Margaret was watching TV as she lay on her couch, the temperature for her felt just right. Then slowly her eyes closed, and she fell asleep on the couch. As her body was not feeling well in the outside cold and the store heater was not working properly, simply lying down made her fall asleep after lunch.
As her eyes fluttered open, she looked at the clock, it was almost 04.00 PM. She had slept for almost three hours. She looked a bit flustered because her son was in the store. Although it was winter vacation, she didn't want to burden her son with the shop.
"I can't believe I slept for so long in the middle of the day, I do feel a lot better."
Margaret muttered, then grabbed her phone and a small purse that had her house & car key and some cash, and walked outside. The house she was in was white in color, it was a modest one and a half story with a small attached garage, but she always had to park just outside her house.
She ran up to her 2011 Toyota Corolla, it was silver in color. Although it was old, Sam always kept it maintained and performance-ready.
My poor baby, I hope those Callahans didn't visit the shop and see him inside.
….
"Yeah, Mom is not back yet. I will call you guys when she is here."
Sam ended his third call with Rose and Clara, they were ready and wanted to go to the city, but Sam can't rush his mom. She even looked tired, and also her body is aching.
You can see Sam's lips were blue because he was fixing the heater, he thought he would be done in a minute or so, but it took him half an hour, and he was finally screwing it back.
"Hmm, nice."
As the heater started, his face bloomed with happiness, he finally sat down to take a rest. After his mother and grandma left, there were many customers to deal with, and by the time he understood the heater was busted, he had almost made $700 in sales somehow.
*Jingle*
When the store was barely heated, a girl entered the store, she was wearing a light-colored hoodie and looked cheerful.
Hearing the door chime, Sam looked over and saw Susan Johnson. When Sam was just a freshman, she graduated high school and now is in college. The Johnson family owns a hair salon, and their shop was nearby.
"Hey Kid, You've grown up quite a bit."
Susan entered the shop to get some fresh meat, but seeing Sam seated there, she was surprised and happy. Sam used to help her with math when she had barely started high school.
"I am not a kid anymore. How are you, Susan?"
Sam smiled seeing an old acquaintance. Susan walked over with a big smile on her face, her face was long with freckles. She looked a lot cooler now than what Sam remembered about her.
"Good, how time flies. Look at you. I came back home this year before graduating from college. You're also graduating next year, right?"
Susan actually stopped in front of the counter for a chat, this was a common occurrence in a small town like this—when you meet after a while, you stop and have a little chat.
"Yep, so how was your college life? More fun?"
Sam asked, he was curious about college as well. He doesn't know what to expect other than parties, but he knows it's where people can learn whatever they want and however much they want.
"Fun? Well, I am not going to say it was fun for me, everyone has different experiences. You, on the other hand, will have a great experience. Don't you think you sold too many juice bottles in this cold weather?"
Susan smiled and then with a casual walk picked some fresh meat she wanted and also got some chips. Sam did not understand why she asked that in the end.
"I did sell too many juice bottles, almost a hundred dollars' worth. How do you know?"
Sam was a bit skeptical, as he registered her items, he felt something was off, but he didn't know what. In his eyes, Susan was not the sharpest tool in the shed, if she could see something, he should naturally be able to.
"Well, how many were older ladies? You're growing up, Sammy, a different age group will soon have access to you."
Susan took her grocery bag, and shaking her head, she left. Sam then realized he really did meet a lot of women today, some came back from college, and some were city college girls who were visiting their friends.
"Are you kidding me?"
Sam was shocked, in four days he will be eighteen, but he had no idea about this until Susan reminded him kindly.
Guess college does teach you a lot.
*Jingle*
"Sam, I am sorry, Mom fell asleep on the couch, eh? You took care of the heater?"
Margaret entered the shop in a hurry, seeing Sam looking outside, she felt guilty and wanted to replace him as soon as possible. She was preparing herself for a cold afternoon when she noticed the heater was fine, and who can do that other than her son?
"That I did. If you want to take the day off, that's fine as well. Go back home and take some rest."
Sam didn't stand up, he still remembers she said her body was aching. In this cold weather, he can sacrifice his outing with friends for his mom's health.
"No need, I am perfectly fine, the sleep actually helped a lot. Now then, I saw Clara's white car in the town. Why don't you go out and have fun?"
Margaret almost forced him to get up from his seat, Sam had no choice but to walk out from behind the counter. He looked at her with a serious gaze, seeing his gaze, she smiled.
"Alright, I planned on going to Newton with them, I will call them now to pick me up from here."
After checking she was feeling fine, he nodded his head, then pulled out his phone and dialed Rose. She picked up almost immediately, and you could hear the engine roar in the background.
"Rose as well? Sam, both girls like you a lot. I don't want to be very direct, it's your life decision, but you have to eventually choose, sigh! You want some money?"
Margaret wanted to say something but decided not to, her son was mature enough to think for himself and make decisions on his own.
"I know, Mom, don't worry, I have money."
Sam winked at his mother playfully, then, hearing a car honk, stepped outside, seeing the snow in the air, he felt refreshed.
Alright, let's see what you have for me, SYSTEM!!