My True Love Story

Another day at work. Everything seemed to be normal. I'm Pulling out all the toys to the front of the store for eye catching display to get the mall shoppers to come in. The store manager is walking up with a guy I hadn't see before. Working in a mall toy store there are not very many of us. A store manager, an assistant store manager, a 3rd key assistant manager and a few workers, about five of us. "Sandy, I would like you to meet Ted. He is the district manager and he'll be handling the store as today will be my last day" While trying to hide my shocked, I shook Ted's hand. The store manager lived, breath, and ran all over like a chicken with her head chopped off because she was always pushing for the next big thing. I never thought she would leave us. The rest of the management team, the two others, didn't take the change well and put in two weeks notices as well.

The next few days were full of new faces. Signs went up in the mall. Ads were placed in the news paper. This is was my chance to shine. I delinquently worked as hard as I could and showed off all the skilled I had learned. I may just be 18, but I'm ready for the management team. Well, that was not how it all worked out.

A new store manager, Gary, was picked. He was a guy who came from the armed service, but had no retail background. Gary was sent to another store to be trained. That store sent over their 3rd key assistant manager and a new assistant manager, Brandon, was picked and already trained by the other store. Feeling very jealous of Brandon I have decided not to like him. I did ask why I didn't get the position and I was told I was too young and cocky. Well, I guess I over showed I knew what I was doing.

Tonight is Brandon's first night as he walks in the store and I am fixing stock by the front counter. As Brandon is introduced, like I didn't remember him from when he filled out his application, I notice some silly string with a broken cap. "Brandon, check this out" as I sprayed his tans pants with the silly string and laughed. Brandon did have a happy face and he asked "What is wrong with you. These are my new pants." "It'll wash out" I call while laughing and the product to the backroom.

Another few days go by and the 3rd key assistant manager from the other store got mad about having to stay longer at our store. It was an hour drive from his home. He threw me his keys and told me good luck. I got the 3rd key assistant manager's position out of default. I got the keys and the knowledge so I was set to go, I was just lacking knowledge in the management paperwork. Someone will have to teach me.

The store manager was busy trying to learn retail all together and balance fluting with mall ladies and hiding from his wife. Brandon, was the only one with all the right skills and knowledge. He was left to finishing training everyone, keep an eye that the paperwork was done right, and report to Ted any problems.

Gary wasn't much help to me. Brandon was the one who taught me all the paper work, how to read a plan-o-gram (to set up shelving according to corporate), and was often the one closing the store with me. I was starting to like Brandon and had trouble in my current relationship. We talked about everything together and I would often buy lunch for us at the store.

Today I had to opened the store. The first customer through the gates was a return for a game system. Not having the money in the register, I went to the back safe and took the money for the refund. Now Brandon is on the phone calling corporate to see if the money can just be put back in or if I have to do paperwork. "Just put the money back in the safe from the drawer Brandon. I didn't even know I had to do paperwork to take it out, so there is no paperwork that needs to be done." Randy, a new hire, "You two sound like an old marry couple." Brandon and I both laughed. "Okay" said Brandon "Just put the money back, but I'll find out what should be done the next time."

Everyone is walking out to their cars after closing the store. "So do you finally want to go get some flipping ice cream?" I yell to Brandon. I've only been dropping hints that we should hangout after work since that safe argument. "Sure" Brandon said as he got in is care to follow me.

The coffee shop was sorta like our first date, one hitch. Remember my relationship problem? I'm still dating that guy. Probably for the best we ran into some friend's of Brandon's and went to party we were stayed until I had to go to work the next day. That day is a bit of a blur as Brandon had to bring to work my glasses I left at the party. I worked and slept until the next day.

The next day I'm at my boyfriend's house waiting on him to break up with him. He has a tripped planed for us to go to Detroit with friends to a nice restaurant. The friends are pulling in the driveway now and he isn't home yet. "Sandy, get in the car so we can take off when Dave gets here." Yelled Roger. I wave at Roger so he'll come in the house so I can talk to him. I have a problem and need to talk to Dave first. Right then Dave pulls in the driveway. Roger takes me by the arm toward the car.

Somehow I ended up in the car heading toward Detroit. How did I let this happen? So, I broke up with Dave last night after we got back from Detroit. Those words I spoke to him keep running through my head. "We didn't talk about not seeing other people. You didn't even ask me if we were going steady..." Why didn't I just tell him its over? Well now I'm sitting in Brandon's apartment while he is at work. He just rented the apartment the day we went out and he left the door unlocked. So I cleaned up and moved some of my things into the house. Have the cable hooked up, air conditioning in the window, and dinner on the table. Brandon walks through the door, looks around, and sits down to eat.

Well that was thirteen years ago. Brandon propose a month later on my birthday. A year and half later we married. We have two wonderful boys. Like I said, it not a fairy tale. There has been some big downs and some big ups. Some days I hate him, other days I can't live without him. Overall I really love him and he really loves me. The safe argument was probably the only time I was 100% correct and I wouldn't want my life without him.