Fairly Normal People

-Chapter Nine-

The rollers on the front windows of the Hobby Goblin clattered as they were being raised. Lucy stood by impatiently as Andy took his time walking to the other roller, unlocking it with a click and rolling it up with its familiar chiding clatter. Andy then stretched as Lucy let out a forced yawn of boredom before he walked over and sorted through his keys to unlock the door. Andy was purposefully taking his time as he knew it was bothering her.

"I could help you know." Lucy said sharply as she crossed her arms and pouted.

"Not without changing into a pixie you couldn't." Andy said slowly.

"And that's so bad?" Lucy asked as she uncrossed her arms.

"In broad daylight where anyone could just come walking around the corner and see you? Yeah, it could be." Andy retorted as he continued sorting through his keys.

Lucy looked up and down at the desolate empty street, the dull hum of cars was so far away the area around them felt deserted. The gentle clang of the chain link fences and the clicking slide of Andy inserting the key into the lock were the only thing that could be heard for at least a mile.

"Yup, anyone could just come waltzing around the corner." Lucy said derisively as she looked away.

"Hey, Murph." Andy called out as he waved to Murphy down the street.

Murphy grunted in reply and Andy turned to nod at Lucy.

"Hmph." Lucy pouted.

"So much for Miss 'I-Listen-to-Fleas-Fart'." Andy said as the key finally clunked into position and opened the door.

"Well, I have to be listening out for it. It doesn't just happen." Lucy stated as she rushed inside.

Andy followed her and closed the door behind him. Lucy ran into the back of the store and came back with several boxes in her arms.

"Stock, stock, stock, stock." Lucy sung to herself as she proceeded to fill the shelves.

Several of the shelves had been left bare, not because they had been especially busy lately but simply because Andy had grown lazy during the recent lull in business. Andy's back ached from just watching her carry that many boxes so easily. Andy settled in with his newspaper as Lucy hummed away behind the shelves. After half an hour, Andy got out from behind the counter and shuffled over to the front door to turn around the 'CLOSED' sign to show the 'OPEN' side. Andy stopped in place as he heard the thudding repetition of a horde of heavy footsteps. Andy turned around to find Lucy staring at him.

"Mrs Applebottom." Andy said in a loud whisper.

"Oh dang!" Lucy said as she quickly packed up the box she was emptying and rushed it back into the back room.

Andy ran to the back room with her and fixed himself up in the mirror before he rushed back the counter and stood behind it expectantly. Lucy put the box away, closed the door and stood by his side with a sickly sweet smile on her face. Andy watched as Mrs Applebottom and her children passed by the front window and he quickly opened and lifted the newspaper in front of his face. He peered over the top of newspaper to see they were all in a single file line with Mrs Applebottom at the tail. They stopped still as they reached the door and Mrs Applebottom made her way to the front of the line, making sure they were all looking their best along the way. After a minute or two of fixing collars or pulling frilly dresses into correct shape she made it to the door proper and paused. Andy and Lucy waited with baited breath. The door handle rustled for a moment like a horror movie cliche. Before she remembered it was simply a pull door after it had been unlocked.

Ding-a-ling-a-ling.

Andy and Lucy waited with baited giggles. The door opened with an ominous creak. Could this all be a ruse to get me to lower my guard?, Andy thought to himself cautiously. Mrs Applebottom stepped inside the door and stood to the side. The children all marched like trained soldiers into the shop before they...