Strawberry Slices, hanna14 [polar express read aloud .TXT] 📗

the bakery.
“Lucy.” I said with a hesitant face.
“Can you come run the cash register?”
“Sure.” I got up and squeezed my way around people and behind the desk.
“Can I take your order?” I asked the first person in line, who looked like he was hungry. Great.
“Can I have a double chocolate chip muffin, a large caramel mocha with extra whipped cream, and a slice of chocolate cake, please?” He said rubbing his head.
“Sure thing.” I said and smiled. I turned my back to tell Lucy because there this was the last chocolate chip muffin left. “Is this for here or to go?”
“Here you go.” He said and handed me a twenty. I gave him his change and proceeded to the glass box.
I grabbed his muffin, placed it in one of the brown bags, and set it in front of him. Then I grabbed one of the plates that were stacked on the windowsill from the kitchen, and placed his piece of cake on it. I placed it in front of him and waited for his mocha to finish. The light on the machine went off so I grabbed a disposable coffee cup and filled it to the top, put whipped cream on it, and set it next to the others.
I continued to fulfill orders until the cashier who usually was here at 10 came in. She put her gloves and her apron on and took my spot behind the counter. I watched as she zoomed around the front of the store. Then I decided to take my lunch break.
“Can you make me my lunch?” I asked childish.
“Always do.” She said and started, making my usual lunch. “Hand me the lettuce.” She said pointing to the giant refrigerator built into the wall.
I handed her the head of lettuce and stood there watching her cut all of the stuff up and then make it into a perfect sandwich. She handed me a plate with a turkey and cheese sandwich on wheat bread with lettuce and a small bag of Sun Chips to go along side. I grabbed myself water from the fridge and sat at the little stool in the back break room. A few minutes later Lucy appeared with the same lunch but instead of Sun Chips, she had Potato Chips. We sat and talked about our day so far and about tomorrow and we ate our lunch. After about a half hour, I decided to get ready to go back. I said my good-byes and left the bakery. When I opened the door of the studio, it was completely empty and Cameron was sitting at the desk reading a magazine. I walked over to him and checked the time on the computer. It was quarter after twelve.
“Did you finish all of your appointments already?” I asked, grabbing a chair from the little break room behind the desk and pulled it up to Cameron. I sat and we both looked at the magazine, looking at all of the new summer fashions and what was going on in stars lives. I kept checking the time and waiting for my appointment to come in. A few minutes later I heard the door open. I shot my head up and looked toward the door. A young woman, who I figured was Donna, was walking toward the desk. I waited until she came up to the desk before saying anything.
“Are you Donna Martin?” I asked, looking down at my book.
“Yes, I made an appointment for business cards with a Rachel.” She said with a question in her voice.
“That was me, and what kind of card?”
“I am a realtor, so I need a nice professional card.”
“Ok, well here is what I can do for you. We usually do not do business cards but we have done it before. So we could either print them out here or we can give you the photo in an attachment so you can make your own cards.”
“What’s the price difference?”
“Well, it depends on how many you plan on printing.” I said with a side frown on my face.
“I was planning on 300.” She said with a nervous look on her face.
“Ok, that’s not bad. The total for us to print them would be about $150.” I said with a straight face.
“Well, I will print them here then.” She smiled and we headed to the studio.
“After I take six shots that I like, I will let you see them and if you don’t like any I will take more.”
“Sounds good.” She said and smiled.
“Please stand up here and smile.”
I took three head shots and then I told her to sit down on a stool in front of the same light yellow back screen. I took a half body shot. Then, for the last two I took a half body shot with a white and yellow swirled background while she was standing up and then I took a full body shot. I loaded them to the computer and a minute later, I showed her all six shots. She chose the second photo because her eyes were well defined and her smile was perfect. I opened the card maker program on the computer and chose business. We decided on the settings and colors and then I disappeared into the back.
I pressed the print button and the number of copies for 300. I went back to the front desk were her and Cameron were talking amongst themselves. I rung up her bill and she gave me the exact amount, change and all. I gave her the receipt and heard the door open. I didn’t glance behind to see who it was, but it sounded like children footsteps. I continued to the back and waited for it to finish printing. I started tapping my heel and humming La Vie Bohem form RENT. After the printer stopped, I grabbed all of the cards and a mini box. I counted by tens as I walked back to the front of the store.
I quickly glanced to the people who had just come in. My heart stopped and I could not breathe. Was that really who I thought it was. I set the box on the counter and pushed it forward toward Donna. She said something, but I could not hear her because I could not figure out if the person I saw was who I thought it really was. I wanted to leave and give the job to Cameron. However, I only did two shoots today. Therefore, I decided to go on with it.
I wavered for them to come forth. I brought them straight to the back and pointed them to stand behind the solid white black drop. I went up and changed the color to light blue because both little boys were wearing dark blue and I thought it would look nice. I did not let my anger get the best of me. As I realized it really was her. Lauren Evans, the snob from high school. The girl who sat with Alison and Alyssa. The girl who got brisk tea in her face by this girl Toni that sat at my table, because they were laughing and making fun of me. I smirked at the thought of it and told the two little boys to sit in front of their moms and smile. They did, and I personally thought that photo was the best.
“Here are the three photos I took, if you don’t like any I can gladly take more.” I said, placing my hand on my hip in disgust in the sight of her. She was way to tan, her face was already starting to wrinkle, and she was apparently alone because she kept the same last name from high school.
“We will take this one.” She pointed to the last one, the one that I liked. I almost wanted to say ‘no you cannot have that one, sorry’. However, I did not I pressed the print button and disappeared toward the back. I glanced back at them and she was on her phone texting while her adorable little boys, who were probably only two or three years old, starred at her. I printed out one 8’10 and a 5’7. I placed them in an envelope and walked back to her. My eyes were wide, my face I could feel was getting hot and my hands were starting to shake. To see her now was unbelievable. We moved to New York to get away from the past, not have it follow us.
We walked to the front of the store and I rung up their bill. I gave her the change and stared at her, waiting for her to leave. She just stood there, staring at her phone. Her kids were already over by the door, and were about to go out the door.
“Wait for your mommy.” I said and she looked up from her phone, back to the door and at me.
“Were you talking to them?” She said with an attitude.
“Yes, I was. They were about to leave without you, huh usually it’s the other way around.” I said with one right back.
“You do NOT tell my children what to do.” She said pointing her finger at me.
“Well, I should have just let them go, you wouldn’t have known. You’re too busy texting!” I screamed at her.
She turned and walked away. “Leave, just like you did freshman year, when you were covered in tea.” I said smiling. She turned and flipped me off. “Same to you!” I said and shook my head.
I disappeared into the break room, grabbed my purse and told Cameron to close up because I was leaving. I pushed the door open, full of anger. All I wanted to do was to find her and punch her in the face. I stomped over to the bakery and slammed the door behind me as I entered. As I stomped past all of the customers and into the back, my emotions were being mixed between being mad, and upset. I slammed my purse on the counter and started hyperventilating.
“Breathe, relax.” Lucy said, rubbing my back as I leaned over the counter.
“I saw… Lauren Evans.” I said and turned around to face her. Her face was turning red and I knew what was coming. I grabbed the closest hard thing to me and held it up. She punched it with all of her might, and I stumbled backward and onto the counter.
“I HATE that girl.” She said threw her teeth. You see, when all of this happened, Lucy was getting so mad that she would shake whenever she saw any of Laurens friends in the hallway. One day when she could not take it anymore, she punched Lauren in the mouth for talking about us. There were no witnesses, because we were in the bathroom and the girl that Lauren was talking to had left before it happened, and because I was never in the office the principle believed me that Lauren hit Lucy first.
“I know you do. As do I… I actually started shaking and I was about to punch her. She yelled at ME because I told her kids not to go outside when she was not paying attention. Then SHE flipped me off!” I said shaking my head, grinding my teeth.
“I feel bad for those poor kids.” She said, shaking her head and leaning over to touch the floor. She always stretched when she was stressed out. I decided to do it with her, maybe it really did work. After a few different poses, I actually felt calmer. We did breathing exercises and then just stared at one another. After a few moments, Lucy