chapter 5

"Good morning Jane." I say to a co worker stepping off, she waits here all the time for her best friend Sarah to get off. They work at the same time. She gives me a wave and I head through to the staff entrance. He steps out of me, walking at my side and less crazy looking on my part. I signed in on the time in and out sheet and head for my locker. Sort myself out in the staff toilet a last time. I go straight to the small things we as staff do everything morning before open. We all have a department to straighten up and clean if missed by a cleaner last night. The undertaker sort of started helping me out But he stares at the cameras everywhere.

"Why are there so many eyes?" He asked.

"Cameras. They to stop people from stealing. Sort of have a witness to those that steal stuff. Its all recorded. We band folks coming in, so its a system to warn us staff of who to remove from the store." He tilted in thinking about it, "The monitor room is a little after my locker. It's the best view of the place." He hummed and left. I can really focus on work, mostly straightening out the areas missed.

The manager claps for all staff to come forwards and we are reassigned tasks for the rest of today. Who is on till until what time and who was going to watch the high valued goods today - like our designer brand corner and technology stuff. I have till early this morning. I will be expected to be taken off for my lunch and then return out of lunch with another 4 hours of stock rotations. Stock rotation is when seasonal displays are moved, one offers are put up or taken down or in the food sections it is date checking / product freshness.

I am sure that I predict that there will be a 'are where is this' or 'do you have this' questions. I am grantee that if I do speak to someone today that they will ask me about my accent or place of origin. Sometimes I will just hear something like, 'ask the lady that isn't British' or the kids who find my words funny to snicker at me for. There is no escaping this, and I have committed to living this way. If I moved back now, the Americans will pick on me for having a British twinge. Loathing the fact I work in a public place, i sure wipe on a good smile and stand at the register area at the ready. Not because someone will walk in and be instantly ready to buy. It's a prevention of theft, a empty station is highly good opportunity to try stealing from. There will always be plenty of tagging removal or adding for us standing here to do. No moment is wasted working in a big ticket store like this. Fingers in all sorts of ranged goods from; household cleaning, cushion covers, bedding, clothing for all ages and genders and fancy tech to add in the house. We in partners with a drug company that has a beauty corner with medicine, make up and if you so wished - nails or threading eye brows. Not forgetting the small coffee place a floor above me and the another partner company running the food section.

It's a superstore with a difference. We are all these little company's under one roof. There is three types of contracts; the permeant place in one company department only, the part time contract as a sale assistant (jack of all trades for all departments / companies) and the management staff which run their sections (they take percentage cuts from which department company they run most and a minimal base wage the same as a sale assistant). Moving the ladder from sale Assistant, to management then a higher wage as head of deputy - the pyramid is easy to see. In order to be deputy - you will be in charge of a set small group of the sale assistants. The higher you go the more falls on your shoulders. You play human resources roulette, making or loosing the deputy title. There is many instabilities ignored and at the basic - the companies under one roof all get the profits from this. A unfair play of who gets Christmas off or a pay check bonus (it be luck if that was pay). It can be a nice place to work.

The clothing team are really nice people, at like a team and get on really well. They put aside home non-sense and just get on with working. The beauty counters live for social media except their head of department which is our instore qualified chemist - she has all the issues of going through menopause. She can be sweet as butter one moment and the demon lady of hell. The tech people are nesh - they talk their tv, video games or tech speak only among them. They get on but they are who fix a glitching computer or till and will do so with the most ungrateful of tones. The household cleaning and for house items are quiet people, I don't hear much about them and I don't hear them talk much. They seem pretty lonely in a department that gets asked for where the toilets are the most. The café and food area teams are average or sometimes total dick to worried about their dating problems.

Everyone as an individual are at least hard working enough to stay here, but clumps as they are - they sound useless in a retail. But somehow in spite of all this, we are all just people doing a job. It works plenty keeping this place to keep floating. Everyone's quirk seems to attract more customers in. I am sure I was hired for that reason and not my skill of not being able to look at numbers on a white screen correctly. Even the pretty boys in the café attract a crowd in enough for them to keep business - with or without being under the umbrella. For all we may like or dislike our work, we are making money needed.

"Good morning!" My warmest smile and a bit of hand gesturing to the fancy extras around the till area, "May I interest you in any other products today?" The couple stood before me are unamused and just to be sure - living people, yup. "Don't worry folks, i am sure you are as sick of it as i can be. From the nonsense of extra batteries for toys to nail polish. You know next week seems to be some sort of perfume on offer." I rant on while scanning and my own twist of charm is a hit or miss, "Was there anything else?" I posed comfortable at equal eye level.

"You're American aren't you?" They have the card to pay ready.

"Yup, 25 years of living in this grey cloud of fairyland. I will never go back to the melting pot of hell I was born from." I shrug as I sort of answer this question in three way. This was the smooth slow to offer something else again, "I would have never afforded the fancy smells of Celvin Kin or Shimmy Shoo." Hand still pointing to the display, "103 dollars and 84 dollars per 100ml." They laugh, "But can't beat a bargain with you realize that inflation of dollar to pounds it sicking." the gentlemen was actually trying to calculate the worth and his eye widen at the offer before him.

"You having a laugh?" He exclaims, "I can buy this cheaper at the airport."

"Ah, but you see even duty free isn't always tax free under the American dollar my friend." I pointed, "And here we are in England, another grey morning where it will sleet later." He paused, "that men's is 20 quid and the lady is about 25 depending which one." His wife has already been smelling everything and trying the testers. She the one I was convincing, not him. She made the choose of asking for the men's and a lady's scent. I back out the transaction and add those into the bag. The new cost isn't much different since they were buying from several department items at the same time. The till will already spilt the items in categories, all into one receipt (but flow the money in serval banks). These big scent purchases at the till keeps the clothing store in the green, because buying one bottle of perfume is like four rails of t shirts. Just the nature of the clothing retail, "Here is your items and receipt in the bag. If you set the alarm off, go to the security counter they will deactivate any tags I couldn't at this till. The medicines use a different tag system to clothing." I roll some honesty and continue my warmest smile, "I hope you have a fantastic day today. Enjoy a coffee before your gone, its up stairs."

A few copper pennies into the charity box and they left with a smile. She laughed about things as I spoke with her husband which was how I made the sale. It's the laugh that counts. Some play down of being cheery makes me fit in with the British lack of mock enthusiasm towards working a lower skilled job. Some folks like my hybrid American / British customer service, some see right through the lie (knowing it was just to sale more stuff to them) and others are grumps with their own issues (no matter what you say, they will only buy what they got). Some really hate the American fake, and I don't blame them. I feel like that air hostess at the plane door as customers leave from my till. Some fall for the false smile and enjoy the mini conversation they get. Some elderly folks only get this chance to talk someone all week. I pity them and I try to not push sale on them unless they ask or I am really forced by whomever is deputy of my gaggle group. You have the young couples in different stages, they hard to convince and just want to talk about where I am from but they buy the most highest price when you do. Unless there is children, then is all about children. Pitching sale is hard and to do so in short amount of interaction time makes it worse. It really is a skill to sale anything.

"A good day to you, what can I help you with today?" A empty handed customer, they tend to ask questions for directions or stock. For sure another living person but this one has a angel at their side. Given the gentlemen's age, he might be widowed and or confused. It happens a lot, Britain is a aging population full of folks like him. Lost behind the technology changes.

"I am was hoping to speak to a member of management." Oh no... not always a good thing.

"Is it a issue I can help resolve instead? I will still call someone over in the meantime." He sighs grateful that I do in fact listen to him, "Is this about a item you purchased, a staff member behaviour or something else?" I brought up a clip board for this sort of thing. I have to log every complaint or purchase refusal (there is age restriction on some products or amount limit), "Do you remember what department you want to ask about?"

"Well he has a black uniform." I tilted as we don't have uniforms of black or at least downstairs doesn't - café does but they are never here on duty, "He came out of the staff only entrance. He glared at me." I didn't know if I should report this as a problem or not. I hope his not meaning, "There." He pointed to Shade, "He..." The old man posed confused as I played along this confused.

"Are you alright sir?" my deputy stepping in and peering over my shoulder at the lack of filling in.

"Yes. There was a gentleman in a long black outfit that came from your staff area, he glared at me and totally ignored my plead." I offer the deputy to take the board off me as now even the deputy understands my inability to help with this. I leaned over and whispered about him pointing to air before but maybe checking CCTV would help this case, "He..." this man looks around the whole place over in more confused. I rushed around to the other side, catching him from falling into a display - he would have damaged goods but more importantly hurt himself on it (it been more hassle if he claimed the glass breaking hurt him more then his fall). I sat him to lean against the counter.

"Sir, are you ok? Are you in any pain?" He was unable to speak clearly, "Can you lift your arms?" he can't lift his left side, as his face is dropping too (classic stroke), "Call the ambulance!" I exclaim, "His having a stroke. Someone fetch cooling pads, if I have to pay for them I will." The on site first aid now joined me and together we kept him focused. He struggled but he eventually gave us his name and house address. It also helps that I found a panic button on him and a wallet. Cooling pad across the forehead helps him a lot with keeping up with us. The ambulance crew takes over and I stood back from it finally. So hyperfocal on him I didn't notice the crowds that were being directed away by other staff. Nor was this the time for me to notice Shade, the angel and a demon talking together among that same crowd. A sort of deal was being hatched. I don't really know who was going to benefit from this and if I was going to have this job.

Worse would be me being promoted to take my deputies place or loosing my job entirely for break store policy about letting folks fall - its a insurance issue. I can work in a team but I can't manage one. To much white paper reading and responsibility for others that will not take me seriously. The man is taken on a stretcher, Angel followed him and the demon moving off to plague my manager it seems. I return to till and find odd job tasks to do while waiting to serve the next to approach.

"You spotted the signs quick and acted fast. You should take a first aid course and help me around here." Our site first aider returned back from ambulance crew. The old man had everything he came with and we have to hope that the professionals can take over.

"I left a zero hour contract with a career company. I was starving myself to do my job with long hours that I couldn't keep up. I felt like I was about to make big mistakes if I continued. Medication sheets and all that. Coming home late wasn't doing my pets good either." I shook at the memory, "I did like doing it though, the folks were lovely. You couldn't blame them for what they couldn't do." Shade heard me talking and ponders in his own silence. The first aider gets it and nods.

"You were trained as a career, so you know what to look for." I nod at this, "We need someone like you to back me up. I will talk about it with management." I shrug at this, "Do you still have those qualifications?" I shook, "Well we can see about at least getting you a first aid training." They pat my shoulder, "You did something good. You should be proud." I guess my expression was something like I was about to be on executioner block or something. It felt it when I acted quick to help him. They left for a different part of the store and finally I was back to till service as normal. We had a queue built up from the ambulance block. Another small ticket side sales and nothing to big like perfume again for the rest of the shift. A few grumpy folks that had a demon on their shoulder, I didn't bother annoying them in asking. Shade stood at my back all morning, likely he wanted to tell me something or he was being his normal self. I came off till for my hour lunch and went to the staff lounge around the warehouse and lockers. I sat alone for the most part and ate my packed sandwich.

"You make a great demon for how you sale things." Shade voiced.

"I refuse to exchange or sale souls. That's not my business." I softly mutter, "I would rather protect them." I pose in offering a sandwich and he did take one, "You can almost find it terrifying." I muttered lower then that. I watched my mask enough times now to get it. There must be somewhere or someway that the souls that enter can exit. I would maybe guess this is all that shady metal trading is about with them not normal creatures.

"terrifying?" He heard me and eat silently from that. I shrug gently and enjoy the peace for a short moment longer.

"You!" The door slams open and I put my sandwich box down a moment, "You are!" I want to say this was to tell me off but I can't actually tell.

"Currently being offered a new contract." Someone pushed the other out the way, "We are changing your work hours and pay. We are offering better training." they are stopped with others in the room looking at me. I looked at each person here, all of them from the main companies and then there is my boss who looks angry.

"You are terminated from your current position." She finally hissed and left.

"Well if that's the case, I need the pay I am owned for my work time spent here." I shouted back to her, "I have mouths to feed and rent to pay." She froze at shock at the door that I dared shout back, but i am right. I wasn't going to leave without some confirmation that this will be sorted. These other contracts were here to cover up or take on enrolling onto their system. It was to blind sight me from not being paid the hours I am due. I seen it before with previous staff, their bonus from being new hire was the pay they should have got. Just another way for this umbrella company to cut costs, "I also wish to have a written statement for why I was terminated. Fired me without a reason isn't good enough." She snarls and left, "I will not looking at being hired here with any company unless your contract doesn't eclipse the one I am still working."

They try to fast talk it. Yet now that other employees were seeing this, they also nosed into the business. They asked their questions to integrate into if this happens to them, when it does. Because this isn't the first time and its not my first time. I have been rehired here 4 times. They want me but they are giving me less reasons to stay with them. I sit down finishing my lunch and I packed semi way. I went straight to the office from here - collected a check (which I knew would bounce as that happened to someone else). I took my letter of termination. I also have my phone on me, I took a picture of her, her office and her computer screen (Maybe I shouldn't have but I am too mad). Shade was also collecting things too, things I should have had. A few things about how the pension works and the paperwork that gets forgotten. I have my payroll number and checked it against the cheque.

"This cheque is wrong." I took a photo of both sides and she snatched it. She took out a a cheque book that hasn't been touched or used a lot. She fills it out again, this time she back checked the details. This one was authentic and shouldn't bounce. Shade took the security footage and had it transfer my phone - the whole event of me helping the guy (which apparently me stealing from his wallet is the point of why I am terminated). He stays around for the show as my now ex-boss is got something else up her sleeve. Trying to have me sign something else. I took the whole document and sit reading the whole thing, A new employment contract, pay worse then before and I have to disclose all criminal history that is on going? I haven't even had a cop ask me about the gentleman.

"I refuse to sign this new contract." She frowns at me, "No. I refuse to stay here. You proven to me more then enough that my skills as a worker isn't good enough. Fine. I get it but i am thinking about taking this to court. I am not the only one." I take this contract with me, "This is mine now. You offered to me. You would just throw it away." I put everything into a neat sack. I took off my badge and coat... made sure the pockets were cleared out, "Have a good day." I tell her and leave the office, security standing here sheepish, "Its fine. Can i fetch my stuff from my locker?" I asked they nod and followed me into the staff rooms where it is still a hot debate in there of other employees, "I was just fired on the grounds of being a thief." I announced to them, "When I was looking for the guy's name and took out his wallet from the pocket. I apparently stole something." I pose to the whole room, "I am not coming back to a company that does this. It isn't even under investigation yet."

There are many who had worked beside me before and know that I am honest good faith person. I have returned items many times before. Cards left at till too, I made sure that the right person gets it back. I have never stolen from the till. I have never stolen from the store. I may make a spit about counting money but I will be honest and apologies for it. Reading a white screen with my learning difficulty is hard. Especially when the sale has to be quick and breezy and be a sale pitch for other goods and services. I have bad days and good days, just like any other person.

"You're more then welcome to the footage." the security guard nods, "We will have a look at it when we get you to the door." I picked up my things, signed my name out 'fired from job' beside it. I took photos of the sign ins I had access with. Someone else had gave me up to the start of the payroll of the year, they shouldn't have helped me but it was a personal grudge. They gave me their contact information because they can see that I am collecting evidence for myself. Several who worked with me and give their contact details for social events. I really was leaving and there were a lot of folks who liked me more then I realized. A lot of the teams appreciate me in their ways. I did take the other contracts unsigned with me too. I knew where my copy of my original contract is, and the information I disclosed on it, noted up on it. I can also see the people glad to see me gone, some folks just hate my accent or my way of working. That's their problem, not mine. I try not to make my problems a work issue unless it did interfere with my work. I go to work to work, and some folks assume me for my generation as a lazy person. You can't win them all. I get to the security gate, we check everything I have. Pockets and bag. Shoe, the first time I have ever had a airport treatment. But I had nothing they could point the blame on me for. I was allowed the footage of just me. I wasn't allowed anything else and not the full picture image. I accepted that at least. Repacked everything and made sure I wasn't leaving the undertaker stranded here.

"Bye everyone." I waved out the customer door instead of the staff one, because I am no longer staff. I wanted to make that clear. The crowd that watch me leave all hawked in the oddity of why I was being treated like a thief but there is a lack of police would have been here. That's policy but they had no proof of stealing and no items of stolen goods to show for. They couldn't call the police on the grounds of lacking evidence. I may have data breeched, for all those photos I took and the CCTV footage. But I strictly wanted it for my reinsurance of them not claiming anything. I suspect that they were now preparing for a court case that isn't going to happen, I can't afford the lawyers they use. I have everything and now I was sort of free.

"They didn't actually meant to fire you out right." Shade mentions.

"They offered me lesser pay because of it." I take a seat on a public bench and finish the lunch I needed to, he sat with me. He takes his share, "I have paid rent for the rest of this month at least and I can get by for a few days without spending anything. I could walk home if I must." Proving a point, "I have my backup business of pouches, candles and charms. It's not a lot but I will make it work." I sighed and held the papers close, "Best to head home and talk to professional with quotes."

"Why not call your family?" He meant the society and I couldn't help my expression at him for suggesting the idiocy of it, "Wow... you in bad terms or something?"

"I guess you didn't know." I sigh, "The society was against my grandparents when they warned them about me. I seem to be cursed differently to the rest of them. They believe my biological father is something special. They disbelieve I am his first child." the undertaker actually choked for once, "I tried to forget about it all. But all this recent crap has dragged it all to the surface of my thoughts lately. My mother couldn't get help for me. I was put school to school. I moved here and finally made a difference in my learning." he finally seems fine without my help in offer, "Ignorance is bless." I leaned back on the bench and I got out my headphones.

I put one in and connected it to my phone, but didn't allow the music to play. I picked up all my stuff and packed my empty lunch box. I shuffled my coat warmer to me and make a last check for any last things left behind. I walk away from the store, a last look behind me of letting go something stable in my life. Only when I started being comfortable was there order. I should buy what I can afford to make my days stretch a little longer. I shouldn't in case of any bills. But I need to feed everyone and I don't know when I will be getting enough money again.

"Why not work for us?" The undertaker poses with having walked ahead of me, "You just lost your job. You have a house and pets to keep. I bet we can find a way to afford what you need." He offered his hand at me, "Maybe we can learn what your curse really is." I stare at him a lot of still not sure of trusting him, he is still a random stranger that shows up a lot lately.

"I want to think on this. Will you allow me to consider this sort of thing maybe if I am that much in need?" He tilted at me like I was weird, "I know... that didn't sound right. Is there something I don't know that you do that would make me take your hand on that?" He sighs. He took out a book, the dark one with bad vibes. He shuffled it a long time. He found what he was looking for. He closed it and opens the pages again and again. He shook at finally answering me, putting the book away.

"You may have read our guidebook but you don't really know what or who we are." He stands straight, and seems to continue blocking me from some sort of direct, "Undertakers reverse mistakes that demons and angels cause because souls have a set order for when they live and when they die. The work of veils is to guide souls into the paths the souls need them to be. We are the working hands and feet of such power, the wave among the fabric of time and space when it needs adjustment." He explains so bland, he has spoken this subject many times. The only my reactions seem to make any interest of him speaking. My blankness was expected and so he continues, "We can not rise to heaven. Heaven says that why you do the deed is what forgives and regardless of the minor deeds there is place. But what if you committed a great crime or that you spent life never having a good enough answer for your deeds." He changed hands for now, "There are many hells for many souls to fall, not all of them are the sinners place of punishment. Hell will only punish for the deed you do, neither care for how or why. The greater the sin, the lower into the bowls of hell you scream." He was casting a ward or that he was bringing something forwards, like the air wobble off shape in a sudden heat. Now there was a dark hole beside him, "I trying change fate. I was given a task that made no sense. Even my king couldn't fathom why a small soul like you mattered."

"Then you know my curse." I backed a step, "I may not truly know at a surface level, but I know my fears. They don't come me unless it was dire." The cold grasp of hands on my arms, telling me to not. That to step through that portal was to break laws, "But something would have to be wrong for you to seek me out so personally." I may grasp my stomach in fear and feel those many hands. But my mask has already made its mind. I feel the push for me to move forwards too.

"If I had time to explain..." I clapped my hands bringing a stop of time. I only had to touch, a poke and he was entered with me.

"Time stops for no man." I reminded, "Some sayings are the very laws we keep. This is long as death may keep me." He frowned a lot, "You should have enough to explain some of it."

"The tomes that order souls have been acting up. These books are what death gods use to know when it is someone's time to leave the realm they were in. The same books are what tell the gods of life to replenish which worlds needed or to leave a land to rest. These books know who are above all and bellow us all." He posed hands in prayer, "These books have fail safes to prevent disorder. But it requires that very certain section is protected, safe even. But because these books have to belong in all realms, they aren't always a physical thing." he brought a copy, "This is a death tome, you avoid it because you sense the nature of it. But it isn't actually a book in my hand, its just a manifest of what is assumed a book among many to be a tome." He made it change types of papers and formats. At some point it was a phone. He made it into a feather and then the feather is a crow, "The book has its own will. Its up to us to share bond that it mutual to both parties." the crow hops to his shoulder, "You are the first and only time a book as ever requested to change fate."

"That makes sense." I sort of didn't meant to say that but the words fell out of me, "So you're trying to stop something the books knew will happen. But you don't know because it's a book that requested it and not a actual person. You can't ask a book a question of why." He smiled at me.

"That is exactly it." he then suddenly frowns, "Wait. How come you grasp that well?" He tilted, "You're a living person." I had to clap for time to return, "Wait." He blocks me from moving around again, "Something is about to happen and I am trying help you." I stare at him.

"In order for me to know, I have to be allowed to fall." I pat him with my left hand, "I am not going to blame you for trying to stop me." I walked through him as at the end of the day, he is only a spirit among living. I step into a stream of sunlight, cutting him off from me. He isn't stranded, he has a portal home.

Whatever may happen, it will be mine to face. I can maybe hate myself later for it. But in order to know, I must have felt it before. Something else has to stop me. Not just one undertaker. Before I am totally gone.

"DO you have another nickname I should be calling you? As I will tell you mine... because I known my other name all this time." He tilted a little uncomfortable at my direct stare at him or that he wasn't preapare with some speech for this. I smile because, he is no longer reading a script or following a order.

"I am Curiosity. I am the King's hand." He didn't say which hand, as in the guidebook I borrowed states there is a left and right hand of the monarch of undertakers. One is the direct adviser and partner. The other is the spy and dirty worker. But it doesn't always stay that way, a spy has been a partner before. He bows like it was the first ever time we met at all, a full bow and gesture that followed.

"Then I am Tricky, the most difficualt according to the book." I return with my curstey and with a gesture I learned a long time ago, "But of course." I straighten, "My living name is Lea. I am Lea Seer Fallon. I choose my mother name over the bastard who left me." I hold my hands in front of me, "I am a tome keeper. Whatever that means other then being a fancy title."

"Well, a tome keeper shouldn't be alive." He tuts.

"If the tomes belong to all worlds in many states, why would it not have life as well as death?" I asked, "It pestered me to make that a point to you." He stepped back now, "Yeah. I ward my house pretty good." he thought about this, "Later Curiosity." I turned always, "I know that the dead don't do goodbyes."

"This time is different. Goodbye Lea Seer Fallon." He was gone when I looked back, I may regret telling those things. I may regert not taking his gesture. But I have to live and someday I have to die. Just like everyone else.