Two weeks before James first New York Jump -

They had just finished his rice and Tommy was munching on an eggroll when they both heard a banging. It could only be coming from the front doors. They looked at each other and pondered who could be trying to get in at this time. Then James eyes lit up, “Oh shit!” He got up and made his way to the front of the building.

Tommy sat there a minute or two while he finished his eggroll. Soon James reemerged with Amanda. She was a solid 5’5” with shoulder length brown hair. The most striking thing about her were her hazel eyes. A lot of people had that color, but Tommy wasn’t sure if it was there tone or the total of how they presented with her other features. He knew that James had been chatting her up the last few months and had a thing for her.

She had moved to the area about a year before and quickly found the Emporium. Most people do that are into the geek culture. Then again being on a prime location along the two major highways in the area didn’t hurt either. Or the half a dozen strategic bill boards that Tommy had bough to advertise his pet project. In any case she was a regular customer and had a thing for rare Funkos.

“I hate to tell you ma’am, but we are closed,” Tommy said as he grabbed another small package of fried rice.

She smiled at him and her and James sat down at the table. He offered her some sweet and sour pork, which she accepted. “Someone was supposed to take me out tonight, but they weren’t outside after work like they said it would be and wouldn’t answer my calls or texts.

Tommy looked over at James. “You stood this nice woman up?” James looked at him with a disgusted look. “Well you can blame that solely on me my lady. I have kept him here longer than I should have. We are discussing nerd stuff as usual.”

Amanda wasn’t too sure how to take Tommy’s tone. She had spoken to him a few times over the months, and had found out a lot from James, but a casual interaction had not occurred until now. “Well as long as it doesn’t happen again, I guess I can let it go just this once,” she said, hoping it would be the kind of banter that he was okay with.

“Sal’right,” Tommy replied.

“So, anything that I might be interested in?” Amanda asked as she grabbed the last eggroll, much to Tommy’s shigrin.

“Maybe, what are you into besides pops?”

Amanda stopped eating a second and looked at him. “I do actually like more than small vinyl figures you know. I only collect the ones that are in the things I do like.”

“Oh, sorry, it’s not like anyone here talks much about you,” Tommy said as he looked at James. Amanda turned and looked at hi too in an accusatory manner.

“Hey, we don’t talk about much besides business most of the time. Don’t blame me.”

They all took a moment to chuckle before Tommy spoke. “Well, I do have a shipment coming in tonight, we could be there when it comes in.”

James looked at him confused, “There was nothing on the schedule for tonight.”

“Where do you think everything we get here comes from? I find stuff and keep it in one spot. When we have room or need something here I have it shipped over. A lot of the things I find are part of like estate sales or large personal collections. I swear at times I spend more in shipping that the actual assortment of stuff I get. Most times there is a lot of crap that I have to take just to get what I really want. One time I had to get almost a house full of old and broken furniture just to get a couple of old pinball machines.”

“You poor thing,” Amanda said.

“Out of curiosity what is it that you actually do?”

“Wow, he really hasn’t said anything about me, has he?” She paused while giving an evil look at James again. “I teach high school.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I said I teach high school.”

“Oh, I heard you, I am giving you my condolences.”

Now she stared at Tommy with an evil look. “I see why you two get along so well now. Both smart asses. I also run the chess club and the gaming club. It is the only way I can get my geek on. I swear I don’t have a lot of time for real social activity with real people. That is one thing I like about James.”

“His winning personality?”

“Well that too. But that he works late and when he is done with work I am usually done grading papers and planning the next day.”

James looked at her, “And I thought it was because we got along so well.”

“You would think that, I can fit you into my schedule, that is the most important thing.” It got quiet for a moment before all of them started laughing again. Tommy got up and started to throw some of the trash away. “Well let’s get going then. It is getting late now, and I don’t want to keep the teacher from her students tomorrow.”

“It’s Saturday man,” James said.

“Oh yeah, I lose track some days.”

The three of them went to the back of the store. Tommy unlocked the door and then locked it when everyone was out. His Dodge minivan sat in the back next to James car, which was much nicer. They all got in the van and Tommy started it up. In about half an hour they arrived at a large building on the edge of town. Tommy parked near a door and got out. He proceeded to pull out a key and unlock it. Then he motioned for the others to follow him.

They entered the building. A short way a way was a small office with the light on. A man emerged in a uniform and a weapon. “Evening Tommy, here for the shipment arriving?”

“Of course, Ernest. All quiet?”

“Same as usual. I swear you just pay me to hang out, not that I am complaining.”

“Well you make it look professional, so keep that up and you will be fine.”

The three of them walked past the guard shack and into the larger area. James figured the facility must have been 100,000 square foot at least. A moment passed and the lights started to come on. The guard must have flipped them on once he returned to his post. Once the place was fully lit, James could see that the whole place was not being used. There were several aisles with things in them and a couple of dumpsters on the far end full of trash, he could even see pieces of old furniture sticking out. “How much of this place is yours?”

“All of it. I don’t use it all. I don’t have that much crap.”

“I guess Pop figures are doing well for you then,” Amanda said as they walked past a large stack of various old board games.

“I do alright. This is where the salvageable stuff goes.” Tommy said pointing to the aisles farthest from the wall they entered from. They were soon past the rows of stuff and came to some tables. “This is where stuff gets sorted when it comes in, if it needs to be. And thrown out over there.” He pointed to the dumpsters that James had eyed earlier. “Then we put the stuff that is good but we don’t want over there at the loading docks. I can usually get rid of it to antique dealers, thrift shops, or charity. Sometimes I might grab something for myself though.”

The area he pointed too this time was not too cluttered, but there were some furniture pieces, clothes and other various items there. Amanda walked over to take a closer look. James turned to Tommy, “I thought you got a lot of stuff through your travels?”

“Well yeah. But they are kept other places. I wait for them to build up to make it worth bringing here. And I do actually find old estates and collections as well. I mean I find it kind of fun. But in any case, I have it all brought here to process.”

“What do you want for this?” Amanda yelled. She was standing, then plopped down into an old couch. “I love this. It looks just like one my grandma used to have.”

“Tell you what, promise to take James out again and you can have it.”

“I think I can live with that deal, but I don’t have a way to get it home.”

“I can have it delivered, just tell James where.” There was a knock at the back dock before the door went up. A tractor trailer was backed up to the door and the driver was standing there. Ernest had made his way to the back to open the door. It was around the perimeter, since none of the three saw him. He was signing a clipboard the driver handed him. Soon a few people came from the far corner of the warehouse and started to unload the trailer.

The driver disappeared, and soon the truck was driving away, leaving the trailer. The workers were bringing the contents over to the sorting area. The trio went over to see what was being unloaded. “You have quiet a staff here Mr. Tommy,” Amanda said.

“Not really, when we need a shipment unloaded I just hire bodies from the local temp agency. They will get a good payday for a small amount of work.”

“Are those what I think they are?” Amanda squealed as she ran over to a table where some things had just been set down. She picked up an old Nintendo system still in its shrink wrap. “Is this from the New York test market release?”

“Yes it is, with Robbie and all the goodness. Take one if you want.”

“I can’t this thing is worth a small fortune.”

“There should be at least six of them there, so go ahead.”

James leaned over to Tommy, “Dude you are making me look bad.”

Tommy laughed. “There should be something here for you as well.” He walked over and started digging in a tub that was sitting there. After a few minutes he pulled out a small container and tossed it to James. He opened it and looked.

“Really dude?’ He took out a small action figure. It was Bobo Fett. When he pushed the back its little rocket shot out. Tommy caught it as he walked back.

“It’s not the sealed one, but I figure you would want to play with it anyway.”

“Damn skippy!”

The three of them stood around the rest of the night looking at all of the items that were unloaded. It took the workers about an hour to offload the truck and they were gone shortly after. Soon it was morning and they had gone through a bulk of the items. Tommy looked at his watch. “Well look at the time. Breakfast is on me people.”

Amanda and James looked at him a moment. “Is this how you get all this stuff sorted? Luring nerds in to do your work for you?” James said.

“You have me figured out man. Now shut up and let’s go eat.”