Repost: The Halloween Store: Chapter 1

THE HALLOWEEN STORE

By Chris Calderon

(c) Chris Calderon 2016

CHAPTER 1

THE STORE

The leafs never fell in Burbank California during the fall. It never felt like the season to John. Things had changed much since leaving Michigan for a shot at the movie business. It had been a bold move indeed. After shacking up with a friend for two straight weeks he had been diligently looking for a job up and down San Fernando Blvd.

Ideally he’d been wanting a videographer job or a PA gig on a film or TV set. Unfortunately, John had to pay rent and feed himself. His unemployment would run out soon.

After filling out an application and chumming around with the manager about being a videographer in the past.

Gary, the manager told him to call back soon because they needed lots of people for the Halloween season.

They were in the first week of September but to Gary they were already late into the approaching Holiday. Gary and his management team always made sure they were stocked with costumes at least six months in advance.

* * *

The week John started. He worked with a majority of girls. Most of them were in their twenties. There were also a few guys they varied from five to ten years older then he. John was the oldest floor sales rep there. He had to do what he had to do. He purchased a red polo shirt and black pants, the company didn’t supply its own uniforms. John could only afford to buy one shirt. He was lucky to have the black pants. Money for him these days wasn’t an object. The pressure to make money for rent and feed himself was high, and he was a long way from home.

Allen who donned white hair and glasses gave John the tour of the isle. He was second in command to Gary. He showed him where the food costumes were. He showed him isle four, the gangster outfits and faerie costumes in ail seven. Allen had to make sure John was familiarized with the store’s costumes, the newest costumes in the store. In the back of the store Allen opened the curtains where piles and piles of boxes of costumes were ready to be opened.

The white-haired man opened the rickety tick metal door. The dark metal garage was all around them as they stood on a iron floor above the stairs. Next to it was a cut off square platform.

“This lovely area is where we take the garbage out. Ponder the garbage bin in the corner, “Allen pointed in its direction. He grabbed the red and green button controller hanging from the ceiling and pushed the green button with his thumb. “Green means go.”

The platform slowly lowered.

“So it does sir.” Replied John.

Allen shook both hands in the air. “Make sure you always have someone help you when taking the garbage to the bin. It’s store policy."