Chapter 1 Shop Girl

For all of my friends, and for the people in the local shop, my ace work mates!!

She saw the same things every day, each day in the cold climate was the same, people came into the shop, they bought the same things, she saw people blow money on the lottery, ridiculous amounts; she had the same argument with Dorothy Hailstone, every Saturday morning.

Dorothy: Do you have any Nescafe Gold Blend?

Her reply: No not today.

Dorothy: I bought it here last week

Her: We don't sell it

Dorothy: But I bought it here last week

Her: No you didn't, we don't sell it

Dorothy: Imp sure I bought it here

Her: No you didn't Miss Hailstone; you only bought pies last week.

As this argument went on, her mind drifted, her voice remained in the monotonous tone it took on when the elderly customers entered the shop to complain about irrelevant things. Her body remained on the shop floor behind the cash register, the red apron hugging her figure, her brunette hair tied up in a loose knot, her face relatively plain, a plain look for a plain person.

"Jessica" a voice shouted from the side of the shop, her head snapped up, day dream disturbed.

"Huh, what is it Elaine" she replied glancing towards her colleague currently ringing up Dorothy's goods.

"Don't Let Bernard catch you slacking off, or he'll can you faster than you can say 'There goes my job hunny".

Jessica looked over Elaine, the same woman she looked at every day, but she never really looked at. Elaine was a middle aged (to put it politely) Slag, her bottle blonde hair hung over a heavily made up 50 year olds face, her red lipstick covered her pouting lips, they looked lonely without the usual Lambert hanging out of them. She had a dark brown mole that covered one cheek, something which could not be covered by all of the makeup she wore, Jessica raised her hand to her face self consciously, and touched the identical spot where the mole which was on Elaine's face, would be on hers. Jessica had never been close to the woman, she was too shy to reclusive to be friends with some one so loud, so impulsive. She had no friends, her husband made certain of that. "Sure Elaine, whatever", she replied her voice monotonous as always, Elaine sighed shook her head and proceeded to head for the door, for what Jessica assumed would be her tenth fag break of the two hours she had been at work.

After the shop had closed for the evening, Jessica mopped the scummy floor, the wear had really got to the old linoleum, dust lined the shelves, the old shop really was going down hill, she was amazed anyone came in but they did, examples could be the elderly mad, old people who did the same each day. Young kids, smuggling in for cigarettes and being turned away, but still trying the next day, then you got the odd intellectual who looked at her like she was stupid because she was a shop assistant. Jessica was alone locking up that evening, Elaine had left early, her husband was taking her out around the town for drinks, it sounded sleazy but it was better that what Jessica had waiting for her when she arrived home that evening. Outside the cold wind began to blow through the narrow alleys.

Thinking about her life Jessica let the tears flow, as she walked home, her body shook racked with tears, she knew she couldn't cry, if he saw her, she knew the penalty, wiping her eyes she shivered in the icy draft which blew up her thin jacket, she had barely any money for herself, she knew where it went even though she never said. Jessica's hands shook as she turned the keys in the lock; she was scared to find out what mood he would be in.

"Hello", she whispered, no answer, she walked further into the dark house, the tiny living room to her left, pushing the battered wood, she glanced into the room, her eyes widened as they adjusted to the darkness, then she sighed, Phil was sprawled over the couch, an empty bottle of his skoll falling out of his hand, saliva dripped down face, he had passed out again as per usual. Jessica walked into the room and knelt next to her husband, she tried to remove the beer from his hand.

"Jessica" he shouted. She jumped up pained as he grabbed her wrist.

"Where the fucking hell have you been" he slurred, tightening his grip on her slim arms.

"Work, Phil, I swear", she begged her voice high pitched. Phil growled and dragged her across the room, she shrieked slightly as her body hit the wall.

"Your mine" he said a look of a wild animal in his eyes. Heading towards the stairs, He pulled her up them two at a time, she cried out as her arms hit the banisters.

"Phil NO" she shouted as he threw her on to the bed. Grunting, he ripped at her trousers.

"Get off" she shrieked. Phil stopped for a moment, he looked at her, Jessica took in his full look, the white string vest covered in beer stains, the slack grey sweat pants, the unshaved bristle on his face, the wild animal eyes, Jessica was instantly scared and disgusted, she wanted to scream, run away, but she couldn't, she let the tears come into her eyes and let Phil have his dirty way. The wind whipped around the house blocking out the noises which was Phil taking what he wanted from Jessica in his drunken state.