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“The store’s been in trouble for a while now,” Mary admitted. “I’m sure you noticed. The sudden drop of new hires from last year, the company updates talking about rolling back certain products.”
Gwen hadn’t noticed—at least not before, but now that Mary mentioned it, suddenly it made sense. Nobody in their right mind would ever discontinue carrying aMiss Moxie Dollif they knewanythingabout dolls. They sold like hotcakes every Christmas, especially the limited-edition holiday ones.
“And it’s not just the lack of new products, but the stolen merchandise,” Mary wrung her hands together. “The high percentage of loss this year alone has got upper management in a spin!”
Stolen merchandise?
Gwen couldn’t remember the last time they had banned someone from the store for shoplifting. Had someone been stealing the whole time without any of the employees noticing? While Gwen hadn’t cared before, she was suddenly irritated. She had lived the last decade in a state of hypervigilance, and suddenly she had just lost her touch? The idea that Gwen had just let some yahoo waltz by with stolen merchandise annoyed the fuck out of her.
Mary wiped her eyes, bringing Gwen back to the moment. She had no idea when her manager had started crying, but it was getting progressively worse as the older woman went on.
“They’re saying that they might have to shut down several Master Basting locations in the Snohomish county, and our store could be up for closure!” Mary wailed. “We need to get our numbers back up before the end of the year or else the store is done for!”
Under any other circumstance, this would have been Gwen’s dream. For all those slogging, mundane afternoons stretching on for hours while her mind was preoccupiedwith her dolls. All the mindless chit chat with coworkers and customers. All the sweat and anxiety and utterbullshitGwen had endured over the past ten years.
Gwen had always imagined she’d walk out of the building with her finger in the air. She supposed most people who hated their job had that fantasy, but it was somehow less satisfying knowing her coworkers wouldn’t just go on without her.
Plus, I kind of need this job for the insurance and the fabric discount.
“And if all of that wasn’t enough, Zander’s been a no call, no show!” Mary cried. “He’s always been a little difficult, but to be gone for almost a week?”
Zander worked in framing—specifically custom framing. He was as friendly as anybody could be in a hobby store, and decent at his job. Originally, he had started off as a cashier, but had transferred to the new department a year ago. He’d been with the company for four years now, and disappearing didn’t sound much like him.
“The only good thing about it is now I don’t have to lay anyone off,” Mary continued to cry.
Before Gwen could argue, Mary grasped her hand, and it was like a punch to the face. A wave of emotions were open to Gwen. Sadness was the main course, like a steak with mashed potatoes. Fear was a side of garlic bread, the highlight of the meal. And the tiny pit of anger was an overpriced chocolate dessert that was smudged across the plate.
“Oh, Gwendolyn!” Mary cried. “I don’t know what we’re going to do!”
Gwen burped.
“Sorry.”
26
Envy
Gwen
Gwen had Saturday off.
Ordinarily, she wouldn’t, but Mary had explained that hours had to be cut. Gwen hadn’t argued. It felt wrong to get upset at someone who had fed her so well. Mary had quickly collected herself, though Gwen noted how exhausted she looked. For a moment, Gwen had worried that she had taken too much. Worried that she might have damaged the woman in some way. But when Mary had looked up from cleaning her mascara, she had smiled, and Gwen could feel the relief of the emotional release. Mary was tired, but she felt better.
Gwen wasn’t sure how to feel about that. It hadn’t been her intention to eat a part of her boss anymore than accidentally helping her feel better.
I guess it doesn’t matter. Nobody died, and I got to eat. That’s a win, Gwen,she thought while stepping out of the shower.
The spider colony had grown yet again. As Gwen dried her feet on the bathroom mat, she noticed the bizarre black webbing had expanded. Stretching up and across the ceiling, thick tendrils supported dozens upon dozens of blue-backed spiders. Despite her initial trepidation around them, they had mostly been good house guests. If she didn’t count the whole taking over her bathroom thing.
“What are you guys even eating?” Gwen asked as she wrapped her body in a towel.
The blue backed spiders didn’t answer, but she could feel those tiny eyes staring at her. Almost like the way Gwen imagined her old dog used to.
Piki had a deceptively sweet face. Most Pomeranians did, though Gwen wasn’t sure if all Pomeranians had the same temperament as Piki had. She had named him Piki because of how much his fur had reminded her of the soft fuzz on a peach. He had been old when Gwen adopted him, and she had been horrendously naïve about him. Despite her best efforts to train him, Piki had been as stubborn as Gwen at times. Piki didn’t like anyone who wasn’t Gwen, even driving away an old boyfriend.
I wonder if Piki would have driven him away—
“Fuck,” Gwen winced before gently knocking her forehead against the closed bathroom door.