In and Out

1

The bell on the door chimed, its sweet voice ringing though the store. The owner looked up from stocking to see a girl, no more than fifteen enter the family owned business. This girl came here often. Her name was unknown to the owner, since she had recently moved to the small town less than a month ago. She subconsciously fidgeted with the black beanie on her head that was threating to slide off due to an unruly mop of bright orange hair. Sticking her hands into her pockets, she disappeared into an aisle and the owner went back to stocking.

I'll be in and out Andy thought before she entered the family owned corner store. I just need to get some refills and then I'll be good she fingered the empty vape in her pocket. The cheap crap in the store wasn't the best, but it was all she could get a hold of until she made connections in this town. She walked down the aisle where the snack foods where to throw anyone off her scent before glancing over the small section in the store were the owner stashed the vape refills. Stuffing several of her favorite flavors into her pockets, she then concluded her adventure by grabbing a Monster to make it look like she came here with pure purpose. Andy walked up to the cash register, paying for the drink and walking toward the door, but before she could leave she tripped and all of her refills fell out of her pockets. Muttering a curse word Andy looked up to see the owner, an elderly woman, walking toward her.

The owner picked up one of the refills, fingering it gingerly, "Dear, I think that I need you to come with me." The girl's eyes got wide, fear and shock welling up in them.

"My name is Andy," the girl mumbled quietly, as she stood up, refusing to meet the eyes of the owner "Please don't call me dear."

"Well hello Andy, My name is Judith," the owner smiled sincerely, "And since I just caught you shoplifting from my store, I can call you whatever I would like."

Andy clenched her fists, "Well mam, with all due respect, the last person that called me dear also raped me."

The woman nodded, considering Andy's words. "Will you come with me to the back?" without waiting for an answer the woman shuffled to a door in the back of the store, and held it open for Andy.

Andy shifts from one foot to the next, debating whether or not to just dash out the door. With a sigh, she decides that a trip to the station isn't worth a couple of refills, and enters the back room.

It's dark at first. A suffocating darkness. Andy began to feel walls close in around her, thoughts of her torture suddenly flowing over her, like a powerful torrent of water. She groped the walls, searching for a light switch that would chase the demons away. Once she finds it, she flicks it on, desperately staring at the ceiling for the light.

Blinding florescent light chases away the monsters that only she can see to reveal three walls covered in bookshelves that reach from the floor to the ceiling. Andy looks around, speechless at the magnitude of literature.

"Please sit down," Judith gestured to an old worn chair that looks comfortable from many years of use. Andy complied, sitting down, but remaining tense and ready to spring at any given moment. "I'm going to make a deal with you Miss. Andy.

"I'm older than I used to be, and I can't quite keep up with the store as well as I used to. I could use a little bit of extra help, but I don't make enough to pay any extra employees. I would like for you to come help me out at the store when your schedule will allow it. Does that sound okay?"

Andy nodded, staring at the woman's shoes, then the rough, torn up carpet, then to the hundreds of books lining the walls. She looked at everything except the woman's eyes. "That sounds okay." Andy agreed, keeping her voice quiet. "What's with all the books?" Andy finally met Judith's eyes, noticing that they were a warm brown.

"These are my journals that I have written in over the years. I was molested as a child as well and these journals are what helped me keep myself together." Judith reached toward a shelf and pulled out a worn black leather bound journal that was tied shut with two strands of leather that came out of the spine. Judith untied the journal, opened it, flipped through it, closed it and held it out to Andy. "I want you to have this one. I've never written in it, and us survivors have to watch out for each other. Write in it whenever you feel yourself falling apart. It really does help."

Andy took the journal not allowing her eyes to stray from the journal. It had an abstract design scratched into the leather, but Andy was unable to tell what the picture was. She traced the swirls, noticing how the straps were weaved into the spine.

The front door jingled, announcing the arrival of another costumer. Judith handed the refills to Andy with a cheesy wink. "These will be your payment for your work here. Come in next Saturday, bright and early, around six. Be ready to work."

"Yes mam," Andy replied, standing up to leave with her journal and her refills.