I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

was a stock boy.

I had a two-minute tutorial on what that meant and I was off.

I’d arrive at work at 8:00 a.m.

I still find it funny that I’ve had so many jobs that start early in the a.m. when now as an old man, I’d lose my mind if I had to be at work at 8:00 a.m. everyday.

I’d get to work, and I start on the big carts they had that had been loaded overnight.

I’d distribute them to the right department. Then go back and help the sales team put them away the merchandise.

This repeated itsself throughout the day.

I continued this process until 4:00 when I was done for the day.

I was actually quite efficient at my job, and so I found myself, getting to know the sales team.

Beth in towels and linens was from Tennessee. She wanted to go into management. Was newly married and had just graduated from college and moved to Atlanta.

Mary in lamps had worked at this location since forever. She was a grandmother to everyone, and was the person, who let me know how much markup there was on the merchandise.

I never got to know the other stock team members.

After a few weeks, I was really, really, really efficient.

So my schedule became, get to work at 8:00. Distribute the carts. Go around and put the merchandise away.

Then at 9:00 my friends, the sales team, would arrive and I’d hang out with them until 10:00.

At 10:00 I took a break..

Then I’d do some carts.

Then it was time for lunch at noon.

Then at 1:00 it was time for the sales team’s lunch.

Then at 2:00 I’d do some carts.

I’d take my afternoon break.

And then I’d do some more carts.

And then I’d go home.

My area was spotless. The merchandise on the floor looked great. My carts were always done on time.

I was fast.

I was efficient.

Meanwhile, one day in mid-October about 6 weeks after I started, a young man showed up to stock the Hallmark cards.

He was very, very, very cute.

I was a stock boy, so I made it my mission to help him.

We chatted as I helped him “stock” the cards.

I cannot for the life of me remember his name.

He finished up at the same time I did.

We found ourselves walking to our cars together.

The time had already changed for the season and it was dark outside.

We arrived at his car and he asked if I wanted to join him.

I got him.

We talked for a while. Then made out for a while. Maybe a little more than make out.

Then we talked some more.

I told him that I was trying to get a waiting tables job, but was having no luck.

He shared that he had a boyfriend who waited tables. He’d ask him to put in a good word for me.

Of course he had a boyfriend.

I gave him my number and a week or so later he called me and told me his boyfriend worked at Bennigan’s and he’d told the manager about me, and that I should lie about my experience and also tell her that I knew the boyfriend.

I did as I was told.

I filled out the application.

I got called for an interview.

I was hired as a server.

I went in the next day to give my notice at JC Penney, and the manager said to me, I’m glad you are giving your notice, I’d planned to fire you. Then he explains that I was spending too much time not actually working. Even though, I got everything that was expected of me done every day, long before my co-workers did, I couldn’t spend the day talking to the sales staff instead of working.

Going to prove, that you should work slower, not faster.

Two weeks later I finished at JC Penney, and started at Bennigan’s at Lenox Mall in Atlanta, Georgia.

This job would change my life.