I stumbled into the grocery store in a state of shock. I walked into the automatic doors. Ouch. I guess the grocery store wasn’t open this early. I looked around and noticed Ezra sitting in an all black sports car from the 80’s. It looked just like that car from that David Hasselhoff show, also from the 80’s.

  He saw me walking over and motioned to get in on the passenger side.

  “Good morning, Kit, how’d your first night in Grimwood Springs treat you?” he said with a smile.

  I sat down, and enjoyed the warmth of his heater. In my shock I didn’t register how cold it was outside.

  I said, “I’m not really sure how to answer that. Nice car by the way.”

  He beamed. “This is my very own Knight Industries Two Thousand. I thought it was appropriate with my last name being Knight.”

  I smiled, “I don’t think I knew that was your last name.” I laughed, remembering the car was called Kitt. “And I’m Kit, but I’m also a Walker.”

  Sleep drunk or just starting to mentally break, I started giggling.

  Ezra also had a good laugh, and then he gave me a serious look. “Kit, you seem a little out of sorts, everything okay?”

  “Well, after a night of nightmares, I found out bright and early that Jerry quit,” I sighed.

  “No way, really?!” he said in a shocked tone.

  “Best of all,” I continued, “he promoted me to manager. I’m pretty sure I even heard him speed away.” I hung my head.

  “I’m not sure what to do, technically I signed a contract, but what do I know about managing a strip mall, or mini mall, or whatever this monstrosity is supposed to be. I fix things, and I move on,” I sighed again.

  “Well Kit, I think I’m gonna buy you breakfast at Betty’s, she’ll know what to say.” With a roar of the engine, we were off to Betty’s Diner.

  Betty’s Diner wasn’t actually called “Betty’s Diner”, it was actually called the Main Street Diner and Cafe, but locals just called it Betty’s. It was a retro-style diner, where locals gather for good food and gossip.

  Ezra opened the door for me as we walked in together. The smell of hot coffee, bacon, carbs and maple syrup invaded my nostrils and woke my stomach, my mouth began to water.

  Betty greeted both of us, “Howdy you two, didn’t expect to see either of so soon. If you don’t mind, go ahead and sit at the counter.” Ezra looked at me and I nodded. “Fantastic, both want some coffee?” We both nodded. “Good, let me get that and then you can tell me what you’re both doing here so early in the morning.”

  While I waited I noticed all the sleek lines of the diner, I always appreciated that retro 50’s style. I wondered, and not for the first time, if diners in the 50’s actually looked like this, or if this was just someone else's idea of what they looked like.

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  Betty set down a mug for each of us, and filled them with hot coffee. Also offered some cream and sugar cubes.

  She began, “what are the two of you doing out so early?”

  Ezra gave me an encouraging look, “go ahead, this is your story.”

  I sighed, again. “Well, I woke up from a nasty nightmare to find a real life nightmare.”

  Ezra sniggered. “Okay, I guess it’s not THAT bad. Jerry quit and made me the new manager on his way out.”

  Betty gave me a wide eyed look, “really, he did that?! Didn’t think the man had that in him.” She shook her head.

  Betty gave a little laugh, “Kit, you can’t do worse than him. Before you really make a decision go and look through the office, see if there is anything that can convince you on what to do. I’d hate for you to leave us so soon, but this is way more than you bargained for.”

  I nodded, “I should at least see what this all entails.” Betty gave me one of her 1000 watt smiles.

  “Now that you’re feeling better, what can I get you?” she asked. I looked at Ezra, he put up a finger and mouthed number 1.

  “I guess I’ll get the number 1.”

  We pulled into the parking lot of the mall I was now the manager of. Ezra was telling me a story about a fire that had burned down the original Grimwood Springs when he was much younger. Evidently the city council decided to just abandon the area and started building a few miles south, and that’s why so many of the businesses decided to drop the Springs from their names.

  “I’m still not sure why they condemned the spring at the time. I guess there wasn’t the money to fix it.” He shrugged. “There was talk a few years ago of opening it again, but it never went anywhere.”

  Ezra pulled into his spot.

  “Well, I’ve gotta get to work. I remember Jerry having a clipboard with one of them storage areas on it,” he sighed. “I just can’t remember what Jerry called it, but you get what I mean. He kept it in his desk, or on top, or,” he squinted his eyes in concentration, “hanging on a hook.”

  I smiled, “thanks Ezra, for everything.” I patted his shoulder and exited the car.

  The cold air bit into me, I looked into the sky and noticed that the clouds from yesterday decided to stick around and gather. As I was making this observation I saw white fluff begin to fall from the sky. I hurried into the back hallway that leads to the stairs and the offices.

  I stared at the, strike that, my office door. I decided I should go check on Spot, feed her, clean her box, clean the apartment, paint the walls… No, I’ll make sure she has food and clean her litter box and then back to my office.

  A little later, Spot decided she was going to come with me to the office. I put her in her harness and had her leash in my hand as we stopped right in front of my office. My office, I needed to get that in my head. I felt nervous and overwhelmed as I unlocked and opened the door.

  I was surprised to see that Jerry had cleaned up before leaving. The walls were bare, the stacks of paperwork gone. The old desktop computer was still there, and sitting on the desk beside it, a clipboard with a storage compartment. It was made of black plastic and had dents and rough patches all around it.

  There was a list of things that needed to be either fixed or evaluated. I opened the storage area and it had instructions on how to order supplies, account information, and passwords for the computer. Along with several phone numbers so I could call upper management. A little note also said that the email program had all the important accounts saved in its contacts.

  He really left things organized for me. I guess I should just start with the priority list.

  Laundromat - empty cash/coins, check for leaks, check electrical, complaint about dryer 3 eating towels.

  “Okay, Spot, I guess we’re working on the laundromat. I wonder where the tools are kept.”

  I took a look around. There were some cupboards, a little restroom, and a closet. I decided to check the closet, opened and empty. It seemed to be a coat closet, empty hangers hung and a little cubby for shoes. “Hmm, “ I contemplated where would I be if I were tools? I checked the cupboard, coffee maker and cups. The restroom had what you’d expect.

  “Well, I think we’ll just need to see if there are any tools in the laundromat.” Spot responded with a “mrrow?”