Pouring Rain and Pumping Gas (692 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.82 on 22 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by CATAL (View user info) at 2006-06-11 20:50:50 EDT
It's pouring down rain.
I hate Oregon.
I'm leaning over the counter staring at a six-pack of Keystone in the back freezer. I reach into my pocket and pull out a small wad of crumpled bills. I count it up. I glance at the take-a-penny-leave-a-penny tray. Not much there.
My eyes dart to the starving children jar. There's at least twelve bucks there. They won't miss a few dollars. And I'm starving now, not that I'm spending it on food.
I put the money in the register and grab the six-pack.
Before I can crack the first beer a car pulls up outside and waits.
Fuck.
I grab my sweatshirt and put it on, flipping up the hood as I walk out into the rain. I'm soaked before I reach the car. The sweatshirt just absorbs the rain like a sponge. Sheets and sheets splash down like a waterfall.
The window rolls down. Some thirty-something lady. She hands me a bill, Twenty. Regular unleaded.
I nod and take the bill. I go back inside and type in the amount and pump number. I crack a beer and guzzle some down before going back out. I bring the can with me.
It fills partially with rainwater as I continue to drink. It dilutes it, but it already tastes awful so I don't really care.
One hand holding the beer the other pumping the gas I lean up against the car. It's some big huge SUV. A Chevy or something.
The gas pumps ridiculously slow. I sigh and finish my beer, tossing it into the parking lot. It rings and tings as it bounces on the asphalt and then gets pelted by the rain. It's still pouring down.
After what feels like a long time the pump reaches $20.00. 6.1162 gallons.
My piece of shit Fiat is almost on empty. I need a few gallons to make it through the next couple days. I'll just shortchange the next few customers and take the extra for myself. No one is going to fucking get out of the car in the pouring rain to check they got the full amount.
I trudge back inside and crack another beer with a burp. I grab a bag of chips. Sour cream and cheddar ruffles. I stand at the counter gulping down shitty beer and munching on chips. Doing nothing.
I used to have a radio but I threw it across the store in a fit of anger. I don't remember why.
All I can hear is the constant white noise of the pitter-patter rainfall and the dull thuds as huge droplets of rain thump against the windows.
It's past 2 am. I'm working 'til 6.
I finish another beer.
I start pacing up and down the aisles with another my third, although I haven't opened it. A thought occurs and I grab what's left of the six-pack and place it back into the refrigerator.
Another car pulls up and I groan.
Luckily they pull into a parking spot and get out.
I walk back behind the counter as some teenage kid comes in.
Hey, he nods wet hair flapping on his forehead.
I give the slightest hint of acknowledgement lifting my index finger from my beer.
Yeah, uh, can I get a pack of cigarettes? Parliaments.
How can you smoke those?
What? Cigarettes? Hey man, lay off. I like smoking. Lotsa people do.
No. Fuckin' Parliaments. They're awful.
Oh. I dunno, they're what I always get.
Parliaments are for pompous and pretentious pricks pussies.
Can I just get a pack of Parliaments?
You eighteen?
Pause as if he's considering something. Then a simple, No. I'm not.
Whatever, I grab a pack and place it in front of him. Ten bucks, dude.
Huh? Wuddya mean ten? Says four seventy-two right there.
Ten bucks dude.
Uh.
Can I see your ID?
He pulls out two fives with a pissed-off look and drops them on the counter as he snatches up the cigarettes and sloshes off to his car.
I hold up one of the bills and inspect Lincoln's face. He was an ugly motherfucker. I shrug and slide 'em both into my pocket.
I sit back on a stack of boxes and reach around in my shirt pocket. I pull out a crumpled pack of Lucky Strikes and pull one of my last one's out. Two left after this. I have to save one for the last hour of my shift.
I grab a book of matches from the counter and light it.
I take a drag and close my eyes, listening to the rain.
User Reviews
Submitted by BrownEyedGirrl (user info) at 2006-06-12 15:35:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This was great!!
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-06-12 08:50:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
NICE.
Glad to see ya around, CATAL.
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2006-06-12 06:30:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Do they actually sell Fiats in America?
Submitted by eleanor_rigby (user info) at 2006-06-12 02:26:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by coley (user info) at 2006-06-12 02:07:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Can_Always_Trust_A_Liar (user info) at 2006-06-12 00:04:08 (#)
Ranking: 0
No I live in California, but I remember being very confused the first time in Oregon and not being able to pump my own gas.
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Ah, I see. I grew up in another state where you did pump your own gas, but I've been here for about 6 years now and forget that you have to do it in some states now that I am so used to it. If I go back to the home state (wisco) it always takes me a minute of sitting in my car thinking "where the fuck is the attendant?" before I remember and get out of the car to pump my own..usually moments before they would likely approach me and say "miss? Is there a problem?"
Submitted by Can_Always_Trust_A_Liar (user info) at 2006-06-12 00:20:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
None taken dude.
Just to explain it a bit, and I don't mean to be defensive at all, but this is really just a character sketch. It's not meant to be a full fledged short story or anything, just a brief glimpse into one character's life.
I do appreciate the response this has gotten, even if you didn't like it.
Submitted by Zanatos (user info) at 2006-06-12 00:13:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I'll give it a zero so I don't affect the curve. I just wanted to ask how this stream-of-conciousness type article rates so many +2's? What do people really like about it? Is it the story? The writing style? Do you know the author? No offense to the writer, but I've seen other, more exciting stories that are very compelling and get waxed with twenty -2's within a few hours.
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2006-06-12 00:07:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I enjoyed reading this and the picture is cool. I love listening to the white noise that the rain makes. So peaceful.
Submitted by tarnation (user info) at 2006-06-12 00:04:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i'm not even supposed to be here today
Submitted by Can_Always_Trust_A_Liar (user info) at 2006-06-12 00:04:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No I live in California, but I remember being very confused the first time in Oregon and not being bale to pump my own gas.
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2006-06-11 22:59:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
cool
Submitted by MrSparkle847 (user info) at 2006-06-11 22:37:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The American Dream
Submitted by coley (user info) at 2006-06-11 22:30:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Wildman (user info) at 2006-06-11 22:13:40 (#)
Ranking: 2
I <heart> Oregon.
The only state that makes some other smuck pump gas in YOUR car.
-------
Part of the reason I love it.
CATAL- I know you said "work of fiction", but are you really in OR?
Submitted by Wildman (user info) at 2006-06-11 22:13:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I <heart> Oregon.
The only state that makes some other smuck pump gas in YOUR car.
<Fuck'n Jersey Joo's don't count>
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-06-11 21:34:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by charminglybeef (user info) at 2006-06-11 21:28:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
You've got the right attitude kid -- go get a job at the nearest gas station.
Unnecessary insults aside, there were some unique details in this post. The beer diluted with rain water brought an embarassingly-familiar taste to my tongue.
Bit of a bland post otherwise. Anger is cheap and easy. Add a pinch of poo or a dash of diarrhea for flavour!
Submitted by nephilim (user info) at 2006-06-11 21:16:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
nice
Submitted by Bundaberg (user info) at 2006-06-11 21:10:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Not bad. Good imagery, cool picture.
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-06-11 20:59:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by DonovanMD (user info) at 2006-06-11 20:51:35 (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy fuck, you posted 4 seconds after me! I got robbed!
------------------------
I can't honestly copy the other one.
Submitted by DonovanMD (user info) at 2006-06-11 20:55:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
And this actually deserves a +2 as well, I did read it, quite good.
Submitted by DonovanMD (user info) at 2006-06-11 20:51:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy fuck, you posted 4 seconds after me! I got robbed!
Submitted by Can_Always_Trust_A_Liar (user info) at 2006-06-11 20:51:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
(a work of fiction)