Mixing it up

With a sign Finn wiped up the condensation stain on the counter. With a casual flick of his wrist, he threw the damp paper towel ball toward the dustbin under the counter. The ball hit the back rim. It bounced off. The quick movement of his right hand was still too slow, and the paper towel landed on the floor.

With another sigh, the middle-aged man looked around. There were four teenagers in the front of the shop. His part-time worker was nowhere to be seen. Rubbing his right thumb and middle finger a few times, he finally snipped and the towel landed in the dustbin. The plastic bag rustled.

“Woha. I thought we shouldn’t do that Mr. B.”

Finn turned around. Pearl stood behind him, a boba cha cup in her hand. She was chewing on the tapioca pearls with her lips stretched in a wide grin.

“I wouldn’t have to do that if you kept the counter clean. What did you do in the back?”

Instead of an answer, Pearl put the straw in her mouth again. The light-brown liquid intersected by the dark tapioca pearls found its way into her mouth.

Seeing her chew, Finn tried to remember his teacher’s lesson on patience.

They didn’t prepare me for this.

“I checked on the delivery. And I packed the orders. Just like you told me to.”

Finn nodded and rubbed his neck.

“Are you finished?”

“Would I dare to come to the front if I wasn’t?”

Finn breathed in and out and managed to smile at his part-timer.

“Thank you. Could you check on the capybara display? And then the plushies.”

After another round of sucking and chewing, Pearl nodded.

“The tea stays here. You are not supposed to drink in front of the customers.”

He didn’t hear the groan but saw her roll her eyes after passing him. Demonstratively slow, she put her cup next to the cashier. Then she left toward the group of teenagers. Reaching them, she struck up a conversation with them. They were giggling and Pearl was showing them more of the merchandise, forgetting her initial task.

“As long as the sales go up.”

A smile tucked at his lips. Then his eyes caught the puddle around the half-empty boba cha up. Another paper towel left the box. This time he made the shot.

“Yes!”

“Excuse me, sir. I would want to pay.”

A shy voice made Finn look up. A shiny face looked up to him and Finn felt his cheeks heat up.

“Sure. Let me see what you have picked.”

A small yellow basket was put on the counter and Finn scanned the items. With every beep of the cashier, the girl’s eyes darted to the small screen. Finn saw her clutching her small wallet. Her cheeks were flushed a light pink. She appeared younger than the other teenagers which usually bought the nick-nacks in his shop.

Scanning the last item, the cashier produced a double beep. The girl flinched. Finn looked at the item in his hand. A frown appeared on his forehead.

How did she get this?

Quickly, he forced a smile on his face.

“It seems that there is a problem with this product. Do you want to exchange it for another?”

The girl looked up. Her lips were pressed together. She puffed her cheeks slightly.

“No. It’s a gift.”

Finn looked at the small box. It shimmered in rainbow colors under the bright light. The small plastic window showed a palette of four colors.

“You might find a similar item. I can ask my assistant to …”

“No, Sir. This is what I want.”

Finn looked up at Pearl, but she was now at the plushie corner and didn’t look in his direction.

“Sure, sure. I will key in the barcode number. Just a question though. Where did you find this?”

He turned the box and as expected the barcode flashed up in purple upon his touch.

“Wow! I knew it was special! Sam will love it!”

“You saw that?”

“Saw what? The purple flash? Yes.”

Finn put the box down and looked at the girl in front of him. Her hair was in a strict ponytail. Her eyes shone in a deep blue behind her thick glasses. Immediately, Finn’s eyes darted to her ears.

“Forgive me, I will scan it again. I will need your registration tough.”

“Ah, yes. Of course. Sam told me. I forgot.”

The girl pulled her left sleeve back. With her thumb she rubbed her wrist. Within a few moments a small, inverted triangle appeared. Quickly, Finn grabbed a smaller, black scanner, and with a deep the information was fed to the cashier.

“Ah, Dolora Birch. We also have an order you in the back.”

“Yes! Oh, I wasn’t sure if it had already arrived.”

The fingers relaxed around the wallet, while the girl pulled back her wrist again. Finn quickly scanned the small box and put it with the regular items in the basket.

“I will get your order in a second. Do you know how this will be used and its effects?”

Pointing at the shimmering box, the girl hesitated.

“I thought it was a human product.”

“Pearl!”

Dolora flinched and also some of the other customers looked in his direction. Finn didn’t care, but looked for Pearl. The young woman wasn’t near the plushies anymore. Or anywhere else in the shop.

He opened his mouth again, to shout but a quick glance in Dolora’s direction stopped him. Instead, with shaking fingers, he pressed the button at the intercom.

“Customer service. Customer service at the cashier.”

He scanned the shop again. Pearl was nowhere to be seen. A forced smile in Dolora’s direction, Finn turned toward the intercom again. Under the counter, he rubbed his middle finger and thumb again. The friction between his fingers made red sparks appear. Then a glowing index finger pressed down the button on the intercom again.

“Pearl. Cashier.”

There was a short cry. Seconds later the sound of boxes toppling over came from the back. Curse words were audible. Dolora’s cheeks reddened. Finn rubbed his temples.

“Was that necessary, Mr. B? This is fu…”

Rubbing the back of her head, Pearl emerged from the storage. Seeing the girl at the counter, the young woman closed her mouth immediately.

“Oh, we have a customer. How may I help?”

Finn blinked a few times as did Dolora. Pearl’s smile was wide and welcoming.

“Please explain Ms. Birch, what this product does.”

Pointing at the shimmering box, Pearl gulped. Her eyes darted from the box to Dolora and then Finn. For the middle-aged man it was the first time seeing her confident smile waver.

“Yes, Mr. B. I mean, yes, Sir.”

He made eye contact with her, nodded and put the box in her palm.

“I know, I can count on you.”

Pearl flinched and Finn had to turn quickly, so she couldn’t see him smirking.

Switching on the light in the storage, he stopped in his tracks. The smirk was wiped off his face.

Oh, Mighty Embrace!