It's Murder at the Buy-Right

27

Her hand slapped at the annoying sound that was rattling the room and disturbing her sleep. The alarm! She had to get up! It wasn't like she was unemployed!

She jumped out of bed and quickly showered. She rummaged through her closet for the oldest Dollar Store duds.

Monroe had said some cleaning and restocking, but Daisy Ann knew there was a vast amount of work to be done before the store could be opened to the public again.

"Deke," she whispered to her image in the mirror. "I hope I have your blessing on this. Hurry up and get well. I hate being responsible for these keys."

She looked at the keys on the key ring. They were small, but they represented so much responsibility. If she could pull this off, it would be the greatest thing she'd ever done. Keeping Deke's dream alive until he could pick up where he'd left off.

Something fluttered in the pit of her stomach.

She wanted to laugh, cry, and maybe vomit, all at the same time.

When she pulled up in front of the store, it suddenly hit her.

What had she agreed to?

The horror of seeing her former boss lying on that cement floor, still and bleeding, made her shudder. Her knees felt weak. Her rational brain was screaming for her to crank the car and drive back home.

"Can't," she said, gripping the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white.

"Can't. Can't. Can't."

"Who are you talking to?"

Daisy Ann yelped.

"Henry! Where did you come from?"

"From behind the dumpster," he said. "I crashed there last night after I got thrown out of my place for being behind on the rent."

"You were kicked out into the street?"

"Yep. That's about the size of it. Cody's been real sick, and I gave Ella the rent money to buy some medicine for him. It was all I had. I was walking around, wearing out my shoe soles, wondering what to do next. I ended up here."

"But that's awful!" Daisy Ann said.

"I crashed behind the dumpster on some old cardboard. Didn't get much sleep, but I figured Deke wouldn't mind. Heard you drive up. What are you doing, Daisy Ann?"

"I'm opening the store."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I'm afraid I am. Look, Henry. I could use some help. You interested?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. Do you want a job?"

"Uh-huh."

"When do I start, Daisy Ann."

"How 'bout now?"

"Okay."

"I can only pay minimum wage, though."

"Beggars can't be chosers."

"Great. You hungry?"

"Starved."

"How would you like a big breakfast of potted meat and crackers? That stuff's nuclear waste. And I know the saltines are still in date."

"Sounds like a banquet to me, Daisy Ann. And it wouldn't matter to me if the saltines were stale. I've been living on air since yesterday morning."

"Come inside. I was only joking about the potted meat. But it will have to be something in a can that's not spoiled. We'll see what we can pick up off the shelf to get some sustenance inside you."

He followed her into the store.

"Looks different, don't it?"

"Yeah," said Daisy Ann. "And it smells different, too. Henry, you still hungry? Lotta spoilage in here."

"I'm so hungry, I could spoon soup out of a toilet bowl, Daisy Ann."

"Oh, Henry! Anyway, go down the aisle and pick whatever you want that's canned or packaged. Nothing that had to be refrigerated. After you've eaten, we'll tackle this mess."

"You bet," she said. "Look at this place. I'm going to need all the help you can give me, Henry."

"Thanks, Daisy Ann," said Henry. "I need this job."

"Well, like I said, I'll only be able to pay you minimum wage," she said. "Profit margins on a place like this are measured in cents not dollars."

"Beats earning zero," said Henry.

"Go eat your fill. Then, we'll get started," Daisy Ann said. "And Henry?"

"Huh?"

"Say a prayer for Deke when you say grace."

"You know I will," Henry said.