A small light sparked in Francisco’s dark brown eyes, giving him indisputable confidence.

On the side, Marcia looked at Francisco as many complex emotions surfaced on her face.

Matthew gazed into his eyes, ready to respond, before noticing a small, near-insignificant spark that had not been in his eyes before. Because of this, he changed his response.

“Brother, you don’t have to thank me for anything. Your sister helped me more than I could have ever helped her.”

He paused for a moment before continuing.

“Ha… Well, if you really want to know, our love started eight years ago as well.”

Before he could continue, though, the shop door opened as a man entered. Outside, a dirty Ford truck could be seen occupying one of the seven parking spaces, likely the man’s. From the mud, it would be hard to assume what color it was, but it was most likely white.

After seeing who the man was, Matthew turned to Francisco to apologize. He looked straight into his eyes before realizing that small gleam he had noticed a second ago was gone, as though it were never there.

“My bad, Francisco. I need to deal with him first.”

Francisco looked blankly at Matthew with no apparent impatience in his eyes.

“It’s alright. Just tell me when you can.”

Matthew walked out of the cash register to greet the customer while the man trudged straight down the middle aisle, stopping to meet Matthew.

Before speaking to him, the man acknowledged Marcia and Francisco.

“Good morning to you two.”

Marcia and Francisco responded back before the man focused his gaze on Matthew.

“It’s been a good morning for you, huh Matthew, lazing around not working.”

Matthew laughed before dapping the man up and hugging him.

“Good morning to you too, Nate."

"I mean, where were you this morning? I thought you were gon’ be closed the whole day, and I'm near damn shit myself because of it!”

“Ay, that’s my bad, Nate. I opened a little late today because it’s my girl's first day of school.”

Nate pulled his hat off before scratching his head.

“Ah, it is that time of the year, huh. Time passes so fast.”

Matthew smiled at him before responding.

“I know right, especially with children. So, what can I do for ya?”

Nate spoke to Matthew about his specific needs while Marcia and Francisco stood in the background.

After a couple of seconds, Marcia placed her hand on Francisco’s shoulder before pointing to the employee's only door.

“How about I show you the back?”

Francisco nodded lightly before the two walked into the back portion of the store.

Inside, multiple boxes were stacked on top of each other as carpets scattered the area, all turned upright.

A thin layer of dust covered most things as an air purifier fired off in the corner of the room.

Towards the back of the room, lockers could be seen with a mirror in between them.

Marcia walked towards the locker and opened it. Inside, clean uniforms and hats were hung on hangers. She lifted it and pulled it toward Francisco, measuring whether it would fit.

“Alright, I think this one fits. Here.”

“?”

“Don’t think you’re going to stay in our house without doing any work.”

“…”

Staring at her blankly, Francisco grabbed onto the uniform while she continued.

“You know what they say! You got to earn your keep!”

“Alright, is there a bathroom?”

Marcia smiled lightly before pointing to a door on the other side of the room.

Minutes later, Francisco walked out, changed. Marcia placed her hand on her chin and gazed deeply at him.

“We really have to get you a haircut.”

Francisco grabbed onto his messy hair before pulling a portion up.

“I like how it looks.”

“You can’t be serious.”

Marcia approached him before patting him on the back and handing him a clipboard.

“You may not look good enough to be in the front, but back here, you’re fine.”

She pointed to the clipboard in his hands before giving him directions.

“Just follow all that it says on the clipboard.”

Francisco looked at what was printed while she continued.

“I’m going to head up front with Matthew. Let one of us know if you have a question.”

Francisco looked up from the clipboard before nodding.

“Alright.”

Marcia walked away while Francisco looked back down at the clipboard, which had varying tasks. Some said to mop, broom, and clean. While other tasks asked him to sort different rugs and carpets, Because of his lack of knowledge about most of the things in the store, he chose to do the simpler tasks.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Outside, Marcia walked into the main portion of the store to see Matthew sending off Nate.

“See you, man. I’ll hit you up when the shipment comes in.”

Nate waved back as he entered his dirty truck.

“Of course, man, I trust ya to it.”

He slammed his truck’s door as it turned on. Engines roared as he pulled out of the parking lot and left.

Matthew entered the store and saw Marcia.

“Where’s Francisco?”

"He’s in the back doing work.”

Matthew was slightly surprised as he asked her about it.

“He’s been here for less than a week, and you’re already making him work?”

Marcia smiled as she walked towards the back. With a rag, she wiped every single marble tile piece as she responded.

“If I don’t make him work now, when will he?”

“I guess… But, I mean.”

“Also, it’ll help him get his mind off of everything.”

Matthew looked at her, perplexed.

“What do you mean?”

Marcia stayed silent for a moment as she continuously wiped. After multiple seconds, she revealed all that she could to Matthew.

“Back in California, he had been struggling for a while. That’s why he came down here in the first place.

“Ahh, really?”

Marcia smiled at him and nodded.

“If that’s the case, maybe it is best he gets his mind working.”

The door opened as another man entered. The two looked back and saw the man wearing a dirty bandanna on his face with shades. He was a very round man, with his belly protruding out. He walked down the middle aisle and met Marcia and Matthew. Then he took off his shades to reveal exhausted, dead eyes. Dark circles lay under them as they melted down into his cheeks.

"Morning."

The man spoke softly yet powerfully, contrary to his eyes.

“Morning to you too, Everett.”

Marcia moved away from Matthew and continued cleaning with the rag while the two continued their conversation.

“You were busy this morning?”

Matthew sighed lightly before answering Everett’s question.

“Yeah, it’s my daughter’s first day, so I went to see her off.”

“Oh…”

Everett’s eyes shook slightly before he regained his composure.

“Ah, shit. Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“No. You can be proud of your daughter in front of me.”

Matthew regretted bringing up the topic of his daughter, but he was in too deep.

“Speaking of it. How is she?”

Everett sighed deeply before responding.

“I don’t even know. No matter what I do these days, she only seems to get worse.”

“Damn. That’s unfortunate."

“Yeah. However, at least something good happened today.”

“?”

Everett pulled his bandana down before smiling softly.

“She was at least somewhat sober today. And I saw her playing the piano.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It had been years. And in that moment, it felt like we were a family again.”

Matthew patted Everett on the back as he continued.

“Hey, Matthew. You know, I took your advice."

“!”

“I’m sending her away to a rehabilitation center.”

At the back of the store, Marcia listened quietly.

“It must have been a tough decision.”

“Haha, I know my limits. I reached them a long time ago.

“…”

The two stood silent as Everett realized he had spoken too much.

“Anyway, I’m here to get some tiles for a job I’m doing.

Before he could continue, though, Marcia inserted herself into the conversation.

“Excuse me, Everett, right?”

Both Everett and Matthew looked back at her as she continued.

“Is your daughter suffering from a drug addiction?”

Matthew widened his eyes as he jumped in.

“That’s not something you should ask Marcia.”

Everett stood silently before responding.

“It’s fine, Matthew; near damn everyone knows at this point.”

He turned to look at her and answered.

“Yes. She’s addicted to marijuana. Every time I’m with her, she’s always high.

Marcia looked at him before sympathizing with him.

“Actually. I know someone as well. They're addicted to cocaine.”

Everett remained unmoved as she continued.

“And I’d like to hear some advice on how to manage them.”

Everett laughed lightly before stating.

“I could never manage my daughter. You shouldn’t expect to control them either. We should leave it to the professionals.”

“Yes, but…”

“Miss. I really need to get the stuff I need.”

Matthew stepped in and continued speaking to Everett before Marcia jumped in.

“How about they meet each other!?”