A younger Glenn Harod is confronted by a far-too knowing Miss Valencita.

April 26, 2023

"I'll see you at home for dinner, honey! Don't forget to pick up milk on the way, we're almost out!"

She leaned forward as he turned his head to the side, leaving her lips smushed against the corner where his downturned lips met his cheek. He avoided eye contact as he answered quickly, eyes flitting to the side to glance at one of his shelves.

"Y-yep, I'll make sure..."

She left the pharmacy with the grating tinkling of the door's bell and an all-too sweet wave, her heels clacking out the door and down to her car. Once she was out of view, Glenn let his forced smile fall, sighing as he tried to enjoy the last hour he had to himself before he returned to the house.

There hadn't been many others in the store at this hour, the only customer left in the pharmacy with him being the local eccentric, Miss Valencita Flaherty, here to buy her weekly bottle of wine. She'd witnessed the rather awkward exchange between Glenn and his wife, with a slightly piqued interest. She'd seen the way he's looked at men who entered his store before, the way he avoided any time with his wife he could afford. A voice whispered in her ear as she thought on it, in a tongue only she could hear.

Nodding to answer the voice, she carried the bottle of wine to the counter, one of her dear lawn flamingos tucked securely underneath her arm. Glenn straightened his posture with a sigh as she approached, glancing to her flamingo.

She was always a peculiar one.

He continued staring at the eyes of the plastic pink bird with the strangest feeling, as if it were looking back at him. His concentration broke when Valencita placed her bottle of wine on the counter, making him glance towards the bottle.

She leaned her elbow against the counter as began to ring her up, eyebrows creased in a sympathetic manner. "Problems with the missus, hun?"

Glenn's lips pulled into a tight line, not answering her question. He kept his eyes on the countertop as he bluntly stated how much money she owed.

"...That'll be $3.40."

Miss Valencita pulled out her purse, a darling little thing adorned with smoke-stained lace. She clicked her tongue before placing the money in Glenn's hand, holding it firm in his palm as she spoke.

"Y'know, I have a wife too."

Glenn felt his heart catch in his throat, his palms sweaty as he pulled his hand away from her. He flattened the bills against his countertop as he continued to avoid eye contact. He could feel his face burning hotter with frustration, clearing his throat as elevens creased his forehead.

"Th-that's nice..." He placed the cash in his register, his fingers fumbling as they trembled. He counted out her change in his head silently, tension thick in the air. Two quarters, one dime.

He placed the change on the counter near her, pulling his hand away to wipe them nervously on his pants before shoving them deep in his pockets. He twitched his nose to keep his glasses from sliding further down the bridge of his nose, quickly stealing a glance at her flamingo again. That damn bird.

He tried to swallow the lump in his throat.

She placed the coins in her purse one by one before shutting it with a crisp snap. She made no intention to leave, however, staring down the nervous pharmacist. Her gaze never faltered as she spoke to him directly, her voice clear in the dead silent pharmacy.

"You don't have to stay this way, you know."

Glenn felt a cold sweat run down the back of his neck as she spoke. His lip upturned as he scoffed, straightening his posture and crossing his arms defensively. He glanced to the side, standing stiff as he tried to play her comment off. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."

Her lips curled upwards in a knowing smirk, quirking one eyebrow at his response. "Is that right? Then you'd want me to say it where anyone can hear?"

Glenn's pupils shrunk in a slight panic. His eyes darted from the door to Valencita, desperately praying no one walked in. His eyebrows knitted in frustration, attempting to hide his fear. Quickly glancing once more around him to make sure no one was near, he leaned over the counter, his voice cracking as he whispered through his teeth.

"Look, I don't know what you're trying to get at here, but whatever it is, it's not working." He hissed out his lie, trying to seem intimidating. He held eye contact as his hands shook, sweat stinging his eyes.

"N-now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to work, and I'd appreciate if you'd keep your nose out of it!"

He snapped his posture upright with his words, biting the inside of his lip hard. There was a slightly metallic taste on his tongue.

He sharply inhaled through his nose and shoved his cash register closed with a huff.

That was final.

Miss Valencita once again heard a shrill chattering in her ears, and shook her head with a low sigh. She may be stubborn, but even she knew when it was time to throw in the towel.

"Well, honey, if you ever wanna talk, you know where to find me." She hoisted her flamingo up on her hip as it gave one final stare towards Glenn's direction. Taking her wine bottle from the counter, she turned on her heel, waddling out the door. The bell clinked with her exit, and just like that, it was over.

What she had said was true. He did know where to find her, as he always passed her house on his normal route back from the pharmacy.

He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding as he glanced to the clock. Almost time to lock up. But not before he'd grab a quart of milk from the shelf, exchanging the appropriate cash as he began to count the till. He locked up for the night, slinging the quart of milk into his passenger's seat.

He made sure to take a different route back that night.