Josh reiterated the comment that she looked tired as she took her place behind the register. The day was a nightmare. She felt weak and sluggish the whole time. Additionally, she found herself having to use the bathroom more than usual. Vern got on her case and warned her to shape up fast…or else.
“Megan?” Josh asked as their shift neared an end. “What is it? You can tell me.”
“Nothing,” she grumbled. “Just stress stuff…. and I haven’t been sleeping too well.”
“Maybe you should take a day or two off.”
“I can’t. Vern will fire me.”
“Oh no he won’t,” Josh chuckled. “He knows that there’s no one better who can work the hours you do. Besides, if he tried I wouldn’t let him.”
“Thanks,” she said.
Just then, Vern emerged from his office. As usual, he was fuming mad. “Lousy no good punk kids! I just got finished reviewing the security tapes. These goddamn kids came in and wrecked everything. They tore open packages, knocked over inventory, and screwed the whole place up. Aisle Six is a mess. How come none of you noticed this?”
“That’s what the tapes are for, Vern,” Josh replied. “Did you get a look at their faces at least?”
“No,” he snarled. “They all had their backs to the camera. One of them was wearing a hat, maybe blue or black. Arrrrrg…when I catch them…”
Megan forced herself not to laugh at her boss’s hysterics.
“Make sure you clean up aisle six before you sign out,” he said to her. Apparently, her sluggish performance throughout the day was quickly forgotten, easily replaced by an even bigger annoyance.
Aisle Six, Megan realized with some degree of awe, was where the incontinence products were kept. There were boxes and packages askew and the floor was littered. An entire 20 ct package of disposable undergarments was ripped wide open and rendered unsellable. Megan sighed as she took it to the stockroom. Vern would tell her to tape it up and mark down the price, but it’d never sell. People would have to be stupid to buy anything with a broken package.
She yawned again. She was so damn tired. The stupid medication would likely keep her up again all night. She’d almost rather have the wet bed than have to deal with that again.
As she reached for the packing tape, Megan got an idea. She looked at the package, and paused. Doc Hardy had mentioned protection, but this? No way. Then again, she couldn’t risk another day on the medication and these were going to get thrown out anyway. She reasoned that it was worth a try. Megan took two of the diapers and stuffed them into her bag. She then set the package aside so it would be there if she needed it.
“Hope you feel better,” Josh said to her on the way out.
“I hope so too.”
Megan spent some time talking with her friends over the phone. They were urging her to move on, forget about Ted. Part of her knew they were right, but she just wasn’t ready. They had been together for nearly three years and she simply couldn’t latch onto a new guy right away. To make matters worse, she had refused Ted’s offers of friendship after their relationship dissolved, leaving her with nothing. The thought that the bracelet he had gotten for her was now adorning some other girl’s wrist made her wretch and tear all at once.
That night, shortly before she went to sleep, Megan remembered the diapers in her purse. She had forgotten all about them and was about to forgo the whole thing and merely hope for the best in the days that followed. However, she knew that was too much to ask.
Before she could put one of the diapers on, Carrie came a’knocking. She was able to wear a t-shirt and panties to bed and wake up dry. No diapers, no medication, no anything but pleasant dreams. Megan envied her that.
“Hey,” Megan greeted.
“Are you OK, Meg? You’ve been acting really weird the past few days.”
“I’m fine,” she answered almost instinctively. “Just stressed. You know, work. Worrying about my grades…”
“Ted.”
“Ted,” she echoed, and then paused. “How did you find out about that?”
“I heard some rumors floating around school,” Carrie informed her. “Plus the walls are kinda thin.”
“It’s OK,” Megan assured her. “I’m OK with it.”
“It’s not OK,” Carrie answered. “Him dumping you like that. But you’re probably better off”
Megan burst out into uproarious laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Carrie asked.
“My little sister is giving me dating advice.”
Carrie rolled her eyes. “Just trying to help.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. But seriously…I’m fine.”
“OK. Just thought I’d ask.”
“Goodnight.”