Get Behind Me

As he stared at a box of diapers, Simon Blunt began to wonder just when his life had turned to shit.

The remembering was difficult though, as most of the last few years of his life were a complete blur. Not really a surprise. As near as Simon could figure his faulty memory was a result of the drug induced stupor that had fueled his life as a day trader. It could have also been the result of some nasty STD he picked up from one of the ladies of the evening that he had slept with, which was eating away what few brain cells he had left.

But he did remember those ladies always charged extra for unprotected sex, which was something he happily paid. At least when he was still flushed with cash that is…

But at some point the money ran out.

Simon vaguely remembered, a couple of his fellow day traders had died. There was a big scandal and lawsuits were plentiful.

He had found Jesus when he hit rock bottom and got sober.

Staying on the straight and narrow, however, was no path to riches. Which was why he now stared at a pallet of diapers at four in the morning, freezing his balls off, in one of those soulless big box stories that was trying (and failing) to be Wal-Mart.

This particular soulless corporation had pivoted to environment friendly products that rich people just ate right up. Being formerly flushed with cash, Simon knew that most of these environmentally friendly products were complete shit and nowhere as good or useful as the cheaper stuff you could buy at Wal-Mart.

Simon couldn’t complain, though, he was making an honest living. Occasionally, he still missed being flushed with cash. Getting by on minimum wage with most of his paycheck going to rent for the privilege of living in a shitty, roach infested apartment, which didn’t exactly make him a happy camper.

But sometimes he could splurge on a candy bar if he saved up, instead of his usual cup of noodles. So that was good.

Simon looked up.

He swore he could hear birds chirping.

He strained his ears and heard it again: birds chirping.

That in itself wasn’t surprising. Birds were always getting inside the freight area when the bay doors were open. The poor creature was probably trying to find shelter from the snow storm outside.

Simon thought nothing of it and took a sip of his coffee. Something to take the edge off of his chronic insomnia.

Only to spit it out as the sound of birds chirping screamed into his ear.

He felt hot breath on his neck.

“Blunt!” His boss, Bobby O’Day, called out. “Quit goofing off! And get those diapers out on the shelf!”

Simon spun, but there was nothing behind him.

“Right away, boss,” Simon called out, not really wanting to get on his boss’ bad side this early in the morning, especially if the big man was already three sheets to the wind.

Simon grabbed the jack and slid it under the pallet of diapers. He started to roll the load back, but stopped.

There was a flash of movement, between some of the appliance boxes in the back of the freight area. It might be a shadow, Simon thought, or some trick of the light. Whatever it was now took shape. It was an animal, the size of a bear, with a long muzzle which it opened now revealing long sharp teeth. The thing that stood out most about this strange creature was that it had no eyes! Or the eyes were so black that they just blended in with the creature’s dark fur. Its entire body shook as it panted hard.

“Boss!” Simon called out. “I think we need to call animal control.”

Despite his immense bulk, Bobby was already wobbling out of his office.

“Why aren’t these diapers on the shelf?” He screamed as he continued to wobble forward.

“There’s some kind of animal in here,” Simon cried, pointing in the direction of the appliance boxes. “It looks dangerous!”

To his credit, Bobby did look.

Soon, he turned to face his employee again, shaking his head.

“There is nothing there, you coked out freak!” Bobby hissed.

“I swear…” Simon began.

“Don’t even try it!” Bobby thundered. “LACY!”

At his call, a girl approached.

“What’s up?” Lacy asked.

Simon turned his head, trying not to stare at the girl. Well not a girl really, she was roughly the same age as him. But Lacy Sullivan looked much younger than her thirty-three years would suggest. Her doe-eyed innocence was a facade because her body looked built for sin. Her breasts and ass are especially prominent and oh so tempting.

Bobby did not even notice.

“The dope fiend here,” he thundered. “Is freaking out! So help him!”

Bobby waddled back to his office.

“Whew,” Lacy cried, waving her hand in front of her face. “Smells like a brewery.”

“How are you, Simon?” She asked, tucking a few strands of her red hair behind an ear.

“Uh…,” Simon began, desperately trying not to look at her. “I’m okay. Haven’t been sleeping very well, though.”

Lacy sighed.

“I know what you mean,” she said, pushing her chest forward.

Oh God, he thought, she’s not wearing a bra!

“Graveyard shift on a weekend is a real killer,” she said. “It’s so hard to meet people when your work at the crack of dawn and then sleep most of the day. You know what I mean?”

Simon vigorously nodded his head.

“I believe you,” she said. “About an animal getting in here. I heard a bird chirping too.”

“Really?” Simon asked.

“Yeah,” Lacy said. “It’s probably just a crow or something. They can imitate sounds you know.”

“I didn’t know that,” Simon admitted.

She nodded.

“We’d better get this stuff stocked on the shelf,” Lacy said, placing a hand on his chest. “Want me to drive?”

Simon, vigorous shook his head.

“I got it.” he said.

“Meet you out there then,” she said, a smile lighting up her face.

She walked out of the bay and into the main store.

Like a pervert, Simon eyes zeroed in on her retreat, watching her perfect ass shake a little with every step.