Sisters Keeper

8

" That will be $15.76." Lucy gave the old woman a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She'd been out for three months now. Standing behind the register and being polite to people still wasn't something she was used to. Appearing as patiently as she could she waited for the woman to give her the money.

"Do you mind if I get some of this change out of my purse baby?" The older woman asked as she pulled out her pouch counting out one dime it took all of the little religion Lucy had to have patience as the woman counted out sixty-six pennies.

"No ma'am I don't mind. take your time ." She spoke imitating a light tone she had heard Ryan use.

Looking down at the impatient line she closed her eyes to keep from rolling them.

"There you go baby twenty dollars and seventy-six cents. Can you give me five ones back please?"

"No problem. Have a nice day." She gritted through a smile.

Holding her head down Lucy attempted to quickly check out as many people as she could with as little interaction as possible. Today was a day she worked alone since Ryan was off and out doing things that heaven only knew. Other people worked there but Lucy chose to survive by not socializing with any of them. She had nothing in common with anyone here. Many she had either served when she was slanging or their parents once worked under her.

"My oh my how the mighty have fallen." Lucy heard a voice in her check-out lane. Looking up she saw the face of a woman who had haunted her in her sleep.

"Mrs. Bordeaux, how are you doing today? Will this be all?" She questioned biting back

her the mixture of guilt and annoyance she felt.

"I didn't believe it when they told me you were out. Lord knows I prayed they kept your ass." The middle-aged woman glared at her with pure hatred. Mrs Brodeaux was the mother of one of Lucy's corner boys and friends. She had it out for both Lucy and Jah after her son Dough had gotten killed in a drive-by. They had paid for his funeral and even before she was locked up Lucy made sure she sent money to her every month. Though she claimed to hate Lucy so much she never seemed to send the money back.

"Mrs Bordeaux I ... I am sorry about what happened to Dou..."

"Don't you dare call my son by that name?" The older woman cut her off.

"I apologize about what happened to Arthur. I have spent my days wishing I was there to stop it or get him out of the way. If there is anything I can ever do to comfort you just let me know." Lucy said sincerely. Dough had been the most loyal Worker she had had even at times riding with her as backup.

"I recognize that you proclaimed to be on the straight and Narrow now how even if you have half the loyalty my son said you had and want to do something for me ..find the men that killed my son."

Lucy could feel the charge from Ms. Brodeaux's words How was she supposed to respond to something like that? She and Jah had looked all over for the man that killed Arthur they knew who he was but like a mist, he had disappeared before they could settle the score.

"Lucy I need to see you in my office please?" Mr Bunton the store manager called her interrupting the conversations she was having with the woman.

" I have to go Ms. Brdeaux but I'll remember what you said," Lucy spoke casually like the woman didn't just request her to commit murder. Walking into the store office Lucy's manager William Bunton sat on the edge of his desk. He was a slim older man with a crooked spine and a roving eye.

" You can count your drawer and go home. I don't need you anymore today." He said to her looking her up and down.

" Go Home? You gotta be kidding me I only worked four hours all week?"