Today I want to tell you a story.
The wall of heat hit me hard as I opened the door to the department store and stepped inside. I kept moving forwards, stepping under the fan that pumped heat into the doorway.
“Oh, I’m sorry sir, we’re not officially open yet,” the girl who came towards me looked about my age, an older teen, or maybe in her early twenties. She looked flustered as she tried to shoo me back out the door.
“Hey,” I smiled, “Um … I’m looking for Mr Williamson.”
“That’s fine, but you must wait until we open,” she said.
“No, you don’t understand, I’m his new assistant, I’m Oliver,” I reached into my pocket to pull out my phone intending to show her the text messages. “I was told to come here this morning.”
“Where’s your store identification?” she asked.
“I’m new, no one’s given me anything yet,” I said as she stepped forward, trying to back me out the door.
“Anna stop tormenting my new dogsbody.” Mr Williamson said approaching behind the girl, Anna, who lost her rigid posture and relaxed. She grinned at me.
“Got you, newbie,” she snorted a giggle. I rolled my eyes.
“You got me,” I said. “Hilarious.” She turned to look at Mr Williamson.
“Aww, Jack your new one’s not got as much spine as the last one, he will not be much fun.”
“Hey, Oliver’s got plenty of spine. Just maybe he didn’t want to mouth off the minute he walked through the door on his first day.” Mr Williamson came over and smiled at me. I offered him a smile back and tried to quell the nerves in my gut. Mr Williamson was my best friend’s dad. I’d been around him plenty over the years, but it still felt strange to be working for him. “Come on,” he said gesturing me to follow him. “I hate the perfume section, the damn place stinks.” He turned and headed off at a brisk pace.
I followed, jogging at first to keep up. We walked up the escalator which hadn’t been turned on yet, Mr Williamson lead me over to the photography section where his little studio was.
Continue reading “Katie Story: Snap Shot”
Letters from a Horror Writer 