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Margaret walks a slow circle around Bree, assessing. "You ever work retail before?"
"No ma'am," Bree says.
"Ever work anywhere before?"
Bree hesitates. "No ma'am."
"Can you show up on time?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Can you take direction without getting offended?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Can you handle standing for eight hours and getting your hands dirty?"
"Yes ma'am. I can."
Margaret looks at June. "What do you think?"
"I think we should give her a shot," June says.
Margaret nods. "Alright. Three-day trial. You show up on time, work hard, don't complain, and prove you can handle it, the job's yours. Twenty dollars an hour to start. Cash at the end of each shift until we can get you on payroll."
Bree's eyes go wide. "Really?"
"Really. But I'm serious about the trial. You don't show up, you don't call, you give us attitude, you're done. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am. Understood. Thank you so much, I won't let you down!"
"Don't thank me yet," Margaret says, but she's smiling now. "Come back tomorrow at eight AM. Wear comfortable shoes and something you don't mind getting dirty."
Bree nods so hard I'm worried she's going to hurt her neck. "I will. Eight AM. I'll be here."
June walks over and puts a hand on Bree's shoulder. "You're going to do great. And if Angel gives you any trouble, you let me know and I'll get Diesel to straighten him out."
"I'm standing right here," I say.
"I know," June says sweetly. "That's why I said it loud enough for you to hear."
Margaret laughs, and even Bree is smiling now.
"Come on," I say to Bree. "Let's get out of here before they decide to gang up on me."
"Too late," June calls as we head toward the door. "Already happened!"
I hear Margaret laughing as we step outside, and I know, I absolutely know, that June is texting Diesel right now to tell him everything.
The door closes behind us, and Bree spins around to face me.
"They were teasing you," she says, and she's trying not to laugh.
"Yeah. They were."
"Does that happen a lot?"
"First time, actually. Usually they tease Diesel."
