Cha-Ching! by Ali Liebegott Read Free Book Online Page A

splurged and bought a grape soda and two hot dogs from a man who had a cart near the park. Cary Grant inhaled her hot dog and then gave Theo’s wrist a tiny lick to say thank you . Rejuvenated, she went back to her plan to Make It in New York.
    That evening when she returned to the pay phone she saw a help wanted sign in the window of the convenience store. She practically ran inside, smiling at the acne-faced cashier who now knew her pretty well from coming in and out all day for coffee and cigarettes and classified ads.
    â€œYou’re hiring?”
    He nodded. “My cousin just went back to school and quit with no notice, and no one else in my family wants to work here.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œIt’s my uncle’s store. Have you ever cashiered before?” he asked shyly.
    â€œYes. I’ve cashiered a lot.”
    â€œI’m Randy,” he said, extending his bony hand, but Theo already knew the thin boy’s name from his nametag. Randy, Manager .
    â€œI just moved here from San Francisco.”
    Randy’s eyes lit up.
    â€œI’ve always wanted to go to California,” which Theo interpreted as, I’m young and gay and stuck in Yonkers, help!
    He looked barely eighteen.
    Theo started the application, leaving phone number and address blank.
    â€œDo you think you could you start tomorrow morning,” Randy asked, “because I have a dentist appointment.”
    â€œReally?” Theo said, relief flooding her body.
    â€œIs that okay? Or do you have something to do?”
    â€œThat’s perfect.”
    â€œIt’s minimum wage but you can have as many hot dogs and sodas as you want. And coffee.”
    â€œThat sounds great.”
    â€œWe have to wear this uniform,” Randy said, sadly pulling at his turquoise smock.
    â€œThat’s okay.”
    Randy looked at Theo and said, “Do you want the boy smock or the girl smock? The boy one is better,” he added quickly.
    â€œThe boy one then,” Theo said, relieved.
    She watched him dart into a supply closet and emerge with two turquoise smocks enclosed in plastic wrap.
    â€œSo what time should I come in tomorrow?”
    â€œSix.”
    â€œThanks, Randy.”
    â€œI have a feeling you’re going to be great.”
    Cary Grant’s ears perked up as she saw Theo approach. Theo opened the truck door and gave the dog a quick hug, whispering in her ear, “I got us a job that includes all the hot dogs we can eat!”
    The dog thumped her tail hard into the seat as Theo kissed her ears. She was still cooing in the dog’s face when she heard the pay phone.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œIs this Theo?” a gruff female voice asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThis is Doralina. You called about the room.”
    â€œWhich one is this?”
    â€œThree hundred dollars. Yonkers.”
    â€œOh yeah,” Theo said. “Is it possible to take a look at it?”
    â€œYou have a dog, right?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDoes it pee in the house?”
    â€œNo,” Theo paused. “It’s a special dog. She was thrown off a roof.”
    â€œA roof?”
    She started telling Doralina the dog’s story in an attempt to make her sympathetic, but then realized she sounded crazy. Only unstable people lived where dogs were thrown off roofs. Theo had to convince her. It was already September. What would happen when winter came and it was too cold for them to sleep in the truck?
    â€œIs the room available now?” Theo asked.
    â€œYeah, it’s just sitting empty.”
    â€œCould I come look at it?” Theo tried to not sound desperate.
    â€œYou got a job, right?”
    â€œTotally,” Theo said.
    â€œWhere at?”
    Theo read the sign aloud: “The Kwik Stop,” she said. “Right before you get on the expressway.”
    â€œOh. I’ve probably seen you. I live just down the street. You want to come over now?”
    Theo drove to the