2020-04-28 - Surprise Delivery - Paul and Thrifty customers

Paul McLeod was at his usual post at the door, locking and unlocking to let customers in a few at a time. As he opened the door to let a very gracious older Chinese couple in he could hear a laugh down the line...and unmistakable laugh. He leaned around the door and saw his brother Walter hamming it up for the crowd. He was a famous radio personality and he was always recognized and then subsequently, always on. Walter had once had an epic handlebar moustache and so his nickname was The Walrus. His beard had grown out and he trimmed the stache but he still did look a little walrus like. His radio show with his ex Sally Carpenter had been duly named The Walrus and The Carpenter. They were way better suited as co hosts than they had been as cohabitors.

Wally saw him peeking and hollared “Pauly!! Come on man speed up the line…..” Walter was the only one with no mask now in this group.  Paul gestured at his own mask with raised brows.

“No man...it’s the beard……” He protested.

Paul sighed and went back inside. As a staffer walked by him he nabbed their attention “Cory…..can you go grab me a mask from the back please?”

Cory scampered off. He was a scrawny beanpole pimple faced kid who looks like he's barely out of high school with glasses so thick you could barely tell his eye colour. Cory was painfully shy. Paul kept hoping he would come out of his shell but most of the time Cory just restocked shelves and bagged.

By the time Walter came through the door, Paul presented him with a mask “I insist. Besides, why didn’t you just call? I can bring stuff home…”

Walter grumbled but slid on the mask “Aw fuck it’s hot already…..And I’m bored man….I finish by like 11 am and then what?”

Paul flagged down Cory again “Hey can you take the door for a few?” It wasn’t ideal but the customers knew the drill so he hoped they didn’t try to stampede Cory.  He started to step aside with his brother and lecture him a  bit “Do you hear yourself? People would kill to be you and have that schedule. Watch TV…..read a book…..I don’t know social media…maybe wash a few dishes?.” Paul was staying with his brother and Walter’s house made his kid’s rooms look pristine.

Walter threw up his hands “I just need a few things. We’re out of tomatoes.”

He really was bored. Paul made a sweeping motion towards the produce and then halted Walter “You gotta use the arrows…..wait for those people….”

“Yeah man...I know.”

A middle aged woman with frosted 1980s era makeup passed and waggled her fingers “Hi Walrus.”

Walter leaned towards her “How you doin Lorna?”

Paul physically tilted him back which was a bit taxing given the fact that Walter outweighed him by quite a bit.

They got to the tomatoes and Paul, being in work mode took the box from below and automatically started restocking them.

Walter leaned on the displayer sideways, his hand dangling and brushing three “So I get this caller today on the show, and you know what she says?”

Paul stops and blinks at him and then hands him the three tomatoes he touched.

“No no man...I only need one of those. What the fuck do you think I’m making?”

Paul pecks at him in the air, looking like a feice chicken “Dude, you touched three. You take three. We’ve got signs…” He gestures to the one over the lemons.

Walter lets the three tomatoes fall into his little basket and walks to the lemons “Don’t squeeze me…” He reads “What is this a fruit porno?” Walter laughs his deep belly laugh way too loud as always “What else are you gonna do but squeeze the fuckin lemons man?” He laughs harder and Cory looks over at them and stares. Walter gestures at him “That kid….you better believe he’s squeezing the lemons man. Fuck me, look at him.” Cory looks affronted and Walter just bellows out “How you doin lemon squeezer?” and laughs some more.

Paul looks like he doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry “Just tomatoes right Wally?”

Walter twists back to him and looks thoughtful “I dunno man maybe some luncheon meat. Let’s do deli tonight eh?”

Paul sighs a little “Sure….come over to the meats.” Paul goes to the prepacked selections in the cooler only to be thwarted by his brother.

“Ooh no no man...let’s do the fresh stuff.” He leans on the meat counter now putting his entire hand on the glass and breathing at it so closely it fogs “Hey you got some corned beef in there?” He asks the deli server who’s pulling out an empty tray to refill it with more chicken legs. She slides the tray back in, customers first of course. Melissa Taggert was a seasoned employee in her mid 20s and she worked well with the butcher who conveniently was her husband Mitchell. He was in the cooler arranging some stock. Melissa looked up after scanning the shelf of deli meats “Sorry Walter we’re out. Would you like some pastrami? We even have turkey pastrami…it’s on sale this week.”

Walter snorted and slapped the cooler’s top, making everything shake a little “Turkey pastrami? Pauly what the hell kinda shitshow you running man?” He held up a hand to Melissa “No offence to you or your hubby there. How you doin?”

Melissa was mildly amused by Walter with an undercurrent of please let it just be one item he’s ordering “I’m alive Walter. Still breathing the oxygen.” She deadpanned.

Paul just laughed and then looked at Melissa like a boss “Give him the turkey pastrami…..300 grams shaved.”

Walter opened his mouth to object but Paul just pinched his cheek with absolute brotherly condescension. “I’ll get you some cheese and bread….then we’ll ring you through.”

Melissa’s jaw was clenched as she tried not to laugh out loud. Only Paul could tame the Walrus.

Sally Carpenter watched all of this with a very resigned expression.  Ahhh the brothers.  She adjusts her mask and says, in a quiet voice, more than half hoping Walter doesn’t see her.  “Let me have one of those chickens please.”

Melissa was just weighing up the turkey pastrami and smiled at Sally “Yes just one moment.” She stickers the package and slides it across to Walter.

Walter does hear Sally and leans way too close to her for social distancing “Salady Sally buying the meat. Are you cooking for me man?” Walter called everyone man, man woman and child.

Sally leans away from him.  “Why would I do that?”  she asks, almost innocently.  “Don’t you have a perfectly good brother trapped in your house to cook for you?”   This may well be a show for observers.

Melissa handed over the nicest looking chicken from the whole tray of them. She listened to their radio show and knew how much of Walter McLeod this poor woman endured.


N - ((Narrator)) It was a small store with thin walls. The break room was behind the meat department and all chatter in front of it could be heard word for word, which sometimes meade for less than quiet breaks but allowed workers to keep their awareness about what happened out on the floor.

Pixie is sitting  a breakroom table. Her pink hair is now gone due to she was just trying out sample dye but would save her money for necessities now that all she can order. Its still a nice dirty blonde and she still love how cute she thought she look in her short pixie hair cut. That was its saving grace. She opens  a brilliant pastel blue lunch bag that she had  purpose from old jean and painted blue . She had minimal  makeup  due to the way wearing  a mask was melting  her usually  vibrate eyeshadow.  She still had her brilliant  smile and bubbly personality that pulled her usual wild look together. That was the heart of her look. She pulls out her container and opens  the lid to reveal chicken enchiladas. She is about to take a sip out her pink smoothie shaker when she hears on cue her usual break time entertainment.

She always  loved the way you could hear the store in the breakroom. It was like listening to those radio shows her and her dad would hear together  . She listens in on latest  broadcast  chuckling as she attempts to eat her delicious  enchiladas without choking  from  the laughter

Owen walked towards Thrifty's after taking a deliberate walk past the building Slaine had mentioned. He stepped in through the loading door with a soft smile on his face like he was thinking about something happy. He slid his mask up from around his neck and onto his face and the smile extended to his eyes as he saw Pixie there eating her lunch “Hey there.” He offered in friendly greeting. He walked a safe social distance around the table to go stash his jacket before going back around again to swipe for his timecard from the wall “How goes the day Pixie?”

Walter snorted at Sally “He’s not trapped in my house...he’s right here…” He looks around and bellows “Pauly!!! Pollywog!” Walter knows that’ll get his brother’s attention.

Paul whips back around. So much for taming the Walrus “Don’t you call me that….hi Sally…” He yanks the basket and Walter with it “Come on asshat, let’s ring you through….”

Walter protests “But I still need some dental floss!”

Lydia heard it all from the cash and just shook her head while she rang though person after person. She had pimple faced Cory bagging for her and he hadn’t said a word in at least 20 minutes.

Sally looks at Walter.  “Did …. Did your mother have any kids BESIDES Paul that lived?”  she sounds genuinely curious.  Looking at Paul, she smiles.  “He’s adopted.  You can tell me.  I’d understand.  EVERYONE would understand.  It’s OK … just admit your mother found him in a bog someplace .. and brought him home … after strange lights were sighted …”  then Walter mentions dental floss.  “Use thread .. and get moving.”

Ziggy has packed and packed, then packed again.  But she thinks she needs a little break.  Maybe out back looking at the loading dock door.  How should she paint it.  But for now .. she just does her job.

Pixie eyes light up as Owen walks in she smiles  wide and runs a hand through her hair "Oh hey, Owen." She puts her lunch away noticing the clock . She hears the commotion going  on in the store and makes her even more giddy.  She stands to go put up her belongings  and exhales like she prepares to say something " Can i say something  crazy "she says to Owen

Owen punches in and slides his card back in the wall files. He hears the conversation outside the lunchroom too and snickers “Oh shit it’s Walter….did he just call him pollywog? Like Shay calling me Zeroman…” He looks over at Pixie when she starts talking, still laughing at the chatter outside, especially the well known Carpenter’s voice asking if Walter came from a  bog. Cheily he quips back to Pixie “Something crazy, sure you can.” His confidence was unusually a little higher today.

Paul grabs a random pack of dental floss of the end cap as they go by “Here….floss…” He looks back and grins at Sally “Definitely a bog although some have said aliens….we’re still waiting for the full reports.”

Walter pushed the floos back at Paul “No man it’s not mint….I need the fuckin mint.” He gives Sally a little wink “Pairs with Eu de Bog….”

Paul shoved him towards the endcap “You’re worse than my kids. Go find your minty floss.”

Lydia calls out to Paul “You need my wooden spoon?”

Sally is not at work.  There are no sponsors to freak out on her and pull their money.  She’s in public and she is the mother fucking Carpenter.  Looking at Walter she sounds disbelieving.  “Are you fucking FIVE?”  and then she looks eagerly at Lydia.  “Yes!  Please!”  she doesn't care if Lydia isn’t talking to her ...she wants that spoon.

Ziggy is almost ready to go back for a break when she hears her mother offer up the spoon.  “Run Walter!”  she calls out.

Pixie starts to ask her question but is interrupted by the outburst and says " ohh bog alien babies.. i bet they're  cute" She just chuckles as she listens then looks at owen "ain't that something .. wait."she holds up her hand " that's not the question..." She exhales as she prepares  herself she beams at him "i was just wondering if you're  single.. ya probably  aint cuz you're  sweet and cute.. but just wondering " she say cheerfully. The whole conversation had her extra bubbly as she looks at him hopely knowing  it was a long shot but she could atleast try

Owen had casually picked up a pricing gun from the shelf by the punch clock from Pixie, still a safe social distance he started casually spinning it in his hand as he was known to fidget sometimes. Walter was really causing a ruckus out there. His money was on those women. Pixie was being funny...but Pixie was funny. As she went on he fumbled the price gun and ended up pricing himself for $2.99 with a flattered but flabbergasted “Wha….oh oh geez..” He blushed and smiled apologetically “Pixie, I do have a girlfriend….she’s….” He gets a kind of melting look about him at the thought of Slaine and then looks at Pixie earnestly“ You’re awesome though...thanks for asking.” He sighs “Her name is Slaine and she’s...well we’re pregnant...so life’s a little happily complicated?”

Paul manhandles his brother just as he gets the mint floss in his hand and steers him to till two “As much as I appreciate the enthusiasm ladies only I get to beat up my baby brother…..” He opens the till and keys in his code.

Walter still protests “But Pauly...they both want me...your cashier wants to spank me with a  spoon….and now she’s fuckin inspired Sally. I can’t leave this party now….”

Lydia completely ignores her customers and starts walking out from behind her till. She walks right up to Walter and tugs him down to her by the ear whispering something that looks fierce before letting go and going back to her post. No one ever gets to hear the tale of what she said but we can only imagine it was Lydia for you will die today.
Walter contritely bags his own groceries and gets out his card. He looks innocently back at Sally and smiles almost shyly.

Sally is disappointed in the restrictions Paul puts on who gets to beat Walter.  But when Lydia comes marching up after Walters' next words, and Walters' reaction TO said words she looks at Lydia as if she is the Great Mother come to life.

Ziggy had warned Walter and done her bit to keep him safe.  She continued walking to the back, placing her hand on the door and pushing it open softly.  The door is barely open when she hears that chick who she met at the laundromat and now works with asking Owen Reinhardt if he was single ... and Owens reply.  As soon as he finishes speaking, she nearly falls through the door.  She stumbles, rights herself and stands looking like she meant to enter the room like that.  She lifts her hand.  "Um ... hey ....."

Pixie nods and smiles.. "like i said i had a feeling  you  did.. a person has to be completely stupid not to scoop ya up and hold the heck on to ya" she looks mild disappointment but smiles at him looking happy for him"Thats grat she chuckles "i thought  you look like a man  in love ans she chuckes "and wow.. guess youll be having your own baby" she nods then starts to say "i.." before she wrinkles her face overhearing  walter "oh my god. I wish.. all men were more like you shesh the fuck is going  on" she shivers at walter.  "Get then spoon " she Yells from the back " she looks up as ziggy walks in abit embarrassed and reddened  face letting  on to how the shut down was really  effecting her but says  a happy and bubbly "Hi again" she says "you well we all missed out on spooning a bog alien"

Owen blushes some more and then notices Ziggy sort of fall in through the door “Oh I’m not a model for all men...believe me…” He thumb points towards where the ruckus was “He’s pretty much always like that. It’s kinda funny…” He gives Ziggy and assessing sort of look “Hi Ziggy, did you overhear everything I just said?” He’s hoping it was too loud out in the store but she was just suddenly...there…..

Walter takes his bag and his leave quietly and gives only Paul a little nod as he exits.

Paul just stares after his brother in disbelief and then calls over from his still open till “Lydia, you should give lesson. You could charge people anything you want. Close your till after Sally. I can take people over here until Pixie’s back.”

Lydia  just smiles sagely “I know. Ms. Carpenter, if you’re ready, you can be my last sale of the day?”

Sally steps up to get checked out.  “When this is over, you and I need to have a drink.  You don’t have to tell me your secrets, but I’m willing to pay for them.”

Ziggy watches Pixie and feels a mild sense of pity, but mostly she looks at Owen with less than no shame.  "I sure did!"  she confesses.  "Oh my goodness!  I remember when Logan and I would talk about trading our babysitting gigs .."  she goes up to him.  “Now look at you!"  she hugs him.  "Portrait of you and the mama to be .. free of charge."  she offers. She's known to be a pretty good artist.  Even when she isn't gagging buildings with graffiti.  "And same when the baby comes .. I Love family portraits."

Pixie just smiles appreciating the sympathy not so much as the pity. She just makes a ya win ya ;ya lose some shrug  after the inital shock of it
She just chuckles hearing Paul  state hed cover til she got till the til and goes to clock in humming  happily as she puts her mask with a  butterfly print that she made with old bed sheet"thats my cue"

"Lock and load comrades"she says as she dons her apron going to the register . She looks at Paul just as a teen with walks up to get checked out . She beams happily at Paul
"I gotcha sir" she does a salute

Owen blushes again at Ziggy. He’s not sure he should be telling people about Slaine and the baby but he’s also rather overflowing with the joy of it. “Uh...thanks Zig. Time flies….” He’s not sure how Slaine would feel about a portrait as they're both just jumping in a  little wildly. “She’s not here yet…..but we’re working on that. She’s in Vancouver.” He sighs a little and then nods t Pixie “Give them hell out there.” He is flattered she asked and feels a little bad if it’s at all possible he’s hurt her feelings. He’s also on task for the training today on deliveries “So you want to drive or operate the tablet? When you’re solo you’ll have to do both so you could also do that and I could just hang out and direct you if there’s questions.” He looks past and sees the boxes of orders ready to just pack in the van.

Paul chuckles at Sally and then when Pixie arrives he does the social distancing dance to get himself out of the cash desk so it can be all hers “Thanks Pixie. You’re all set. Feel free to steal Cory if you need a bagger…” He gestures at Cory who’s still at Lydia’s till putting Sally’s chicken in a bag.

Lydia throws her head back and laughs “No money. It’s just a thing. Maybe it’s the power of the spoon. Kid’s today all emo and entitled.” she gestures to Paul “The McLeod boys...they had a proper mama. We can work with that…...we should call Joan McLeod in on that drink. Hey you know they have a ladies night on Zoom for that Statutes? I missed the first one because I found out after…..but give em your email for the next.” She taps away at the screen “  be $43.20.” She slides the debit machine through the little plexiglass passthrough.

Ziggy would have laughed had she known that Owen wanted to keep his girlfriend and their baby a secret.  On Alexandra island?  Good luck with that.  She hears her mother laughing in the store and arches her brows at Owen.  “I’ll drive.  You just got here.  I’ve been here.  Love my mom, but .. yea.  I’ll drive.”  Her family was large like the Reinhardts, but with changes that you only find in foster families.  Sometimes it was a bit much, which is why Ziggy had finally moved.

Sally laughs with Lydia.  “I’ll put it on your PayPal or transfer it to your Swiss Bank Account … “  she glances at Paul.  “Learn something new every day.  And I will definitely get my email out for that Zoom thing.  That’ll give me some extra company.  I’ll tell Izumi, my building mate about it, too.”  she gives her card, then takes it back.  “You have a great day, hun.”  and she’s out the door, making room for the next in line.

Pixie looks determined  and not like some lovesick girl. She was taken abit but not surprised or hurt by Owen and knew it was for the best. She didn't  like being the center of attention and being apart of the most prominent family on Alexandra caused that attention.  She was grateful  that her business wouldnt be so easily fodder  for town gossip.  She was young and wasnt quite ready for motherhood and glad she dodged that handsome but fertile bullet. She just smiles and shakes her head as she rings up her customer ans bags just waving Paul off "i got this for now " She looks over the scrawny bagger and decided she had a better chance on her own for now. She  just hums as she overhears the whole zoom thinng. She shrug "oh i saw that in my mail.. but was under the weather.. maybe ill join the next one and bring Saj in

Buck waits at the door patiently as per order these days behind several people . Hes looking over his list

Lydia puts up her this till is closed sign and steps away with a grin “Thank you, you too.” She gives Pixie a nod “You do that Pixie. Us front line ladies need that ladies night….have a good shift now.” She starts untying her apron casually at the back as she begins to walk away towards the staff room. She’s almost ready to pull down her mask and walk through the door when Cory flags her down. She leans on the door, opening it a bit. She was so ready to head home and have a nice long soak in her tub with her trashy romance novel.

Cory stammers “I think we’re running out of paper bags……”

Lydia shakes her head at him and puts a  hand on her hip “Where did you look boy?” She looks at the line of people out the door and debates if she should offer to pull a double and then sees one she knows, Theo, her son, standing behind one of the town’s firemen. She gives him a little wave, not sure if he sees her and then her stare bores into quivering Cory.

“Under the tills….in the back…...I’ll check again...sorry.” He looks at the door, which she’s still in front of nervously like she might bite him.

Paul scoots back to his door duty and lets out Sally with a big wave and then Pixie’s customer who just finished and then a random lurker who bought nothing. 3 out, 3 in. He waits until they all walk 2 metres past the door and then beckons to the line, inviting a woman in a hijab, at this point followed by Buck the fireman  and then Lydia’s son Theo. “hey folks...space it out...social distance as you file in please...lots of room…”

Owen notices the door half open and hears Lydia and Cory but shrugs it off as a fairly unusual interaction. He points to the keys on the hook “All your Zig….let’s load it up….” Owen saunters to the back and double stacks boxes in his first carry out, trying to haul ass and get it done. He hip checks into the door and it won’t budge. He hip bumps it again and still no go “What the?” With a little noise of irritation he sets down the boxes. “Did someone lock the loading door?” He calls out towards the staff room. He pushes the handle and it gives “Nevermind…” Facing the door now he bends his knees and pushes again hard. It opens a little and something it blocking it from the outside. It was a dark cloudy day and in the dimness and overhand of the loading area it looked to Owen like it was a person lying in front of the door with brownish black hair facing them. Owen felt panic rise immediately. Was it a drunk? Someone dead on the loading area with Covid? A murder scene…? He pulled the door shut again and yelled “Help!! There’s someone hurt out here...Call 911! Help!!!”

Lydia jumped and pushed the door all the way open and Paul bolted from his post at the door towards the back.

Ziggy grabs the keys and is ready to go when Owen starts yelling for help.  Her brows lift and she almost instinctively moves against the wall, out of the way.

Theo waves to everyone he sees wave at him.  He, of course, is masked and gloved, but does say hello to his mother and Paul.  Barely beginning his shopping, he hears a nearly panicked cry from the back and glances around.  That firefighter should have this, even though by no, working with so many humans, he knows that the man is not an EMT.  But they’d just call 911 and they would get the whole FD, with all of their equipment. He doesn’t go towards the voice.  He already knows half the town is weirded out by him and his brother helping.  But he and Saimon made the best of it.  However, he was not a human doctor, so he simply plays the role of curious civilian.

Pixie just waves her off politely "oh im up for a good time.. but as just a regular woman.. front line.. no offense " she pfts with a smile "i run food across a scanner . Im not storming a horde of zombies  with a butterknife.. everyone is just vital we are all cogs in beautiful machine.. everyone gambles their lives when they just take a breath...but heck i say i put my money  on 11 red and let it ride.. she hcuckles "have a good night and totally  can wait to crush a cup of wine with fellow goddesses anyday.  She is middle of her monologue  even holding up an air goblet in the sky when she hears owen scream.  She looks curious towards the back

Buck waves at  lydia knowing her from seeing her  many times  in the store before. He says a happy Hello to paul beaming as as he enters grabbing  a cart and directs his cart to pick up some cereal as he hear the call for 911 . He ditches his cart .He runs to the back.  He knew his comrades would  be there soon but went to offer he basic first aid skills if needed in the meantime. He hastens as goes to see what the screaming  was about

Lydia flattens herself against the door, just like Ziggy had done with the wall. Buck runs by her and then Paul right after him, sprinting past Buck to the back door where Owen was still standing.

Paul looks at Owen “Who’s out there?” He’s worried it might be one of their staff.

Owen looks at the door like it might burst into flames “I dunno they’re jammed against the door pretty good……”

Paul readjusts his mask and gestures for Owen to do the same. He looks back at the rest in range “Cover up!” He puts his hands flat on the door “Gently but firmly Owen….help me open this.”

Owen looks hesitant but they do need to know so he complies, pushing the door with Paul until it slides open revealing not a person, but a large dog, a german shepard to be exact. It was a familiar German shepherd even. At this point they’ve opened the door enough so that the dog’s head is fully in view of anyone else who might be behind them.

Ziggy watches, her mask securely on and, under it, her lip formply between her teeth.  She watches as they force the door open and then gasps.  “Is that ….  Daisy?”

Theo is not in the back, but is waiting for things to get more or less back to normal.  He considers his shopping list … and the time .. it’s been an interesting day.

Pixie just tries to keep the customer from the back as she watches a nervous Cory blink she stands at the door to the back keeping  the customers calm and assures  a startle Cory as she peers curious back

Buck puts up his mask as they open the door then looks  over and his eyes widen as he recognizes the police dog "Daisy Duke" he says as that what he called her. He looks just as concerned  if it was a human

Ziggy sees Daisy and watches as no one does anything but stare at her.  Her mask still on, she calls “Theo!”

Theo is still not shopping .. or really doing anything but standing when he hears his sister's voice.  He heads towards it.  “Hey Zig …  I waved.  You didn’t see me.  I’ll call you later, OK?”  he doesn't walk in the room yet, but chuckles to himself.  Little sisters.

Paul was now standing on the other side of the door and dog and looked up at Buck and nodded “She looks hurt.” Daisy was making some strange noises, like she was struggling.

Lydia hears her son’s voice and lunges at him trying to grab hold of his arm “Theodore Jacob Alvin! Your sister is talking to you! Get your ass in here…..there’s a dog out back that looks half dead!”

Owen looks up at Buck and then Paul and then kneels down tries to comfort the dog with pats “Daisy...Daisy what happened to you? It’s ok…...”

Ziggy rolls her eyes at her brother's dense statement and then half laughs when their mother calls him by his full name.

Theo blinks and straightens the moment his mother calls his middle name.  He’s moving by the time the rest of the sentence is out of her mouth.  “Shit….” he murmurs, coming through the door and kneeling beside Owen.  “Hey there, Daisy…”  his already smooth voice sounds even more soothing.  “You’re supposed to be at home…”  he pets her and runs his hand over her side.  Daisy had looked to most like she was gaining weight.  After all there were no drugs or anything else for her the last several years.  He arches his brow.  “I think we should get her inside…”  he looks at Owen who is closest.  “Congratulations.  You’re the assistant to the assistant.”

Pixie goes back to the front as she sees theo go back qs Lydia says something about dog .she knows Theo and everyone that was back there had it under control She goes to check out her next customer to customers occupied.

Buck looks at theo stepping foward.."Did you need help carrying  her or anything . He offers not stepping  up earlier since he wasn't  the one closest ans didnt have a good look if daisy was okay but reacts after.

Owen nodded at Theo “Uh thanks?” and then looked up again at Buck before asking Theo “Is it safe to move her? What’s wrong with her?” He’s worried about hurting her more if it’s like a broken back or something.

Paul looks past them into the storage area “Theo, should we put her on something, a tarp maybe?”

Lydia watches for a moment and eyes her grown children and then hears Pixie trying to ring through everyone and do all the crowd control out front. She steps back into the store area and walks to take over the second till “I’ll take who’s next in line.” She shouts to Cory “Cory, deal with the door please!”

Mitch and Melissa had come out from behind the meat department to starre but as Lydia started working again they followed her cue and did so as well. The dog had lots of helpers.

Ziggy stands aside, out of the way, but ready to help if anyone needs her to.  Her eyes watch her brother with admiration, respect and love.

Theo looks at Owen and says, in a voice as calm as you please.  “Yes.  Better to move her now out of the weather.”  he smiles slightly.  “The lady is about to give birth.”  he moves Owens hands to better positions.  “A Tarp would be great.  In a corner if possible.”  he pauses as that’s done and then looks at Oen.  “Slow and steady.  Don’t jostle the lady too much.  On three   One … Two … Three .. lift…”  they lift Daisy and move her smoothly into the corner where a tarp has been laid.  “Paul, could you get me as many of the following as possible?”  he asks, checking Daisy’s position and rubbing her head.  “Newspaper, non-skid bath mats, dry, clean towels. Paper towels, a thermometer, unwaxed dental floss, Clean scissors, A heating pad or hot water bottle, iodine and a scale that weighs in ounces.  If you don’t have them all, that’s okay, but as many as you’ve got.”  he looks at Owen.  “Stay with me, Owen.”  he kneels beside the German Shepherd.  “We’re here for ya, girl.”  he soothes the dog and leans back.  “Now we wait, but I don’t think it’ll be too long.”

Pixie mouth thank you then a "i was about  to go find that spoon of yours" to Lydia as she rings up her next customer as Cory question

"He sqeaks in confued manner

Buck nods as they seem to have it under control.. and pets daisy "its okay girl they have you " he smiles at Theo and owen knowing shes in good hands and he then makes his way into the store.. going back to cereal aisle to fetch his cart.

Owen's eyes go wide before he helps with the lifting and settles back down beside the dog. Birth? “Well I guess I can see a dog do it…” He muttered almost under his breath with a chuckle.

Paul assisted in all ways needed. The tarp was laid. He took in all the items Theo was asking for and committed them to memory. It helped that Paul had that kind of cataloguing eidetic memory. He could remember codes and lists of things in an instant and picture each thing perfectly. He rushed off as the log was laid down, pulling in some help as he passed the meat department “Mitch, I need you to sanitize one of your scales and bring it to the back. Mel, can you grab a hot water bottle and take it to the staff room and boil the kettle to fill it?” They both set to their tasks and Paul rushed past Buck with a laugh “Never boring at Thrifty Foods. Eat happy. Deliver puppies…” He joked like he was doing a radio commercial. Paul rounded the corner to the first aid and toiletries area and just started grabbing things off the displayers, not even stopping to inventory them out. It could be a paperwork nightmare later. Thrifty’s didn’t normally sell towels or bath mats but Paul knew he had some beach towels and sand toys in the back that had already come in for the summer end cap promos. He didn’t know if they’d get any tourists this year but he could pull a few towels out of that box for the puppies. Within minutes he returned with a grocery cart full of the items on Theo’s list.

Lydia laughs at Pixie and sees Cory look between them with the look of a frightened field mouse. “Just keep an eye on that door boy. You may have to talk to some people today Cory.” Lydia liked to prod a bit at Cory’s shyness. Something had to give someday. She had a teenage couple step up to her till blushing and giggling. The girl awkwardly set a pack of condoms down on the counter. Lydia just looked them up and down “Mmhmm.” and keyed it in. Best they were safe but damn these kids were getting younger by the day and she hoped they were isolating together. Maybe best not to know.. They paid quickly and Lydia shrugged “So how many puppies do you think they're gonna get Pixie?”

Ziggy bounces on her feet in excitement.  “Maybe I’ll put puppies on the main store posters and fliers.”  she offers, already planning it all in her head.  Then she realizes that the door is clear now.  “I have deliveries.  Good luck, Theo.  Good luck Daisy.”  she smiles over at the corner.  “And good luck Owen.”  she doesn’t elaborate, but she figures giving birth is giving birth and Owen could practice being a good father that doesn’t freak out in the delivery room.

Theo settles down with he and Owen on either side of Daisy.  Owen at the head and Theo at the end where his and Simon’s new patients will come from.  Slowly the supplies come to him, and slowly he directs here they should go.  Hearing Owen speak, it doesn’t exactly register, but answers as he takes Daisy’s temperature with a Thrifty thermometer.  “Well, she'll give us more than a human would.”  he croons.  “Simon thinks there's at least three, but you never know.  We got called in for a species change in the middle of everything so we’ve told our patients that, if it isn’t an emergency, not to worry.  In our office, Simon is the doctor and I’m the nurse and lab tech.  So I’m qualified for this, unless something goes wrong.  Daisy here would usually go off in a corner and give birth.  I think little Maddy was hoping it would happen in her room.  But Mama here can recover there.”  he glances at Owen.  “Now … we wait….”

Pixie puts a hand on her wide hip and looks thoughtfully.  "Maybe 6 or 7 dunno "she chuckles and smiles "is that great i sorta want a puppy but i dunno if my landlord will let me.. she chuckles " i have to see ". She look back lydia "how much do you think she have and most importantly  who do you think is the papa " She continues to bag her customer's groceries

Buck just chuckle watch paul pick up items for Daisy "ill want one for Arthur .. that way itll keep him company while im work. He finishes his shopping and heads to check out  in Lydia line.

Owen waits, petting Daisy and hoping it all goes well. “You know I’ve  never seen anything born live. I mean scary videos in health class or nature documentaries but…” He leans sideways noting the back end of the dog “Not like this……” He thinks about Slaine and wonders if she’d find this all amusing or insulting.

Paul had heard Buck but didn’t have time to stop and answer. He stands back out of the way and watches Theo do his thing and Owen assist on the fly. Not much is happening yet. He wondered if dogs took as long as humans. Poor Cheryl was in labour for almost 3 days with their last baby.

Lydia snorts at Pixie “Dogs….just do what they do with whoever when the moment moves them. Humping out in the street like nobody’s business….” she looks up at Buck like she’s been sharing a recipe for cookies and not talking about dog humping “Paper bags or reusable Mr. Fireman.” She’s cheerful to him as she appreciates all the frontline workers like everyone else right now so much.

Pixie just burst out laughing  madly with Buck joining her at Lydia comment

Pixie just starrt to sing "hes a tramp but i love him brakes a new heart everyday" she carries on with the whole song in a flamboyant Broadway style song and dance  at her register

Buck is still laughing  madly between the whole doghumping comment and the sudden show.." paper Bags please kind grocery goddess " he says perk up by the mood of the shop ."you know even if we had another grocery store.. i still come here. You all are just the medicine i need after a day at firehouse " he chuckles softly

Theo barely notices his sister leaving in his preparations for the upcoming births.  Everything is in place.  He looks over at Owen.  “They don’t usually need us, but if we can stick around just in case, so much the better, right?  Humans like help and seem to need it a lot more.”

Seven minutes later the first puppy comes.  Daisy does everything right and only then does Theo weigh it and lay it near the warmth of Daisy.  The second puppy comes ten minutes later; and the third and forth within five more minutes.  Daisy is doing beautifully, even if she is panting quite a bit.  Number five somes … followed by number six … and finally number seven.  Two hours and eleven minutes after Owen tried to open a door, the room was filled with seven adorable puppies.

Theo looks at them, examining each one the moment Daisy takes care of the umbilical cords. He speaks many words of encouragement as she gives birth, keeping his voice filled with calm pride.  Once he is sure the last puppy has been born, he nods and makes sure mama and puppies are doing well before sitting back a bit.  “Who's the father?”  he wonders.  “I know my breeds, but …”  he laughs and shakes his head.  And finally looks at Owen.  “Well… thanks Owen.  I appreciate the help.”  not that he’d given the young man much choice in the matter.

Narrator - Thrifty Foods had a shift in energy for the hours the puppies were being born. Cory was at the door instead of Paul which threw a few people and made them ask “Is Paul sick? His kids? Oh no not poor Cheryl…” Cory stammered and stuttered and Lydia called out to them that all was well. By the second hour though, something was blooming in Cory, some kind of customer service skill in the early bud stages. He began to...smile at them, make eye contact and become firm in enforcing the social distancing rules. The dog was giving birth yes….but somehow so was the grocery universe. He stopped an older woman with a hat as he let her in “Would you like some hand sanitizer Mrs. Jensen?”

She was pleased as punch “Why thank you Cory…” She rubbed her hands and took a grocery basket.

Lydia put a hand over her heart and looked at Pixie “Look at our bag boy growing up right before our very eyes…think those puppies are all out yet?”

Owen had looked  a little shocked by the first puppy “It’s so ...wet…” but by the seventh he was just enjoying their sweetness. Birth was beautiful and so natural. That Daisy was a good mom already. It gave him faith.

Paul scrutinized the new arrivals “Those ears…...they almost look like a hound. They sure are cute. I’d love to ask for one for my girls….they’ve been fighting so much lately. Maybe a puppy would help keep the peace.”

Theo can hear a bit of the conversation in the store proper and when Paul speaks, he looks up at him, then down at the puppies settling in with their mother.  “Holy hell!”  he begins to laugh.  “Yup there’s beagle in em.  And there’s only one male beagle on the island and that’s the fire department’s Henry.  Apparently he CAN get off his lazy ass …”  he shakes his head.  “Well nobody is getting any of these kids until they’re eight weeks old, but if you talk to Chief Green, Paul I bet he’d be glad to make a list.”