The Exception

Chapter 14: Foul Moods And First Job

I fiddled with my bag as I watched the view. It was Saturday, and I glanced at my mom. She and I were equally quiet. The drive was the most awkward I have ever had. My mother did not know the reason why my dad was home early, and had Friday off. When I barged in asking for an explanantion...dynamite exploded. I swallowed. So my dad was actually under investigation, and I ignited a huge war between my mom and my dad. Then it backfired onto me. Tensions were high this whole morning, and I was grateful Ellie was picking me up after work. Things needed to be sorted out between my parents. 

"Enjoy your first day of work, honey," My mom pulled in. She stared at me and sighed. "I'm so sorry you have to start on such a bad note."

I shrugged. "Don't worry, I'll find a way to distract myself."

"Ok...you brought your homework?"

"To distract myself the rest of the weekend...yeah," I said and climbed out of the car. "Bye mom."

"Bye, Agnus...enjoy your weekend," I watched as my mom pulled the car out and drove off. We both knew it was a lie. Not only was I the highschool shooting target, now I found out a vicious rumour might be partially true.  I walked up to the sweet's shop door, Candy Delight, and tried to open it. I frowned. It was locked. I checked my watch. I guess I was early...

"I thought I recognized this face,"

I turned around and attempted a half-smile at Keith. "Hey..."

"Oof, bad week huh?" Keith asked swinging the keys and standing in front of the door.

"How can you tell?"

Keith shrugged. "I don't know...just call it a gut instinct, also when you smile...your eyes tell another story..."

I shook my head. "Wow...nice..."

"If you need to start Monday..."

"No, I need this," I said. "I need to be out of the house."

Keith nodded as he unlocked the door and walked inside. He switched the lights and aircon on, and started working at the cash register. I dawdled awkwardly, staring around.

"You can put your bags here," Keith motioned to a cupboard at the back. "Bring some homework?"

I shrugged. "Yeah, I'm sleeping over with a friend tonight, and I have a lot of assignments...and don't even get me started on my English problems."

"If it gets quiet, I can take a look at it for you..."

I raised my brow. "If you can that would be heaven-sent!"

Keith laughed and motioned for me to come.

An hour in, he was showing me the ropes of running a candy store. I had to give it to him, this job was a lot more complicated than I initially thought it would be. He explained to me how the cash register worked, the card machine, how to speak to customers walking in, and what to look out for.

"So some customers you kind of have to treat with kids-gloves or they storm out the door, sometimes even with the unpaid for candy..."

"Is that why you jog? So that you can catch them?" I asked and he nodded.

"One of the reasons..." Keith joked. 

The bell rang, and we divided. The customers were coming in, sometimes it was really busy, and other times the shop was completely empty. I took time learning where all the sweets were stored. I was fascinated with the variety there was in this store. It was a true distraction from what was going on at home, and Keith was really laid-back and easy going. Learning from him was easy. An hour before closing time, it grew really quiet.

"Let's see what struggles you have," Keith motioned to my bag and I grabbed my books and assignments. I laid it before him and showed him what I needed to do.

"So, do you do this in your Home-schooled world?" I asked and he shook his head with  frown.

"You really think it's strange that I school at home, don't you?" Keith asked and I nodded.

"I'd think it's quite lonely..." I mentioned.

"I'm here every day, and occasionally I do go out with my pals," Keith shrugged. "Granted, it can get lonely, but a person can be in a club  full of people, and still feel lonely." Keith flipped the page. "I recognize all this...it's to do with analysing passages of literature properly."

"That's what I am struggling with. I apparently, miss the point entirely," I said and Keith smiled again.

"Yeah, I can see that,"

I punched his shoulder and he took a step back. "Easy tiger, I'm just saying...if you were doing archery, you are shooting the  cloud, and not the apple on the tree."

"Ok, ok, so I'm bad at it," I said.  "Sue me."

"I would if you could spell it properly..." 

"Shut up!" I gasped and laughed. Keith took a pen and piece of paper. He scribbled on it and handed it to me.

"My email address, if you'd want to send this to me first, before handing it in..."

"So you'll edit it for me?" I asked.

"No, I'll just point out what's wrong and what needs to be changed. English is kind of my strong suite, but maths..." he shook his head and gave a laugh. "That's where I am shooting at the clouds."

"And maybe, good sir, I can help you with that," I said.

"I'll send you as problem and then we'll see..." Keith said. 

The door opened again, and I smiled.

"Ellie..."

"And how is our official Candy Delight Employee doing?"  Ellie smiled and glanced around. "Hey Keith."

"Hi, Ellie, how are you?"

Ellie nodded. "Been better...hope you don't mind, but I'm here to fetch Agnus."

"But I still have half-an-hour to go..." I protested. Keith shook his head.

"You did really good, I'm gonna be packing up and locking up soon any ways..." Keith closed my books and put it in my bag. I packed up and headed out, stopping at the door. 

"Bye Keith, thanks for everything..."

Keith nodded. "Enjoy the rest of your weekend, see you Monday afternoon."

"Yessir!" I saluted and walked out.

"I see your brother isn't driving..." I remarked and Ellie nodded.

"I snuck out before he could join," Ellie said and winked at me. "Otherwise we might have had another episode of Fast and Furious."

"No kidding," I responded.