Xander went to the toy store to check out the new video games and saw that they were hiring. He figured it oculdn't be any worse than his last job where the building got blown up by some other dimensional whatevers. On the plus side it was likely that he'd get a discount and of course he'd get to play the games first in the store.
"Yes this is the ticket. I'll wow them and soon I'll have a fun job where a kid can be a kid." He walked inside and went up to the customer service counter to get an application. "Hi I see you're hiring."
"Yeah did you want an application."
"Absolutely. So this must be a fun place to work huh?"
"It has its moments sure but it can be hellish at times when there are a bunch of screaming kids around."
The guy at the counter had on a name tag that said, "Hello my name is Tom" gave Xander the application.
"Thanks. Do you happen to have a pen I could borrow?"
Tom looked around and found a pen and gave it to Xander. He filled it out at the counter and asked if the manager was around.
"That would be me."
"Ok Tom so what kind of position is this?"
"It'll be stocking the shelves mostly but when it gets crowded you might be called to the front to wait on customers. You know how to operate a cash register right?"
"Of course I do. So what kind of hours are we talking about here?"
"You'll get at least twenty hours a week. Also a flexible person is needed to fill in when a person calls in sick. So would that work out for you?"
"It sounds good to me. I was wondering if employees get some kind of discount."
"Yes you get a 20% discount. Now are you pretty familiar with the store."
"Oh yeah I am."
"Well could you start this afternoon?"
"Just give me a time and I'll be here."
"Well I was thinking pretty much now because Harry called in sick so I need someone until six."
"Uh sure I could do that."
"Great. Follow me we'll take care of the paper work right now since it's pretty dead in here."
Xander followed Tom into the back where he was shown the break room which had vending machines and in one corner there was a fridge.
"I sense a hint of relief. Yeah I know you had no idea you'd be working here so quickly. You can grab some lunch here or you can go to the hot dog vendor. You'll get thirty minutes for lunch so you can bring your own if you'd like. Also we send someone to pick up food if you're interested in that."
"I think I'll have a hot dog today."
"I'll get the paperwork and you just get your lunch and while you're there could you pick me up one too with relish, mustard, and ketchup." He pulled out a twenty and gave it to Xander.
"Ok I'll be back in a few."
Outside the vender was already cooking hot dogs. He ordered the hotdogs paid for them and went back inside.
"Thanks, said Tom when Xander handed him his food. Xander had some change so he bought a soda. They ate and talked about video games.
"OK it's now the fun part the filling out of the forms."
"Yes it is and such a thrill too. You'd think that in this time of computers they'd lose these forms but no such luck."
Xander filled out the forms. "Ok what next?"
"Well you're in luck because you'll be unpacking the new video games."
"Cool this is turning out to be a great job."
"Just follow me." He led Xander into the storeroom which was wall to wall stuff.
"Whoa now that's a lot of toys."
He led him over to the boxes.
"You'll be unpacking these. John will take them out with the forklift. So if we're running low on certain items just come back here."
"Sure no prob. So I should go to the video games section which is right next to the action figures. I have a nephew so I know this," said Xander in an attempt to hide the fact that he was actually the one that the video games were always for and the action figures but he didn't want that to get around because what he did in the privacy of his own basement was for his eyes alone.
"Sure just start stocking them on the shelves."
Xander walked over and John brought the box over and drove off. On top of the box was a box cutter to open the box. Inside Xander found tons of video games and a thrill coursed through him. It was one of his little secrets the fact that Xander had a passion for video games. His deepest darkest secrets were kept by Anya who knew him so well. This was turning out to be the best job ever.
Xander searched through the box to find out about the newest games. It was sheer bliss because there were displays where you could try out the games before you buy them which Xander had taken advantage of many times before especially when he didn't have the money to pay for them. Xander went over and took the old video game out and put in a new one and started to play.
"It's my job to make sure this thing works."
He started playing totally forgetting about the video games he was supposed to stock. He became so engrossed in the game that he totally lost track of time. When he finally came up for breath he noticed that three hours had passed.
"Yikes! I better get to work fast."
He ran to the box and started putting the video games on the shelves. He got through the box rather fast and saw that the shelves weren't very full after he stocked them with the games that he took out of the box.
"That's weird I thought there were more than this. Oh well. I guess I'm done here."
Tom saw Xander standing there and said, "So how it's going Xander?"
"It's gone since I seem to be done."
"Hmm so where did all the games go?"
"Well I unpacked what was in the box."
Noticing that the emergency exit door was opened he turned to Xander and said, "Why is this door open?"
"I don't know. It was open when I got here. It is kinda stuff so the breeze does feel nice."
"Ok then but keep this door closed from now on."
"Sure no problem the door stays closed. So what do you want me to do now?"
"You said you're pretty familiar with the store right?"
"Well it's not like I could give a tour or anything."
"Why don't you get yourself acquainted and let me know if you have any questions. I'll be in the back filling out some orders."
Xander walked up and down the aisles looked at the toys. "This shouldn't be too hard in fact this might be a fun job and so far it's way better than my other crappy jobs and plus employee discount baby." Rows and rows of toys and going by the stuffed animals reminded Xander of Anya. He didn't understand why Anya was so wigged about bunnies. Sometimes Xander would just stop and think about how weird it was that he was dating an ex demon. "Well that's life on the Hellmouth."
"Excuse me but do you work here?"
Xander turned around and found himself face with face with a little old lady that was the eptimoe of grannydom complete with the bun on top of her head all she was missing was the plate of cookies fresh from the oven to complete the picture.
"Yes I do mam. How may I help you?"
"My what a nice young man you are. I was looking for some video games for my grandson."
"Well it just so happens that you are talking to the right guy. Just follow me the games are this way. So how old is he?"
"He's thirteen and I have no idea what to get him."
Xander picked out some games and handed them to her.
"Thank you young man you've been a great help."
She went to the register to pay for the games. Tom came up to Xander and said, "You really impressed that one. She often comes in here but she rarely buys anything."
"I guess I've got the magic touch."
"I suppose you do. So did you get a chance to walk all the way through the store?"
"Well I was with the stuffed animals when Granny asked for help."
"Go on and finish walking throught he store so you can know the store and answer question. For the first week or so just walk around and help people."
"What about the register?"
"We'll get to that later just familiarize yourself with the store so you can help people find that certain toy."
Xander walked around and once againg found the door open by the video games. "Hmm that's strange I know the door was shut before. He closed the door again and found that all the video games were gone. "That's weird I think I'll mention this to Tom."
He found Tom at the counter and walked up to him. "Tom there is something strange going on."
"What is it?"
"Well I happened to go by the video games and the door was open again and there weren't any games left."
"Damn it I hate when this happens."
"Uh what exactly is happening here?"
"We've had this problem before but I thought it was over."
"What problem?"
"Thieves sneaking in through that door. Now that I think about it this all started up again today right when you started working here. I'm afraid that I'm gonna have to fire you."
"Why?"
"It's just the way it has to be."
"But Granny she bought stuff."
"Yes she did but hundreds of dollars of video games are missing."
"Man this just sucks."
Xander walked out of the store and went to his car. He stopped to get something to eat and when he was getting back into his car he found a bunch of video games on the backseat. "Well I guess the day wasn't a total waste although I have no clue where these came from. Like they say don't look a gifthorse in the mouth."
"It's done just as you wished." A phone rang and it was Tom calling from Toys R US begging Doug to take his job back.
By Barbara Desmond