Guys Named John Excerpt (add to Draft)

Cyndy's bit of Classical Conditioning1

E.C. wasn’t supposed to answer the phone because of the new “phone shopping calls”. None of us part-timers were supposed to, really. But she was the only one that actually was offended that she couldn’t answer the phone. I suppose she thought it was condescending, that it was just because she was a high schooler? I really didn’t care why, but I thought I’d mess with her. Because hey, there’s nothing better to do when you've got the 10-4 shift and customers almost become a myth that you want to believe in, but never see proof of. 2

It started on Tuesday. E.C. and I were the only ones on duty, adn the store was silent. That is, almost silent. That stupid Christmas CD was playing, just restarting its loop on track one. You know you've been working here for a while when you can name the tracks in order and sing along to the songs. I asked her to watch the floor for me while I worked on something in the back. I was older. She had to listen to me. And, to my sheer surprise and delight, she did. 3