* * *
For lunch,Tom got a Subway sandwich.He figured he should have something moderately healthy to make it through the extra busy season.He also ordered a large fries from Wendy’s and kept them in the bag.He had switched breaks with another co-worker so that it lined up with Randall’s break.He couldn’t wait to surprise him at their secret rendezvous office.
But Randall was not alone.
The office had at least a dozen people in there, all mall employees.Tom read their nametags.There were employees from The Gap, Nordstrom’s, Bath and Body Works, the full gamut.Guys and gals.And Randall was the center, sitting on the desk, the star atop of this tree.
They looked up at him, blushing, fawning.Randall pulled a French fry from his Wendy’s bag and ate it.Tom hid the bag he brought for him.
“I had this woman sit on my lap and ask for a new husband.Her husband was waiting for her in line and heard every word.Awkward!”
The room echoed with laughter.
“That is amazing.You should write a book or something,” the Bath and Body Works person said.His hand grazed Randall’s knee.Fucking Bath and Body Works.
“Have people outright asked you for sex?”A female Banana Republic sales associate asked.
“They actually installed a guard so if someone does, they are removed immediately.But then that brings up people asking in more creative ways, talking a lot about milk and cookies and how I can enter their fireplaces.”
They were eating this up.Tom felt invisible in this room.Theirroom.Randall soaked in the attention.He could talk about the supposed burden of being so attractive as much as he wanted, but he sure knew how to wield that power when he wanted.He didn’t seem ashamed.
“Hey,” Randall said when his eyes found Tom.
Tom gave a half-wave.He knew he had no claim over Randall, but something about this felt like a violation.
Randall pointed to Tom.“Tom works at the Décor Store.”
Everyone said hello back.Tom recognized a bunch of them from his time in the mall.The Bath and Body Works guy gave him a split-second glare before breaking into a fake-friendly smile.
“I was just regaling them with stories from my time in the Santa trenches.”
“It’s quite an experience,” a girl with both eyebrows pierced said.He recognized her from Hot Topic.“Did anyone ever propose to you?”
The group whipped their attention away from Tom and to the guy they were all there to see.Randall did not disappoint.He brought story after story.Tom wished he could go back to pining from afar.He threw out his fries without anyone seeing.
* * *
During a brief lullin the busyness, after the midday rush and before the after-work crunch, Tom swept up behind the cash register.Ripped tissue paper, unwanted receipts, and ripped-off tags littered the floor.He had stayed and listened to Randall’s stories for the rest of the break, but he felt like a groupie.Maybe that was all he was to Randall, his number-one fan.His Christmastime Penny Lane.
Antonio came up to Tom with a clipboard.That meant scheduling changes were afoot.
“Great job today!”Antonio said.Tom wondered if he had tailored his apron so that it tightened at his chest at the right points.“This time of year feels like living inside a tornado.”
“Actually, the inside a tornado is calm, according to this special I watched on The Weather Channel.”
“Oh.”
Tom didn’t know why he broke out useless trivia at inopportune times.He could be a conversational party pooper.“But yeah, it’s a shit show.”
“Question for you.Are you available to work Christmas Eve?I know, you worked Thanksgiving, and I was supposed to give you a break.”
“I worked Christmas Eve last year.”
“I know, believe me.But a lot of people have put in time-off requests, and the seasonal workers who haven’t will probably flake out.I wouldn’t be asking you if I didn’t need you.”Antonio twisted his face as he braced for Tom’s answer.“I would owe you.”
“You still owe me from Thanksgiving.”
“Idoubleowe you.Please, Tom.”He placed a hand on Tom’s shoulder and opened his eyes extra-wide, like he was Puss in Boots fromShrek.
