If Not for You (Completed)

PART 1

"Stop working, Kale. It's your day off." Came a suave Indian accent behind me.

I looked up to see Mohammed, a middle-aged man with tar-black hair and a five o'clock shadow exit from the office with a box in his hands. More of the incense odor followed him from within the room.

"I can't help it." I mumbled and stepped away from the corrected display as Mo patted my shoulder.

"I know. You're a good kid."

Walking away from me, he rounded behind the register counter and began taking cartons of cigarettes from the box to restock the shelf behind him. I followed him and leaned my elbows on the counter.

"Mo, can I ask a favor?" I began, and he turned away from the shelf to look at me.

"Of course. What do you need?"

"Hours. Do you have any extra shifts?"

His face scrunched as he considered. "I don't know, Kale. I'm pushing payroll limits as it is." Taking a deep breath, he set the box down and bent to look at the shift calendar near the register. "Jen works this evening from six to midnight. You want me to ask her if she's willing to give up the shift to you?"

I shook my head. "No, she's a single mom. She needs the hours, too. It's okay, don't worry about it. Just keep me in mind if someone calls out." Though with only a staff of only four, Mo and I included, it was rare if anyone called out.

He frowned as I set the water bottle on the counter, dug my duct-tape wallet from my back pocket and withdrew a crumpled dollar, dropped it beside the bottle. Mo pushed it back.

"I keep telling you, Kale. 'Less it's more than ten dollars you don't pay." He picked up the dollar when I didn't take it, shoved it into the front pocket of my jacket, then pushed the water bottle toward me.

"Thanks." I knew there would be no arguing, even if it made me feel pathetic.

"Tell you what," Mo began, and looked at the schedule again. "Can you come in today after school? I'll be here by myself after Dawn leaves at two until Jen comes in at six. If you want to come run register, I can work out some things in the back. It'll give you a few hours, at least."

I nodded. "Yeah, absolutely. I appreciate it."

He inclined his head, and I took the water bottle and stepped back toward the door as Mo held a hand to me. "Oh, Kale, I almost forgot..."

I paused as he rounded the counter and moved to enter the back room. When he exited a moment later, he was carrying two oversized grocery bags, which he held up to show me, then gestured a hand for me to come.

"Saloni went down to the Salvation Army yesterday to donate some of the kids' old stuff." He said when I stepped in around him, and he set the bags on the couch against the back wall. "So, since she was there anyway, she picked up some things she thought you could use."

He rooted through the bags while I looked over his shoulder at the array of clothing. I was grateful but couldn't help also feeling like a complete loser that my boss's wife felt the need to look out for me.

"Tell her I appreciate it, Mo, but she doesn't have to keep wasting money on me."

He waved a dismissive hand. "It's no trouble. Besides, it's not just for you. There are a few things for Meg and the others, too. You can pick it up when you come in tonight, and sort through it when you get home."

I nodded. "Tell Sali I said thanks."

He waved his hand again. "She knows you're grateful. Oh, and she wants you to come for dinner tonight."

I chuckled. "First she buys me clothes, then she wants to feed me?"

"And I don't recommend trying to argue your way out of it. She won't hear it." He said with a grin. "Can I tell her I'll bring you home with me?"

"Yeah, sure thing. Can you let Meg know?"

"Of course."

Exiting the office, I started toward the front door, Mo on my heels. "I really do appreciate everything, Mo."

"I know you do, boy."

"I'll see you this afternoon." I pulled open the glass door, bristling against the icy wind that blew in.

"Actually, hang on a second," Mo said and rushed back to the office. He returned a moment with a length of black fabric draped over his left arm. "Give me that old thing." He gestured with a hand to my jacket, and I let the door bang closed as I dropped my backpack to the floor and shrugged out of it.

Mo took it from me, scowling at the holes in the sleeves, before tossing it over his shoulder and spreading open the new one.

"This ought to be significantly warmer than your old one. Assuming it fits your skinny self." He helped me ease my arms into it, then turned me around to adjust the collar and zip it up. "Little big, but not bad. How's it feel?"

"Warm." I agreed. "And comfy."

"Good." He grinned and removed my old jacket from his shoulder to grimace at it. "Then if you don't mind, I'm going to trash this one." He dug through the pocket and pulled out my crumpled dollar, then handed it to me.

Smiling, I shoved it in my jeans pocket and shouldered my backpack again. "Thanks."

"Anytime. Now, get out of here before you're late."

Nodding, I pushed through the door again.

"Wait, you have breakfast?" Mo called after me, and I paused.

"I'm good." I replied and took another step through the door as he frowned at me.

"Get some food off the shelf, boy. You look like a pencil as it is."

There'd be no arguing with him, I knew. Sighing, I turned to the candy bar display and took a Snickers, waved it at him before opening the front door.

"That's not breakfast, Kale!" He called after me, and I smiled as I let the door slam behind me.

The Snickers didn't taste great with the leftover bile bitterness in my mouth, but it was food, and I ate it slowly, savoring each small bite before chasing it down with the water. The cold liquid made me shiver as it trailed down my throat, and I grimaced as I drained it, then tossed it in a recycling can on the next corner.

The school was across the street, and despite myself, my heart began to race as I stared at it. A red brick building with cookie-cutter windows and an expansive yard, it was a nice school. Sitting in that part of town, it was attended mostly by rich kids, with only a handful like me on the lower end of the scale. The lot off to the left was filled with expensive cars I couldn't all identify, while the buses on the right side dumped off hordes of smartly dressed, well-manicured students, each with their noses held high.

Yeah, it was a nice school; but it was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

I took a deep breath before crossing the street and climbing the small hill with the long marble sign displaying the school's name. The courtyard beyond was littered with loitering teens, most hovering against the walls to avoid the wind while a few threw snowballs at passersby.

My eyes scanned the lot with practiced precision from beneath the hair that blew into my eyes. With my hands shoved deep into the pockets of my new jacket, my stomach doing flips again, I swallowed hard, listening for the sound of their insults.

It was usually Brad or Cody that started it, calling out my name before one, if not both of them, came running to drag me off into their hidey-hole in the building niche on the left side. I turned my attention to said hole and saw the four of them standing within.

They didn't see me.

Yet.

Tucking my head low, I pushed myself forward, knowing I'd have to come within close proximity to even get inside, and prayed my luck was a little better that morning.