A Safe Space

Chapter Two: Uncle Jonah

"Ma'am, I told you before, and I'll tell you once again, we are all out of detergent! The next shipment doesn't come until tomorrow!" Amy tried to reason with the persistent customer.

"I can't understand why you won't just check in the back," she sputtered back.

"I know this store like the back of my hand! There is no detergent in this building!"

Jonah walked by. "Excuse me sir, do you work here?" the customer asked.

"Nope, I just wear this blue vest that says "Cloud 9" on it because it's the new Autumn fashion trend," Jonah joked. Amy rolled her eyes. The customer was fuming.

"Are all the employees here this incompetent?" she complained.

N-n-no ma'am. How can I help you?" Jonah sputtered.

"I want to speak to your manager!" the customer threatened.

Glenn walked up. Speak of the devil. "People, people, what's with all of this hostility?" he asked.

"This woman is withholding products from me, and this man just insulted my intelligence with crude humor!" the angry woman accused.

"How am I withholding products!" Amy exclaimed.

"My humor is not crude!" Jonah protested.

All four parties were yelling at each other in the middle of the store. Cheyenne pulled out her phone and started recording. "I'm going viral!" she proclaimed.

Amy's phone started ringing. "Excuse me," Amy said as she walked off. Jonah followed her.

"Amy, wait! I need you, I can't argue with this lady on my own!" he begged.

Amy stopped in her tracks as she looked at the caller ID. "Emma's school is calling me. Why would they call me now?" she wondered out loud as she answered the phone. Jonah leaned his head against Amy's so eavesdrop on the conversation. Amy didn't bother to push him off.

"Hello. What? Are you sure? That doesn't sound like my daughter. I'm sure there's a valuable explanation for this. I'm not sure if I can make it now, I'm at work! Okay fine, I'll try my best." Amy hung up the phone and looked at Jonah. Her face was full of worry. "Emma got into a fight."

"What? Really? Huh, she didn't really peg me as the feisty type," Jonah shrugged.

"I have to go pick her up. But I can't! Corporate's already on my back for taking too many vacation days. I could be fired if I leave my shift again!" Amy exclaimed.

Jonah didn't like seeing Amy so stressed out. Her brows furrowed, her eyes were full of sorrow, her mouth was pulled into a frown. "I haven't used any of my vacation days. I could go pick up Emma for you," he suggested.

"No, I couldn't ask you to do that."

"No, no, really, it's fine. I don't mind. Emma could use some bonding time with her Uncle Jonah," Jonah said with a smug look.

"Uncle Jonah?" Amy chuckled. "That doesn't sound right."

"Nah, I think it has a pretty nice ring to it, "Jonah argued.

"Alright, well don't expect Emma to start calling you Uncle Jonah anytime soon," Amy warned jokingly.

"You'll see! You'll all see!" Jonah yelled a little too loudly. Customers stared at him. "Alright, well, I'm gonna go now," Jonah said as he bolted out of the store.

Amy sighed. She's so lucky she has someone like Jonah that has her back. She knows that she can always count on him.

Jonah drove, turning up the radio full blast, jamming out to his favorite song, "Seven Wonders" by Stevie Nicks.