Realistic Fiction by Xia Poddar

It was a hot summers day, North Dakota was blazing with heat. I sat on my sturdy wheelchair outside the convenience store that I’ve been working with, I dread this place I thought as I picked on the thread at the end of my uniform which was an ugly shade of bland blue, and I stared at the gigantic board reading “Wilsons goods”, contemplating whether I’m ready to take on this job. I wiped the beads of sweat off my forehead and called out “better late than never”.

I entered the small store and positioned myself behind the checkout counter. The shop helper greeted me with the usual “good morning!” which I returned bleakly. One thing I noticed is that everyone would scowl or roll their eyes when I bill their items, I understood that I slow at my job and couldn’t keep up with the pace of these impatient customers, and this was how my days would usually pass. My wage was extremely low and I had no-one who would care for me, I lived alone in an 1 bedroom apartment and didn’t even have lively neighbors, all I had were old retired couples. “my life has reached an all time low” I always thought, but I tried working hard and impressing  my grim boss but nothing would really work out. Customers came and left, many complained against my timing to bag their products and collect the money. I couldn’t help it , my legs being immobile made it a whole lot harder. It was evening now around 7:30 and I was tired of my routine of bagging and billing, but I had to work for half-an-hour more. I let out a growl and comfort myself against the wall. The shop helper was on one of the benches engaging themselves with the magazine we had on display. The bell to the door rattled as a lady entered the store. My eyes peeled open and I looked up to see a perky, short dressed in sweater vests and jeans with a toddler caressed in her arms, she was extremely short and had a young looking face. Her lips turned into a tiny smirk, I returned her smile but more wider.

She began surfing the toddler aisle, the shop helper was now asleep and the rest of the store was desolate, other than me and the lady.

“where can I find the baby powder?” her head perked up and she raised her eyebrows.

“it’s down aisle six!” I gestured towards her and smiled. She flashed me a quick thumbs up and moved towards the aisle. I chewed on my lip and fiddled with my thumbs violently. I observed as she moved around the tiny store quickly picking up products and dropping them in her basket. After around 15 minuets, she came to bill all of her items, the toddler in her arms was adorable, she had a head full of big black hair and huge green eyes, always giggling and holding the lady tight. I looked down  at her basket and began picking out things to scan.

“Hello” a voice squealed out, my eyes shot up and I greeted her back.

 “Is that your baby?” I quickly asked, regretting it later on.

“Nope, she is my niece I have to care for her” she spoke lightheartedly.

“Oh, she’s cute!” I spoke while punching in the number of baby food jars she bought.

“What’s your name?” she prodded curiously.

“Frank”, I replied with a smile.

“What’s yours?” I quickly rolled out.

“Zoë” she smiled back.

I grinned and picked up the grocery bag and handed it over the counter.

“Thank you! Do you need any help?” she offered kindly.

“I could use some to get home as the metro services are shut down!” I asked while adjusting my circular glasses on the bridge of my nose.

‘Come on by! I can drop you in my mini van” she chirped. The kid smiled, I agreed and she dropped me to my tiny apartment and pushed my wheelchair for me, which no-one has ever done for me! I smiled throughout my sleep over the fact that I found someone who cared for me.

I was back at my job and I was afraid today, about the fact that my boss has been threatening to fire me because I haven’t been efficient with handling the billing counter and may customers issued complaints about it sending the boss into overdrive. This put me in panic mode while I worked, I jittered at the sight of my scary big boss, he always had an overly-authoritative tone lacing his voice, the customers came in and left as usual and I got more complaints under my name, but the thing is that, the constant threat of my boss is nerve wracking and I’m messing up even more, fumbling around the store and getting my wheelchair stuck in random places! This genuinely worsened my problems I had more problems under my belt. My day had gotten from bad to terrible, nothing went right and I was down to my last $15, nothing was under control, all went haywire that day. My shift was going to get over soon but then Zoëcomes through the door, but this time without her niece. A smile crept unto my face as I looked her way, she waved back and approached me.

“Hello Frank! How you doing?” she quipped.

“I’ve been better Zoë!” I huffed out, a tiny frown plastered across her face.

“it happens to the best of us Frank!” Zoë smiled and walked down the freezer aisle to grab a few packs of butter and milk.

“Hey Frank, why are you day-dreaming!” my grumpy old boss spat out. I was immediately pulled out of my trance and gave full attention towards counting the tiny stack of $5 dollar bills.

Shortly after, Zoë approached the counter with her basket full of various products place haphazardly. She smiled brightly, I smiled and asked her “baking a cake?” after assessing all the cake related goods.

“yes!” she giggled. I billed her items confidently. she grinned at me and pulled out a pint of mint ice-cream from her bag.

“This is for you! you work hard, don’t worry be happy!” Zoë laughed, but she ran out instantly because someone had towed her car yelling “hold up there!” I couldn’t even thank her properly, but she was being extremely considerate and kind, she didn’t treat me poorly like anyone else would and has, I smiled to myself and placed the ice-cream to the corner of my counter carefully. Just then my boss gave me a look of anger.” Frank! I wouldlike a word with you! My office now!” the boss motioned for me, I gulped and started to perspire at the sound of his shrill voice. I moved over and entered his office to be greeted with a

“You don’t get it!” the boss yelled at me. I was terrified of him with his big bald head and bulging eyes.

“You mess up everything! Customers and staff is frustrated by you” he spat,

I flinched at his voice, his anger was boiling up but I was vulnerable. The ceiling fan oscillated around the tiny ‘cabin’. I was fidgeting with my uniform, my mind debating whether the boss was right. “I’m sorry” was all I could say.

“See, I know you know are handicapped and blah blah blah but this last straw!” the boss spoke in a calmer tone than before. My temper couldn’t be contained, but I tried.

“You are fired Frank enough is enough!”. Those seven words left me in devastation . The boss nonchalantly sat on his desk and signed a sheet of paper. My eyes were heavy, I was scared

“How will I earn?” I kept asking myself, my wheelchair was mildly damp from my sweat. The boss looked unbothered he signed his paper and work as if it was any other day. That enraged me.

 “Half of these people haven’t been in my shoes” I mumbled to myself as I gripped the cold metal around the wheels, and propelled out of the tiny, dingy cabin , I placed my backpack on my sweaty lap and clenched my jaw wheeling out of the tiny convenience store I used to work in. Zoë was on her way to pick me up, she would be the only one to still care for me. I sat on my wheelchair, positioned of the sidewalk of the tiny driveway waiting for Zoë. I spotted a tan, small hatchback approaching me. I recognized it.

“Hey!” Zoe waved from the drivers seat. I didn’t even feel smiling back this time. She detected my foul mood but didn’t question it. Her niece Isabella was in her car seat playing with a cereal box. Zoe got out of her car and helped me sit in the passenger seat.

“Can you switch off the radio?” I yelled out of anger.

“Jeez calm down”, she spoke while lowering the volume. She furrowed her brows and asked me with annoyance lacing her calm voice

“What happened?”

“Nothing happened, you would never understand” I spat through gritted teeth. Zoe wouldn’t understand because she has never been in my shoes she has never understood or felt the struggle of being misunderstood by everyone, she has had an easy life compared to me I thought in fiery rage. Isabella flinched; she seemed terrified of my voice, on the verge of tears. Just then, I had realized what I had done, I faced Zoë her face full of concern and hint of rage. She yet maintained a calm demeanor nonetheless

“I won’t tolerate you yelling without hindrance”, she yelped out.

 Isabella was bawling her eyes out in the back. I didn’t know what to do, everything seemed blurry and I never had a clear direction in life, I have always victimized myself in every situation of distraught; I’ve been doing it for all my life now, my reactions were always irrational. The young women in the car interrupted my thoughts and spoke out.

“Frank! I don’t know what’s up with you, I don’t think I could help you with it either, you’re attitude is making it harder too” she bent over to open the door and motioned for me to leave her hatchback, I reluctantly leapt out and Zoë helped me into my wheelchair and I slowly watched her drive away. My heart soaked in sorrow and pain, the cold brushed past my hair I sat there outside the store with nothing left in me, other than guilt an regret. I let myself into my home and rolling myself on the dark streets of Dakota. I was back at page one, back to being miserable and not doing anything about it.

It has been 4 weeks now, finding a job has been extremely hard too, everything was a mess, I didn’t have sufficient money to pay rent and buy food. Everything was falling down on me, I had nothing in control. Zoe hadn’t talked to me, I went back to being lonesome and poor. So I decided I would go and apologize to Zoe and try to fix all the problems that I had. So I picked myself out of bed and spent my last dollar on a bus trip to Zoë’s house. I stood outside her door, fingers shaking violently. I pressed the bell and huffed out. I could hear rampant footsteps approaching the door, Zoë swung the door open, she had an expression of confusion painted on her face.

“Hi” I waved weakly.

“Hello” she gestured for me to come in.

“I’m going to make this quick, I’m sorry for everything I’ve done and for hurting your feelings, I am trying to improve and I hope you forgive me” I blurted out of nervousness.

 Zoe smiled and pulled me in for a hug.

 “Everyone has their ups and downs, and we all mess up from time to time, but only a few of us admit their mistakes, I’m happy you were one of them”.

I grinned into her shoulder and mumbled a “thank you”.

We parted and Zoë yapped out “You look so thin and sickly frank!”, then ran into her tiny kitchen and brought me some sandwiches.

“Thank you! Zoe” I grinned and munched on them.

“So what’s up with you?” Zoë asked while looking at me wolf down her sandwiches.

“Oh! I lost my job!” I spoke nonchalantly.

“Bummer! The pet store I work at is hiring, I can work up something for you” she implied.

“ That would be lovely!” I squealed.

I was wrong Zoe, would have understood my pain the other day if only I had the patience and rationality to talk to her just like she did so calmly and gracefully with me, she had kindness and patience , I had anger and irrationality.

“ Everything will be better if you add some effort and sincerity, Frank!” I thought to myself.