Blog Entry #5

       3 days until Christmas.  4 days until everything goes on sale, and the whole obnoxious season goes away.  Not one merry song on WTF, no more annoying 'Christmas Specials' commercials, and the end of the mad dash in the various stores around Castle Apartments.  There was still no word about any suspects in the "Arson" case at Forever 21, and the only upside to the season was that talks would die down about the fire.  But deep down, a twinge of guilt prodded Shaniqua.  Deciding to make the hike during prime shopping hours down to the Pawn Shop, Shaniqua put on her shoes and trudged out her apartment door.

       The line was out the door, even with the horrible weather.  Getting this accomplished today was life and death, because the lines would only get worse tomorrow.  Making her way to the front of the line, Shaniqua pulled out her old engagement ring, her only valuable, and handed it to Rick, the store manager.  After the customary greetings, it was time to deal.  "So how much were you looking to get out of it?" Rick asked Shaniqua.  "I was thinking, $600, 5 bare minimum of store credit."  "I could go like $250, that's it" Rick countered."  "How about 4?  "How about $200?!" Rick's old man yelled from the back of the store.  "$250," Shaniqua conceded.  "Write her up, C-L, and get her the item she wanted with the credit" Rick told the store's idiot.

       With the item in hand and a slight spring in her step, Shaniqua headed out the door and back to Castle Apartments.  She didn't go to the usual room number, though.  Quietly, she placed the package at the door of the owner of Forever 21, then stealthily slipped away into the darkness.