“BRIIIIING BRIIIIING!” I pulled the pillow over my head as my hand flailed over the bedside table searching for the off button of the alarm clock, slapping the button hard killed the beeping. Moving my head from under the pillow, I starred at the clock waiting for my eyes to focus; block neon red digits read 8:00 am. “Crap!” I flung the blankets off and rushed to the bathroom; I bushed my teeth, washed my face, and pulled on a t-shirt and some jeans in record time. Throwing my hair into a messy ponytail, I slipped on my sandals, grabbed my keys, and ran out the door.

Thirty minutes later, I pulled into the Movie Wizard parking lot, the tacky sign with the creepy, smiling cartoon wizard holding a video cassette starred down at me. I rolled my eyes, got out of my car, and slowly walked to the door. After the rush to get here, it seemed so oxymoronic to walk so slowly.

Walking toward the front entrance, I surveyed the people inside through the glass windows, one couple stood in the romance section, the man nodding absently to whatever the woman was saying as he starred at her butt. A mother with her son and daughter occupied the family section, the two children arguing over whether to get The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh or Monster‘s Inc. Three teenage boys lingered in the back near the door that read “Adult‘s Only” snickering and trying to persuade a nerdy looking boy to go inside. Andy was checking out customers at his register, his bright red hair shining under the cheap florescent lights. Since he was the only person clocked in, most of the customers were glaring as they waited impatiently in line.

The shoddy cow bell attached to the door clinked when I opened it. Andy looked up from his cash register and glanced over at me, he smiled shyly raising his hand in a timid wave. Smiling back I nodded my head in greeting. We both cringed slightly when Mr. Marshall’s raspy voice yelled my name, walking past Andy’s register I made my way to the manager’s office.

“Close the door,” Mr. Marshall instructed when I entered. I closed the door and took a seat in front of his desk.

In his early-thirties he was trying to cover up his pre-mature balding with a poorly executed comb-over. Marshall reminded me of a basset hound, except definitely not as cute, with his sagging double chin, drooping eyes, bulbous nose, and pudgy lips. Being near him I always had to resist the urge to throw-up, it took me a while to register that he was talking.

“…fourth time you have come in late, if it had been anyone else I would have fired them the second time. I can’t keep letting you off the hook!”

“I understand completely Mr. Marshall, and I agree if you want to fire me.” Go ahead please fire me, I thought. Anything to get away from this rat hole.

“Oh no, no, I’m not going to fire you Natalie,” he chuckled, “I have a proposition for you.” It took him a few tries to lift his excess weight from the chair but soon he was standing right next to me. Raising an eyebrow, I starred at him warily. Leaning in close to my face he whispered, “Fuck me and I’m sure I could overlook your lateness, maybe even throw in a raise.” His breath smelled of onions and popcorn; it took everything I had not to hurl.

“You’re kidding right?! I wouldn’t sleep with you even if it meant spending eternity rotting in Hell!”

Mr. Marshalls eyebrows scrunched in anger, “Fine then I’ll just take what I want bitch!” He spun around quicker than I could have thought possible and locked the door. Then he turned back around and grabbed my ponytail pulling me up and then pushing me against the wall. Before I could scream he assaulted my mouth and face with a wet sloppy kiss. His grubby hand fumbled with the button of my jeans as he tried to undo them. I tried to push him away but his sheer weight prevented it. When he moved his body back just a little to raise my shirt I lifted my knee and slammed it into his crotch. He released me immediately stumbling backward clutching his aching balls. I rushed for the door, unlocked it, and pushed it open with such force it swung against the wall making a whole shelf of videos crash to the floor.

I turned back around and glared at the sniveling pig. “No thanks Marshall, and you know what…” I wiped the back of my hand across my mouth and spat on the floor. “I quit! And I hope what little penis you have shrivels up and falls off.” I turned away from him ignoring the silent stares of Andy and the customers. Getting into my car, I pulled out of the parking lot, and squealed tires, refusing to look at the building in my rearview mirror.