I set it on the counter. “I haven’t filled it out yet.”
“How old are you?”
“I turned sixteen today.”
His smile grew bigger. “Well, happy birthday!”
“Thank you. I think I could be a stocker.”
“You in school?” Frank asked.
“I’m homeschooled.”
“So you could work this shift right now?”
Wow. That was fast. “You mean right this very minute?”
Frank laughed. “No. I mean weekday mornings. I’m struggling to find someone for this shift.”
“Sure.”
Frank rubbed his mustache with his thumb. “I assume you haven’t had a job before.”
“No. But I’m responsible. Ask all the flowers I keep alive despite the summer heat.”
He laughed again. I liked him. He was like a big, funny teddy bear.
He slid the paper back toward me. “I tell you what. Fill out this application and bring it back on Monday. And don’t forget your ID for the tax forms. Since you just turned sixteen, I assume you don’t have a driver’s license. You have a permit?”
I thought fast. “Not yet. My mom will drive me. Or I can walk.”
“Good. Bring your Social Security card and birth certificate.”
I had no idea what those were, but Mom surely would.
“So I’m hired?”
“Sure. We’ll try you out. See how it goes.”
“Wow! Thank you!”
Frank laughed again. “See you Monday at eight sharp. Have a good birthday.”
I backed away, holding the application to my chest. I had a job! Mom would be so proud.
I raced to the produce section, grabbed the cheapest apples I could find plus a bundle of spinach, and hurried to frozen foods, folding up the paper to hide in my pocket.
Mom’s face looked hard, like the soldiers inThe Sound of Music. “What took so long?”
I swallowed. I had never lied to her before. “I was looking for fruit that was cheap enough to help us get ice cream.”
Mom looked into my eyes for a moment. I held up the bag of apples.
Her face relaxed. “They look good. And see, the ice cream is on sale, too.”
“Wow. For my birthday!”
“It’s a sign.”
