The Hardy-Mart

Saturday

"Hey, Keith, I'm here." I tossed my bag into the back room and gazed longingly at the bright Saturday sun that I was leaving for my stupid weekend shift that I traded with that stupid nerdy boy.

"Oh, hey, Candace. Parker told me about how you two switched your shifts. Did you bring your swimsuit like I asked?" Keith was a pale, overweight, scruffy-bearded, twenty year old college drop-out who made his money off a full time gig here at the mart. I swear he survived on Ramen noodles and video games. And since he started working the friday night shift with me, he had practically become my brother.

"Yeah, I did. Should I even ask what we're doing? The last time you told me to bring my swimsuit we did some crazy shit."

"Nah, nah. You can rest easy today. The Hardy-Mart just got in the new shipments of Home Furnishings for the part of the store that was expanded over the summer. Guess what's on the top of the list?"

"I dunno, microwaves?"

"Actually, that's in appliances. No, at the top of the list are Hot Tubs. We've just got the display connected and ready to go. I've, um, commandeered it. You know, to make sure it functions okay. Test it out."

A wry smile creeped up on my face, "I see. Perfectly reasonable."

"So, as an honorary employee of Hardy Mart, it is your sworn duty to make sure everything is satisfactory for the customers."

"Oh, believe me. I won't fail."

In the washrooms, I slipped out of my black skirt and grey graphic tee. My swimsuit was a black one piece with a cute waterproof belt that wrapped around my hips. I tied my hair in the back and let my bangs hang out in the front.

"Hey, Keith, doesn't that one kid work the weekends, too?" I called coming out of the restroom.

"You haven't met him yet?" He called out incredulously.

"How do you expect me too? He works weekends. I don't."

"Lucky you."

I raised my eyebrows and worked my way to the Home Furnishings aisle. It was more like a giant indoor patio with chairs and tables and couches. At the far end, a gleaming white tub churned frothy white water into bubbles. Keith relaxed in one of the four corners, his head lolled back. I dipped my toes into the water and felt like collapsing into it. It was the perfect temperature. Like a bunch of warm hands were massaging my body.

I sunk into the water and let my head loll back, enjoying the feel. In the back of my mind, I could hear another person fall into the heavenly water. I didn't really care. Right now, I was doing my job of testing out the hot tubs. And they were definitely satisfactory.

And then a hand touched my leg. Right on my knee. I opened my eyes and almost jerked my head back up.

A small Indian boy squatted on the hot tub's seats, less than a foot away from me, with his hands reaching out to me slowly. His eyes were big, glazed dark things and it was like he bore into my soul with them.

"Oh. My. God."

"Meet Raj," came the distant voice of Kieth, who acted like nothing had just happened.

"Raj," said the boy quietly, like a raspy whisper, "Raj, Raj, Raj..."

I slid across the seats slowly, trying to create some sort of distance between us. And then he scooted forward slightly to catch up.

"Could you just, like, get far away from me?" I asked him, my voice small.

"Raj is far, far away." Raj snuck up close to me.

I slipped off the seats in my attempt to run away again and plunged into the tub. In a second, I was back up, lunging for the seats on the opposite side. Raj leaped into the center of the tub and came dog paddling up to me.

"Raj will save pretty girl. Raj is mighty kingdom slayer. Raj, Raj, Raj..."

"How 'bout no? How about you go over there and stay there and stay away from me?"

Keith chuckled, "Don't get so freaked out. That's just the way he is. He's just a little excited because he doesn't get to see a lot of people."

"I don't care!" I scream-whispered, "This is not socially acceptable!"

Not like chillin' in a hot tub with your co-workers was, per se, but this, at least, was definitely not.

"You get used to it. Parker and I have to deal with him every weekend. Want to know something funny? He imprints."

I was done. I jumped out of the tub and ran, not caring about the water I dripped everywhere. With a gleeful laugh, that small Indian boy chased after me, chanting, "Raj! Raj! Raj!"