The Job Gone Wrong

It was a hot summer’s day in the small town of East Windsor, Connecticut.  All the men and women were off at work trying to make a living and provide a shelter for their families. The children were attending summer camp or going to the local parks and beaches with their friends.

            Twenty-one year old, October Raines, out of school for the summer and living back at home, is currently looking for a part time job because her parent’s are not allowing her to slack off or live at home rent free.  Because of the bad recession, October couldn’t find a job anywhere.  Her search went on for a whole week; she applied to the nearest Barnes and Noble, the Wal-Mart down the street from her house, the local grocery store as well as Stop and Shop and nothing was budging. October was growing tired of searching for a job and she was about to quit, she felt as if everyone was judging her based off her looks. With her natural jet black hair dyed with platinum-blonde lowlights layered to about shoulder length and styled with thick side bangs off to the right, her big bright sky blue eyes, her heavy black eyeliner, and her thick rimmed black glasses, people always assumed she was bad news. October knew that if she gave up her search for a job her parents would kick her out; she decided to just take a tiny break and go grab a quick bite to eat at Starbucks. While driving over to the nearest Starbucks, October began thinking of excuses to tell her parents when they asked about why she still did not have a job, considering her fifteen year old sister, Autumn already had a babysitting job.

            Upon arriving at Starbucks, October parked her black Hyundai Tiburon in the closest parking spot to the entrance. She went inside and reviewed the menu for about three minutes; then deciding she would like a Grande Caramel Frappuccino and a turkey sandwich, she placed her order with the cashier boy named Casper. Casper rang up the drink and the sandwich totaling up to twelve dollars and change. October took out her Coach wallet and realized she only had a ten dollar bill and no debit card on her. Frantically searching her handbag for the remaining amount, she looked up at Casper humiliated; asking him to please remove the sandwich.

            “Don’t worry about it, this one’s on me,” Casper said with a smile.
            “Thanks so much, please let me know the next time you’re working so I can pay you back,” October replied.
            “I don’t want your money, however if you want to do something for me, come to the movies with me on Friday.”
            “Eh… I really can’t, sorry.”

            October grabs her sandwich and drink and goes to sit down at a table to eat after thanking him one more time. When she finishes, she throws away her garbage and leaves.

            Later that day, frustrated that she couldn’t find a job, October headed out to Barnes and Noble to check out what the new vampire releases are in the fantasy section. As she rounded the corner, she bumped into a tall, athletic built man with sandy brown hair. She quickly apologizes, as he turns around their eyes meet and she realizes it is the guy from Starbucks.

            “Fancy meeting you here,” Casper says with a smile. Not knowing what to say, October smiles back. “So, what brings you into the fantasy section?”
            “Bad day, can’t find a job. Thought I would check out the new vampire novels if there were any.”

            “What kind of job are you looking for?”
            “Nothing in particular, my parents are forcing me to get a summer job until I go back to school,” she said.

            “Well if you don’t mind waiting on customers or bagging produce, my family owns a vegetable stand. I can get you the job.”

            “Thank you so much, that would be awesome.” October said cheerfully because her search for a job was now finished.
            “Let me call them now so you can stop over and meet them.” He reaches for his cell phone and calls his dad. After he completes his call, he turns to October and tells her she starts tomorrow at noon. “The name of the stand is Baggott Farms, it is on route 5.”

            “Oh! I am familiar with Baggott Farms, my parents frequently shop there.”

            “Great! Ask for Tom Baggott, he is my father and mention that you are the one I called him about.” October thanks him one more time and decides to drive to the stand and introduce herself.

            The next morning October wakes up early, excited to start her job at Baggott Farms. She arrives twenty minutes early to fill out paperwork and begin cashier training. Later in the day when Casper finished his shift at Starbucks, he stops by to see how her first day is going.

            “Wow I never realized how much there was to know about vegetable and plants. People keep asking me all kinds of questions like if they are organic, native grown, what kind of plants are they, how I take care of them. I am not sure I can learn all of this. If your family owns this business, why are you at Starbucks,” October asks exhausted.

            “I grew up working weekends in the fields, plucking corn and other vegetables, and fertilizing them as well. One day this will all be mine anyway so I want to experience other careers. I can help you learn about the different types of plants and crops. Since you won’t go to the movies with me, how about talking over coffee, your treat,” Casper replies.

            “That would be great! Not tonight though because I am exhausted from standing all day in this heat. I am off Friday; I’ll meet you at Starbucks at one.” They both smile at each other.

            “Sounds like a date,” Casper says. “I have to run but I will see you then.” As Casper walks away, October feels a tap on her shoulder which causes her to jump.

            “Hey! When did you start working here? I know everyone who works here… So hitting on the boss’ son are we? Over me so soon?” October turns and realizes it’s her ex-boyfriend Christian. “Why do you look so shocked to see me? You left for college saying that everything would be fine between us, and then you broke up with me through an email because you didn’t have the guts to do it over the phone.” October was stunned and speechless, Christian continues, “You think you’re smarter than me because you went off to some fancy college while I went to work. Were you ashamed of having a drop-out boyfriend because you were a straight ‘A’ student? It didn’t bother you at first, what changed? You said nothing would change. After you refused to take my calls or respond to my emails, I bet you didn’t know that I drove up to your campus one weekend and hung outside your dorm to see who you left me for.”

            “Things change, I changed. I don’t owe you any other explanation.” October starts to walk away but Christian grabs her forearm, jerking her backwards.

            “Don’t walk away from me; I am not finished with you yet.” At that point, October notices the tattoo on his forearm of her name with a dagger going through it with blood drops.

            Mr. Baggott calls out to October, “is everything ok?”
            “Everything is fine, Mr. Baggott,” October replies. She turns to Christian and says, “Please just leave me alone, it is over between us. I don’t love you. I don’t know what else you want from me. I think you should move on, I have.”

            “You are mine and you always will be.” October grabs her purse and leaves.

            The next day before her shift, October stops at Starbucks. She orders her coffee from Casper and tells him that she has to break their plans for Friday because something has come up. Saddened but shocked, Casper notices a bruise on her arm. When he questions her about it, October quickly changes topics. Casper tries to push for an explanation causing October to grab her coffee and storm off.

            Later at work, Christian continuously leaves the field to purposefully walk past October making her very uncomfortable. If that wasn’t bad enough, Casper shows up after his shift to try and talk to her, noticing how uncomfortable she is when one of the workers walks by.

            “Is everything ok?”

            “Everything is fine.” Christian happens to walk up towards the desk at this moment.

            “Hey boss, don’t be hitting on my girlfriend.” Casper looking confused, Christian continues, “she didn’t mention me to you did she? Don’t bother trying to date her; she thinks she is better than everyone. She only dates college guys.”

            “You’re not my boyfriend. I ended it with you two years ago.”

            “Dude, leave her alone.”

            “Stay out of it, you don’t know anything. Aren’t we paying you to work and not harass the other employees? If you’d like to keep your job, I’d suggest you get back to work.”

            Christian looks at October, “this isn’t over,” and returns to the field. Casper looks at October.
            “Is he the one who put that bruise on your arm?” She looks down and nods her head.

            “He wasn’t like this when I went out with him. He was sweet, but when I went away to college I met people I had more in common with and we out grew each other. I tried to tell him but he just wouldn’t listen.”

            “Are you going to be okay? Do you need me to drive you home?”
            “I will be fine.”
            “Are we still on for Friday?”
            “Yes.”

            October finishes her shift and gets ready to leave. Christian comes up behind her, grabs her and drags her off into the fields. He ties her arms and legs together with rope. “Now look what you made me do. Now we’ll never be apart.”

            At nine o’clock, three hours after closing, October’s parents were worried because she was not picking up her cell phone, which is nothing like her. They decide to call the Baggott family household to see if she was working late. Mr. Baggott said she had left at six and was heading home. Casper over hearing the conversation, told his father that one of the field workers, Christian, has been harassing her. He told his father that he would go back to the farm to make sure no one was there.

            Casper arrives at the farm and notices that October and Christian’s cars are still in the lot. He calls his father to tell him of the situation and tell him that he is calling the police. Mr. Baggott says he will call the Raines’ and tell them. Casper waits for the East Windsor police to arrive. When they arrive, he explains what has been going on and that it is quite possible that Christian has harmed October.

            The East Windsor police set out into the field in search of Christian and October. After two hours, the East Windsor police locate October and Christian in the middle of the corn stalks. October is tied up and gagged and Christian has a knife in his hand threatening her with it.

            Finally after an hour, they were able to overcome Christian, arrest him, and safely bring October back. Terrified and crying, October sees Casper waiting for her so she runs over to him and hugs him. The police put Christian in the back of the car, handcuffed and drive off.

            “I am so sorry this happened to you. I will drive you home.” Casper takes October home. October’s parents run out from the house and clutch their daughter, thanking Casper for bringing her home safely. She tells her parents she will be right in and she turns to Casper and says, “Friday night movie, our first date.” 

            “It’s a date.” Casper smiles.