Sharon's Shop

I open my eyes and it is another sunny day in Mytchett as the morning sun almost burns my skin from the heat. Yesterday it was all wet n gloomy, now it is a red raw hot day, just another typical British summertime. I turn over to my new bloke and stoke the hair on his chest. He starts to stir and I think he's going to wake up, so I turn around quickly and grab my dentures from the glass on the opened bottom drawer next to my bed and put my teeth in. 

I hate knowing that Roy can see my gappy mouth with no teeth. I know it happens to everyone but it's not nice to see your boo with no chomps in their gob in the morning. I can imagine what he thinks and it scares me. I've only been with him a few months and I want there to be a bit of mystery between us still. I'm not the sort of person who wants my bloke to watch me on the toilet with the door wide open. I never get that, why would anyone think that is an okay thing to do?

Roy wakes and he turns over and gives us a kiss on the cheek with his eyes still closed. I forgot, he is as blind as a bat without his glasses, I could have easily got away without putting in my fake choppers. 

Well, I guess that is the joy of being in a new relationship, I just wish they would stay around a bit longer before getting all mardy and nasty. Then it's the usual drunken fights, late at night police calls and then social services come a-knocking. I just hope Roy is a good one this time as I'm not getting any younger and I do like him.

"I have to do the early shift today, Roy" I whisper in his ear.

"That's ok Shaz, I need to get up for the late-round anyway"

Roy was a postman and always did the specials that got delivered later in the day. It meant he could start later and we would see each other more which I liked. Well, the fact he had a job and just didn't drink all day was a bonus in itself, I've had far too many men like that.

So the morning routine starts and I get showered and dressed and walk through the alley to Mini's shop, Best Buy, that's a joke I thought. The prices here were appalling, it is no wonder everyone is walking the extra 100 metres down the road to the new Londis that has just opened up.

"Hi Mini", I say as I enter the blue shop's interior. She nods at me but is busy on her phone as always. Working out what to buy and which supply store to get it from I expect, but always talking in Indian so I never know what she is actually saying. I often wonder if she is slagging me off to whoever is on the other end of the phone line. I guess I will never find out, but I still don't like the fact I don't understand what she is talking about when she looks at me. 

I get behind the till and the morning goes fast with the usual people from the estate coming and going, the radio is on and the tunes are okay, I just wish I could get to choose the channel, but Mini always insists it has to stay on Radio 2 for some reason. I don't know why as she is always too busy yapping on her blower to hear it but she just won't let me scan the waves for a better channel. Radio 2 and all the DJ's that have moved from Radio 1 there just constantly make me remember how old I have got. They seem to have followed me around from Radio 1 as a kid and now they are too old for the kids they get booted to Radio 2. It is something we must all deal with I suppose.

Rob comes hopping in as usual around 1pm to dive into the ice cream bay. I like Rob, he is always nice to me and we have a laugh. I just think it's sad to see him so unwell so often but he doesn't seem to mind and often jokes about which part of his body is falling off him and always stays around for a chat.

We have a talk about the daily grind and the local news, as I fake mark up his ice cream as he makes a rolly for us both on the counter. When the old couple has finished bagging up we go outside and smoke together. The sun is still high in the sky and yet he is still wearing his billy hat as if it's the middle of Winter. We have a joke and a smoke and talk about the usual crap before I see Mini coming back down the main road so I flick my rolly over the fence.

"Got to go, Rob, I'll see you tomorrow", I walk back into the shop and watch through the glass door as Rob limps off up the road saying hello to Mini. I hope she never saw me, I will get a telling off for smoking with customers again if she has that's for sure.

I don't need to lose this job. I need it. I need it badly. I have to behave, I must behave I keep telling myself as I walk back behind the till.

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