WITH A LITTLE KICK

The First Kick

Popping into Dollar Tree at Hamilton Town Centers I was struck by the dirty floor.  When I asked if they sold saline solution for contacts, the cashier directed me to the manager who was focused on his cell phone and seemed to be pacing.  

He briefly gave me eye contact, then pointed and led the way.

As I was leaving, I noticed a Help Wanted sign which explained the dirty floor, and picked up an application.

On a lark, I went to the car, filled it out to the best of my memory, leaving some things blank.

When I presented it to him, he asked, "When are you available?"  I replied, "Tomorrow!  I'm a stay-at-home mom."

Next day, I worked my first shift.  He came up to say, "Can you come back this afternoon?  Go home, take a nap and come back."  Wow!  I worked a double my first day!   To be fair, they were desperate for help.

Well, it wasn't long before I figured out who was who, including a little sprite of a lady that was my manager on the evening shift.  We were the only employees at closing and she was reconciling my drawer.

Then she got nervous, then she started pacing, then she got on the phone and continued pacing.  She said my drawer was 87 dollars short.  

NO WAY!  I've been a cashier at Wal-Mart, and have 3 yard sales every summer.  I know how to take cash and give change!  I wouldn't be happy at being off by a penny!

Well, after much searching all over the cash register area, where we put money in a secret drawer, under the change drawer, and even the trash can, we never found it.  She called the boss.  Much secret talking took place, and then she confessed -- she added it up all wrong!  Of course she did!

The Second Kick

Christmas rush at Dollar Tree found us running 4 registers and I was going as fast as I could trying to keep up with the beep-beep-beeping of the scanners of the other more experienced cashiers.  One short dark-haired female customer complained as I looked up to tell her her total.  I looked expectantly for her to hand me either cash, card, or check.  She said, "You are the rudest cashier I've ever met.  I'll not come here ever again!"  

Wow, was I stunned!  I'd just been doing my job, too focused, I guess.  Jen, my shift manager, came over, smoothed ruffled feathers and told me not to worry about it.  "Keep going", she instructed, "she was probably having a bad day."

The Third Kick

I'd put in bold plain writing on my application that I would not/could not work Sundays.  The boss said I'd have to.  I said I couldn't, that it was on my application when he hired me.  He said, "You and I will have to do some more DEEP thinking on this!"  Well, he called headquarters and I don't know what was said, but I was never scheduled for another Sunday.

The Fourth Kick

The boss invariably scheduled me to open.  As he bustled from the office to the back to unload freight, I was told to quickly fill helium balloons enough to fill the ceiling corral, refill all the reading glasses display, sweep the front door area, fill the WOW (first) table with specialty product, and put 2 boxes of broom handles and broom heads together.  His answer was "All of them!" when I asked in surprise, "Which one do you want me to do first?"  

He was gone.  

My goal was always to beat him - to get all the tasks done before he and the fellows got the freight unloaded.  I would win.

With A Little Kick

Finally, I got a name tag.  White plastic, it was, with green stripe on top, green stripe on bottom, I.D. number in Sharpie on the corner, and my name in the middle.  The L in Pamela wasn't aligned.  It leaned a little to the left, the lower stroke aimed upward.  The boss apologized for not applying it correctly.  I laughed, thought of the little quirks in my employment and said, "That's all right.  Pamela, an L with a little KICK, huh?"  As his eyes met mine, they crinkled at the corners, he smiled and said, "Exactly!"  

I stayed on for another year.