Chapter 10

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I was close to tears at the going-away party the produce department held for me on my last day. We all agreed to meet at the eatery across the parking lot after the grocery store closed. I didn’t know what to expect, but was so happy to see Buzz and his husband in the crowd.

Ry was there, too. He gave me a present, something for which everyone had contributed, I was told. It was a glass plaque that read “Best Employee Ever.” I was deeply moved by the gesture and thanked them all.

Most people drank alcohol but I stuck to water and soda. It was midnight before the party broke up, with lots of hugs and covert feel-ups of my scrawny butt that I would have never expected.

I waved good night to the folks still hanging around—Buzz and his spouse long gone to relieve the babysitter—and headed to the bus stop. There would be one more bus before the route stopped running until morning and I didn’t feel like walking.