As Stanley went back to the main entrance, the boss got the other employers’ attention to come around. He announced the newest member of the block and introduced everyone to Stanley, who hid behind the boss and shook.

He eventually stepped out and introduced himself meekly, and waved slowly. The other employees surrounded the man and greeted him happily, much to Stanley’s discomfort, even though he knew they all had good intentions. The boss told the rest to back it up and then spread out to head back to work, which they did.

Stanley marched back to his counter with his head held high, his confidence rising. After a while, thinking about what happened, Stanley lowered his head with his confidence diminished. He couldn’t believe that he just lied to someone about something. All he wanted was to get a job, but he never could’ve imagined doing something so devious to get it.

Stanley took an empty counter with a cashier near it and got himself comfortable. As he took out a light blue apron and put it over his head, Stanley looked over at other people, placing items on the shelves and filling them up again. The man also noticed Hilary behind a counter across from where he stood. She noticed Stanley looking over and gave him a congratulatory thumbs up and a wink, to which he did the same thing.

“So, I heard you got the job? Congrats on getting it.” Hilary complimented.

“Hey, thanks,” Stanley replied.

However, just as another employer changed the sign out on the doors, a bunch of regular customers charged in, buying items off the shelves while taking the grocery carts around the place.

With the noises and footsteps the others made, a pit formed around Stanley’s stomach, worried there could be an earthquake ensuing around here.

“Whoa, what’s going on?” Stanley panicked, hiding behind the counter. “Why is the place so packed suddenly?”

“It’s one of our busiest days,” Hilary explained, trying to maintain balance. “Lots of people come here when that happens.”

“Is this the only supermarket in the city, or is it at least the most popular?”

“I’m not sure; I’m still not too familiar with the city yet. What about you?”

“Me neither, to be honest.”

Time went by as Stanley got instructions from other members on how to work the cashier, scan for items, and put them into bags.

He learned the information fast and worked slowly but efficiently. Stanley watched Hilary as she appeared to be doing a wonderful job. He almost got distracted as more customers stood in line near his desk and he went back to work.

While Stanley checked in all the items, a man talked on the phone. He watched as the cashier kept glancing at Hilary from the other side as she spoke to a couple with a child riding in the cart. The man on the phone looked over at Stanley and grinned.

“So, do you know her?” He asked.

“In a way?” Stanley remarked, not sure what he meant by that.

“I see, well, good luck.”

“Uh, thanks?”

“No problem.” The man said with a wink before taking the bags, placing them in his cart, and heading out.

Later, after some time had passed, everyone finished their shifts for today. The customers had left, and the employers got ready to head out. Some people did cleaning up duty on the shelves and floors, while others took the time to relax and call people on their phones themselves.

Stanley sighed as he rested his head on the counter. Today had been a rough day. He didn’t know how he survived it, but he overcame the hardships for now. At least he got the first day out of the way, but could things get worse from here on out?

Stanley glanced over as Hilary walked over to him with a green bottle in one hand and a light orange bottle in the other one. She gave him the green bottle as he took it from her hands. They both opened the cap, took some gulps, drank them down their throats, and sighed when they finished their section. Stanley thanked Hilary for the drink as she put away her bottle of orange juice.

“Superb job, for your first day, you didn’t do half bad,” Hilary said with a grin.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Stanley replied sheepishly. “So, what do you plan on doing now?” He asked out of curiosity.

“I’m going to go back and relax in my apartment: Willow View.”

“No way, that’s where I’m staying at too!”

“Cool, do you want to head back together, then?”

“Oh, s-sure, that’d be great...”

Hilary said goodbye to the other employees, who got ready to leave as well, while Stanley watched and squeezed his arm in anxiousness. After a while, the two headed out of the supermarket together.