Fred! —she turns around, seeing one of the security guards walk up to her; Mr. Lee. —There's a new load for your store, want me to send it in now? —

Right! She remembers, A-ha! —Yes! Yeah, please, I'll be waiting for it. Thanks. —

Patting Mr. Lee on the shoulder, she walks in.

Very few customers are buying stuff this early in the morning - most people are employees themselves, preparing their stores for another busy summer day. Lucky is Freddie for being her own boss and employee, as she doesn't have to stick to strict schedules and commands. Smiling at the workers that notice her, she follows the path she has memorised by now.

If you stand in the centre of the mall and look to your left, you'll find a big neon sign;

"Freddy's Tunes".

Again, not the best at spelling.

But it works for her most of the time. Those who don't know who Freddie, Freddy, or Fredie Bond is think the owner is a man - and her short hair confuses some from afar. It helps her out in some ways. In fact, the owners of Starcourt were surprised she turned out to be a teenage girl after renting her a spot, so who knows where she would be if her name wasn't Freddie?

She opens the store, heading inside. Four different switches turn on all the lights in the premises and the AC.

A knock on the door in the back makes her open it, finding a delivery man with his delivery cart. She's never properly talked to any of the delivery men, because they keep changing and being cold - so she simply signs a paper, and lets the man put two boxes inside. She says goodbye, and the door gets closed again.

—Ooh, finally, good stuff... —

Opening the boxes, she finds the tapes she's been waiting for; many copies of "Hunting High and Low", by A-ha, released a month ago but gaining popularity everyday. Freddie jumps in her place, already excited, and gets to work.

Organising tapes is quite easy when you love music - you know exactly what people want to see when they come in, and what they're willing to buy. And God will she make sure people buy more A-ha.

—Bond! Freddie Bond! —

Somebody enters the store, and she smiles. She likes it when people have fun referencing her last name.

She takes the empty boxes to the back, asking, —How's it going, Guy? How's your mom? —

Guy is a photographer, and he works in Starcourt, too. His mother has been dealing with diabetes, and he must take care of her, because he's the only sibling who never married and moved out. The lady doesn't comprehend why, and Guy thinks she'll never understand.

But Freddie should only know about her diabetes.

—We're both fine, babe, thanks for asking. —he grins, —I'm looking for something new, though. My Whitney tape busted. —

She puts her arms out, —Aren't you the luckiest man? Today I got more copies of the last A-ha album, y'know, Hunting High-—

—And Low? My god, Fred, how did you know? —he immediately finds the tapes, quickly grabbing one, —I've been looking for this since it came out! You were always out of it, did you read my mind or something? —

—Who knows? —she shrugs, chuckling, —You're a little predictable, honey. But I'm happy I picked right. —

Reason number 1 why Hawkins loves Freddy's Tunes; customer service.

When Guy brings the tape to the counter, Freddie is quick to state the same price she has given him since the first time they met; "12 dollars with 50 cents, sweetie". He, as always, pays the same; "here's 13, babe, keep the change. Do I get a lollipop?". And she, with no exception, smiles; "of course! Now go get some models - and blessings to your mother!".

And he leaves, and she's alone again.

Even through her loneliness, Freddie loves being a seller. She loves getting customers what makes them happy, she loves giving them candy, but most importantly, she loves making music accessible to everybody.

Look, a tape does not cost 12.50 dollars. At most, they're 10. But she has a secret system; thanks to it, some customers are used to paying 15, even 20 dollars. Average Hawkins resident pays around 12, like Guy. In some cases, Freddie has to make up sales so people don't question why they're getting tapes for 2 dollars, or even free. In simple words - you pay what you can.

And, somehow, Freddie always knows exactly what they can pay.

The Chief of Police once said she doesn't understand the economy, and he might've been right. But the system makes her and others happy, and it doesn't affect her profits as long as she keeps a balance.

Reason number 2 why Hawkins loves Freddy's Tunes; affordability.

After many long hours attending more customers, a stomach rumble tells her she's hungry, and she knows exactly where to go; in front of her store is the best ice cream place, Scoops Ahoy, with two of her favourite workers, Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley.

—Matey Harrington, how's it going? —

Hearing Freddie arrive, he signs to her to be quiet, as some girls their age are sitting inside the establishment, —Jesus Christ, Bond, don't embarrass me in front of them. —but he shrugs it off, sighing, —Whatever, I'm good, how are you? —

She looks at the ice screams, thinking. —I'm... Happy. I feel happy today. And hungry. What do you recommend? —

—Uh, I don't know, man. —he also looks at the ice creams, as if he didn't know what he was selling.

Right then, Robin comes out from the back, and she smiles at Freddie, —Matey Bond! —

And Fred is beaming, —Matey Buckley! —

But Steve is groaning, —You guys are terrible. —Freddie knows he doesn't mean it in a bad way, so she mocks sadness.

Robin is quick to aid the sale; —I think you should get chocolate today, with like these lemon sprinkles we got today. They taste weird as shit. —

—It sounds weird as shit. I'll get that. —

When the other girl serves her ice cream, a weird noise can be heard around Starcourt. Before they can ask what is going on, all lights and electronics turn off, signalling a power outage. Steve curses out loud and heads straight to the circuit breakers.

Freddie grabs her ice cream, watching Robin mock the guy, —That isn't gonna work, dingus. —

—Oh, really? —

Robin shakes her head, and Freddie chuckles. Steve keeps turning the switches.

—No matter how hard you do it, it won't-—

Lights come back on, and Steve shrugs,

—Let there be light. —

When Freddie pays and goes back to her store, she checks her logs for a David Bowie album.