Then the moment Therese dreaded the most arrived. The three “popular” girls from Therese’s school came one day. Therese didn’t despise them, she admired them. She liked how the girls always had perfect hair and the nicest clothes. Therese admired how everyone seemed to want to know how the girls felt about things, what their opinions on anything were. Therese wished she could talk like that, she wished people maneuvered in the halls to be near her, or boys showed off for her attention. Therese knew all those things would make her uncomfortable, but somehow, she wished she had them. The leader of the girls felt Therese violated their social order and had become very jealous of the attention Therese was receiving from boys.
The girls walked in, and Therese immediately felt uncomfortable. Suddenly, Therese felt her makeup was lacking, her hair less pretty, and her clothes more wrinkled from working than they should be. Therese grimaced, although her frown was almost as invisible as her smiles. Therese wanted to run, she wanted to have an excuse to go to the back, but Erin had just left to go over to the Kookie Mart. Therese twisted her right foot in to keep herself from bolting. Therese brushed her palms on her apron to dry the sweat. “Hello, may I help you?” said Therese, with her standard greeting. She liked not having to worry whether she should say good morning, good afternoon, or good evening.
“Oh, hey, you’re -THAT- girl from school.” said the lead girl, stressing “THAT”.
Therese grimaced. The comment stung her. She was not oblivious to the fact others saw her as different, even if her feelings were just like theirs. Therese froze, wanting to cry, unable to even make her tears work.
“You have a cool job, getting paid to stand there. Was the application hard to fill out?” said the second girl, slapping her hand impatiently on the counter.
Therese’s tear ducts started flowing on her own. Her makeup streamed down the side of her face. She kept tightening her right foot in, she would not run, she would not leave her station, Erin needed her there. The words stung Therese deep, she knew their intent was to hurt her. Therese tried to speak, her voice would not work.
“Can we get some help?” The third girl, Kara, slapped the counter, trying to participate but unable to be clever. Her efforts were very weak and uncommitted.
“May I help you?” said Therese in a weaker version of her normal calm and cool voice. Therese still had tears streaming down the sides of her face. She could barely say those four words, she was terrified they might ask her questions.
“Is this a coffee shop?” The lead girl taunted.
“This is a coffee shop.” answered Therese, confused why the other girls would ask such a question.
“Well then, how about you sell us some coffee?” the lead girl demanded.
“How about you tell me how much piss you need, and I will go over there in the bathroom and piss in little cups, and you can buy them, because that is the only thing you’ll get here.” said Ben, in an angry rage, having walked into the scene.
“I’ll tell my father.” said the lead girl.
“Tell her, I’ll kick her ass too if she has a problem. If I’m not here, I’ll be next door. Tell your daddy to come, I’ll be waiting for her.” said Ben, “Now get out of here.” Ben pointed at the door. The girls made exaggerated efforts to display being offended.
“You go to school with that shit?” Ben asked Therese, who nodded yes. Ben told her, “Don’t worry, college is better, no one knows who you are, or even cares.” Therese hung her head in sorrow as she cried and turned away from Ben. She was embarrassed.
Ben tapped Therese on the shoulder, “Hey, you’re already better than them, that’s what they can’t handle.” Therese leaned over and gave Ben a big hug, he squeezed her back. He smelled bad, probably forgot to shower this morning, or maybe didn’t wash his store shirt, but Therese thought his big smelly hug felt good.
“Go fix your makeup, I’ll watch the counter. I know you want to look good for that guy over there.” said Ben, pointing in the direction of his store. Therese started walking fast to the bathroom, grabbing her purse. She stopped halfway, turned, put her feet together and stopped, to look at Ben.
“Thank you.” Therese told Ben. Her makeup was a wreck, her face wet and her mouth drooped sadly on one side. Ben’s heart cracked.
“I really would have sold them piss.” said Ben, turning around to grab a muffin. His own kindness had made him uncomfortable, even if his kindness to Therese was expressed rage at the bullies. Ben chuckled to his own amusement at the thought of selling his urine. Therese turned, put her feet together, and then walked to go fix her makeup. Ben started eating a muffin. He loved eating the muffins Erin baked. Right now, they tasted really good. He smiled and ate the muffin.
Erin came back, and saw Ben eating a muffin, and waiting for customers. Only Ben would eat a muffin while making coffee drinks. She always had to sweep up the crumbs when Ben covered. “Where’s Therese?” asked Erin.
“Some girls came by and gave her a hard time.” explained Ben while eating his muffin.
“What did you do?” Erin asked Ben, seeing he had done something by his grin.
“I offered to sell them piss.” said Ben plainly.
“You need to keep your coffee on that side of the wall,” said Erin, pointing at the back wall, “Where is she?”
“She’s fixing her makeup. She took it hard.” said Ben, losing his muffin grin. He was sad when he thought of Therese crying.
“Watch the counter, I’ll go check on her.” said Erin.
“Okay. I hope you don’t mind, but I might need another muffin then.” Ben said after he already had grabbed another muffin. “Ooh Blueberry.” said Ben, as he turned around and saw a customer. “What can I pour you?” Ben asked, “And hey these muffins are delicious.” Ben added.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Erin walked to the back bathroom which was kept for employees only. Erin knocked on the door. No answer. Erin knocked on the door. “It’s me, are you okay?” she asked Therese through the door.
The door opened, Therese stood there with a blank expression, having done her best to repair her makeup. “I used to get picked on in high school too.” Erin told Therese. Erin thought it would be little reassurance, but wanted Therese to know she wasn’t alone.
“You did?” Therese asked flatly but surprised. Erin was beautiful, she did not understand how anyone could pick on her. Therese wished she was like Erin, and did not understand how anyone could find fault in her.
“All the time.” Erin told her truthfully.
“Did it hurt?” asked Therese. Erin had always seemed invulnerable and strong.
“It still does. It just hurts less. People never forget how you make them feel.” explained Erin.
“I’m sorry you got picked on. I’m sorry Ben had to help.” said Therese while looking down at her shoes. Erin could tell the young girl was devastated. Erin’s own heart ached.
“Let’s go shopping.” Erin told Therese, grabbed Therese’s hand and started walking with her out the store. Erin was determined to not let the day be ruined. “We’re going shopping.” Erin told Ben as they walked past the counter. Ben was struggling to keep up with the orders.
“I have a store to run, you know.” said Ben.
“No you don’t, you were just going to play video games with Vivo in the backroom while Peter does everything.” Erin told him.
“I have video games to play, you know.” Ben looked at the line in front of him, and continued “Saturday is your busiest day, you know.” Erin did not respond, she kept walking, finally Ben said loudly “You can get me Chinese food, you know.” Erin waved back to let him know she heard him. Ben started thinking about Chinese food while he filled orders for coffee drinks. Ben looked at the muffin crumbs on the floor and thought Erin should sweep more.
“What are you going to buy?” Therese asked Erin, as Erin drove the car down the street. Erin, grinned, she loved driving.
We are going to get you a new shirt for your first date.” said Erin.
“Date?” Therese asked, confused.
“You already kissed the guy, you might as well let him buy you dinner.” Erin told Therese. Therese smiled, flatly but Erin could tell she had already started cheering up. Therese put her head back, to mimic the relaxed look Erin did when she was driving. “Let’s get you something nice. Where do you normally go again? No wait, I’m not your mom, we’re going to a new store.” Erin said. Therese knew she was about to step outside her box.
Therese was overwhelmed by all the clothes in the store. There were so many different colors and so many different styles. Erin asked her, “Do you see anything you like?” as they walked through the store.
“There are too many.” Therese told Erin, trying to explain she was feeling frustrated because she was overwhelmed. Therese stopped and looked at designs. Therese stopped and felt the fabrics. Therese let Erin hold shirt after shirt up to her to see how they looked, then shook her head and disagreed.
“Do you trust me?” asked, Erin seeing Therese might need help, making a decision.
“I trust you.” answered Therese.
Erin finally selected a blouse and gave it to Therese. “Go try it on.” Erin told her. Therese obliged and went into the fitting room to change. There was an overlong pause. Erin waited patiently. Finally, Erin had to ask her “You fall in?”
“Fall into what?” asked Therese, as she walked out with the shirt on. Erin smiled, she looked great. Therese stopped and stared in the mirror again, pinching herself.
“Is that really me?” she asked Erin, as amazed as the first time she had worn makeup and done her hair. Therese pulled on the blouse in the mirror. It had cuts of fabric, and sequins in the right places, Therese never would have picked it out, and known her mother would have never picked it out. The colors of the shirt were beautiful.
“Yes, she is really you.” said Erin, looking into the mirror too. Erin fought to keep from crying as she saw how amazed Therese was as she saw herself in the mirror.
“I need to buy this.” said Therese flatly. Erin agreed.
“Let’s use our tips from last night. We forgot to split them.” said Erin pulling out a fistful of dollar bills. “If it’s more, we’ll use the tips from today.” Erin added.
“Yes, please, thank you very much.” said Therese. Therese ran to the changing room, stomping her feet the whole way. Erin laughed, she wished a shirt had ever made herself that happy. A few minutes later the ladies walked to the counter to pay. Therese put the shirt on the counter. Erin grabbed a fistful of dollars and pulled it out of her purse. The elderly lady working the register threw an odd look as she smiled at seeing Therese. “We are not strippers.” Therese told her flatly. Erin choked. The elderly lady smiled and thanked them for coming in as she rang up the sale. Therese had an unusual bounce in every few steps.
“Let’s get Ben some Chinese food, while we figure out where Peter can take you for dinner.” Erin said. Therese liked that idea, she looked in the bag at the shirt, and felt the fabric, she could not wait to wear it.
Half an hour later, they walked into the Cowffee Cup, carrying the bag with the shirt in it (Therese was unwilling to leave it in her car), and several bags filled with Chinese takeout. Ben saw the bag of food and grinned. He had done a good job helping the customers, and Erin could tell everyone looked happy. She walked in, handed Ben a bag “Orange chicken, three egg rolls, fried rice, for you, and some more for the other guys.” Then she kissed Ben on the cheek and thanked him. Ben blushed.
“When’s the fashion show?” Ben asked Therese, seeing her looking in the bag at her new shirt.
“All you boys have to wait.” Therese told him.
“Well tell your boyfriend to hurry up and take you out, I want to see what you bought.” Ben said, taking the Chinese food and heading to his store. He smiled when he saw a little smile roll out from Therese. Ben would have covered the store all week to see that faint flat smile come back to Therese’s flat affect. He knew by now that was a full-blown grin and some.
Ben walked into the store. Vivo had arrived, and decided it was less work to play cars with Anna in the office, so Peter was still doing everything in the store. “You look tired, good thing you are young. Hey, I had Erin get you some Chinese food, you can go on break when I am done.” Ben said, handing Peter lunch. Peter knew this meant he was eating bites between customers at the checkout register. Ben walked back to the office, then stopped and turned to face Peter. “I forgot to tell you, you are asking Therese out to dinner for tomorrow. You can even leave early, but not too early.”
“Where am I taking her?” asked Peter, knowing Ben had already decided his date for him in the time it took to walk from the counter to the office.
“Relax, I know a place.” said Ben, not having actually decided yet. He was hungry, and the last thing he wanted to think about when he was hungry was what he is not eating. “That place?” Vivo asked him, grabbing some food.
“Oh yah, it’s real nice.” Ben told him.
Vivo hoisted Ana in the highchair and opened some baby food then grabbed a spoon. Vivo liked the little girl, she was fun, loved him, and was just enough to keep Erin from pressing him for a kid of their own. Ben liked the fact she always laughed when he made fart sounds. Ben ate half his food rapidly, and looked up at Vivo, “Lou owes me a favor, they should go there.”
“I can’t even afford the free water there.” Vivo told Ben.
“It’s the big favor, and she’ll be glad it is over.” said Ben, scribbling directions on a piece of paper to give Peter. Ben picked up his cell phone and dialed, a lady answered it. “Yeah, it’s me, about that favor, of course I didn’t forget, yeah, I’m going to send a couple kids over for dinner tomorrow, can you treat them extra nice for me? Oh good, thanks, I appreciate you returning the favor like that.” Ben hung up the phone and went back to his lunch. Ben loved the egg rolls, and dipped them in the extra orange sauce.