Dogs barking, I limp to the break room and sit down in the first chair with a thud and a groan of relief.
"Working hard?" Lyssa, a fellow cashier chuckles at my tiresome sigh.
"Yes. My feet are killing me." There is some light conversation going on among the few employees in the break room.
"It'll be over soon," Charli, another fellow cashier assures me as she opens a small bag of chips. "Anyway," She turns back to Lyssa, "how is that paper coming along?”
"Anyway," She turns back to Lyssa, "how is that paper coming along?"
"I don't wanna talk about that right now."
Charli chuckles, "That tells me it's not coming along at all."
"Paper?" I chime in and scoot my chair close to them.
"Yes, Lyssa here has enrolled in college but refuses to do the work they provide for her."
"Correction. I can't do the work they 'provide' for me." Lyssa turns to me with her green eyes, "I don't know how to do Geometry and Algebra." Lyssa looks at Charli then, "I am not even sure how I passed high school." She slumps in her chair.
"I am pretty good with math; maybe I can help you out a little." I offer my assistance.
"Really?" Lyssa now beams at the possibility of having some kind of help.
"Yeah, it's not hard once you get the hang of it," I explain to her.
"That's what all you math-whizz say." Lyssa presses her lips together.
"Lyssa, you work as a cashier. How is it you don't get math?" Charli pop a chip in her mouth.
"Ugh," Lyssa groans, "I've explained this to you plenty of times before."
"Well, explain it to me again." Charli snaps.
Lyssa rolls her eyes, "That's basic math, Charli. It has nothing to do with trying to find x and the slope of anything. It's adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Basic shit."
"Psh," Charli scoffs. "You talk to her, Azaireyah. Because she gone make me knock her out."
"HA!" Lyssa laughs causing other employees to turn around to see what the noise is. They go back to their own conversations when Lyssa gives them a dirty look. "You couldn't knock out a fly, Charli. So, stop frontin' in front of Azaireyah."
"Whatever." Charli swivels to me as I raise my eyebrows at them and their drama. "I thought you'd have gone to college by now, Aza."
Aza is my nickname for those who are too lazy to say my full name anymore. It's annoying but over the years I have gotten used to being called Aza instead of Azaireyah.
"Yeah, I haven't really thought too much about it." I am lying through my teeth. I have thought a lot about ditching this lemonade stand and going to college. But, what always stops me is: I have no damn clue what I want to do. Electrical engineering? Accountant? Something that I can make a lot of money off. Business administration? Then which one of the universities can I get into?
"You should think about it," Lyssa says as we stand up nothing our break is nearly up and we need to clock back in.
"I will. Since it's been brought to my attention now." I assure.
We push our chairs in and make our way to the line at the clock.
"I am sure you don't want to spend all your life as a cashier here." Lyssa continues to persuade me to go to college.
She's right. "I don't. I just need to know what I wanna be."
"A college advisor can help you with your goals and desires, Aza," Lyssa informs as she clocks back in. "It's always worth a try."
The majority of the day, I was on and off the cash register helping customers. I often pondered when were we going to get some self-check outs while stocking shelves and pointing out where things are when customers asked. But, the most I thought about is going to college. It's always been a dream of mine to go and be better than what I am now. But, I was always told I didn't have to go by the boyfriends I have had. I think they didn't want me leaving them for some college boy or they wanted to keep me dumb. But, I was never as stupid as they thought I was. When I finally clock out and get to my car, Lyssa and Charli approach me. Charli is pushing Lyssa along.
"When can you tutor this girl?" Charli asks annoyed with something.
My eyes glance at Lyssa who is staring at the ground and sniffling. I then gaze at Charli. I swear if Lyssa and Charli weren't nearly the same age that Charli is Lyssa's mother. Then again, Lyssa doesn't really have a mom or much of one by the stories Lyssa tells about her childhood and the terrible things her mom has done to her and her young siblings.
"What has she done exactly?" I question with my keys in my hand.
"She is talking about quitting college and becoming a stripper."
I laugh at that. I look at the serious expression on Charli's face, my laugh fades. "Oh. I can do it," I look up at the sky noticing the dark, rain clouds beginning to roll in on this Monday evening. "Wednesday afternoon." I glance at Lyssa.
Lyssa looks up at me and nods lightly. "Okay." She says nothing else, but walks to her own car and drives off.
Charli looks after Lyssa, "I don't understand her sometimes, Azaireyah. I really don't."
I open my car door wanting to just go home and put my feet up. "Maybe she is just having a hard time with the college thing. She needs positive support and praise."
"I know. I hate seeing her like this and I wish there was more that I can do for her."
"I know. We'll get it fixed." I get in my car and close the door. "She will be okay; she just needs some time to adjust to this."
"I sure hope so. I will see you later, Azaireyah." She walks away to her car waving.
"Bye." I crank up my car and drive away.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AZurK7xTd
