Chapter 1: where it all began.
Thursday afternoon nearing summer vacation 1996, 14 year old Jeremiah’s mother had asked him to grab some groceries on his way home from school. Grocery list reads: lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, cheese, bread, eggs and milk.
*the same afternoon 14 year old Selena stopped at the grocery store to buy some bubble gum as she often did Thursdays after school.
*14 year old stew stopped to get some wooden sticks to finish up his bird house.
*14 year old Savanah was buying a new bed for her dog Bernard.
*14 year old Calisa was just to the end of the first week at her very first after school job at her father’s grocery store *in bright bold red letters “Jeff’s produce”
*4:00Pm:
Jeremiah, Selena, stew, and Savanah all happen to make it to the store at the same time today entering just one after the other. Jeremiah unsure of where he’s going and what he’s doing walks up to the new cashier calisa and asks “excuse me blue eyes, can you tell me where sandwich supplies are?” Calisa who was just ready to go home and spend time with her mom and dad, looked at poor puzzled Jeremiah and said “can you not read mullet boy?” Pointing over to the left of the store where the deli was. The deli is to your left, you’ll find your meats and cheeses there, the bakery is in the back, the best fresh bread is there, and there’s isles to your right where you’ll find condiments, and the fruits and veggies are in the fridge section straight in the back to your left. Snarky as young Jeremiah was looked at her and said “well thanks for the help muted blue eyed girl, I’ll let your boss know of your attitude, the names Jeremiah by the way..
Selena grabs her bubble gum from the end cap of the checkout walks straight to Calisas counter and says “ring me up babe, I saw Jeremiah talking to you, he better not have been too much of a creep, I know how to make him disappear.” OKAY OKAY, Selena calm down, his family lives down the street from mine, his mom is sick, so he’s helping raise his 5 siblings. I think it was a stressful day for him. Usually he’s just out riding his bike, I don’t think he’s ever stepped foot in a store by himself before. Said Calisa to her best friend of going on 13.5 years Selena. Just making sure babe. Selena winked at her before heading out to go home to her mom and dad.
Shy little stew comes up to the checkout with his wooden sticks, can’t make eye contact with calisa. She makes a mental note of his broken glasses, pants to his neck, and plaid shirt, with black socks “kinda nerdy, I wonder what his story is” thought Calisa to herself. Find everything okay there sir?! Said Calisa all friendly to young stew. Oh um yes, yes I did ma’am. Mumbled stew. She looks at him and says haven’t seen you before, what’s your name? he looks up at her. The name is Stewart benson ma’am, my family and I moved to the state just last week. I’m not very familiar with the area yet ma’am. Stew said less nervous than he had previously spoken. Well that’s neat, you have very bright green eyes stew, you shouldn’t be looking at the ground so much with those.
Savanah walks up with her dog bed for Calisa to ring up. Hey girly, how you liking the job? Asked Savanah. Calisa shrugged, It’s not bad it’s money haha, is this all for you today savvy? Calisa asked. Savanah is Calisa’s classmate, although they aren’t super close, they do get along.
