My boss had very graciously given me those days off and would come in at Midnight and work until 8AM the next morning on those days. I'd then come in on Saturdays and work a short shift, help unloading groceries, lend a hand on the registers or pick up odd jobs that needed done immediately.
I never worried about working in the only open business for 100 miles on that stretch of highway in either direction. I had visits from the Sheriff's Department and Border Patrol every night and the State Trooper would come by at day break to fill his thermos with fresh coffee. So I felt reasonably safe working the shift by myself. And if I got really busy, I could usually pick up the phone and call in the guy who worked the other nights of the week that I was off as he could never sleep normal hours anyway. He lived five minutes away and if he answered the phone, he would come help.
Luckily that only happened on nights when the bus came through and only if there were passengers who were awake at 4AM. Many times, the passengers were asleep, so the bus driver would come in, fill his giant coffee mug, and buy a sandwich. Some drivers didn't stop at all and would drive straight through to the next town. I never made any of the night regulars pay for coffee in exchange for visiting for a little while. I wanted them coming to the store and if all it did was cost me a large pot or two of coffee, well, it was a small price to pay for business.
On this particular night one of my regulars, Randy, rushed in. He was a truck driver who ran a refer up Highway 90 to El Paso. I knew the run because I had tried my hand at driving semi six months before and found the lack of sleep and general lifestyle to be incompatible with me. I was young and had plenty of time to figure out what it was I wanted to do in life and that was definitely not it...
On this particular night one of my regulars, Randy, rushed in. He was a truck driver who ran a refer up Highway 90 to El Paso. I knew the run because I had tried my hand at driving semi six months before and found the lack of sleep and general lifestyle to be incompatible with me. I was young and had plenty of time to figure out what it was I wanted to do in life and that was definitely not it...
Randy rushed into the store and ran straight to the restroom. That's not really an uncommon thing to see at a convenience store. But when he came out, I saw him looking around the store.
"Pssst," he whispered at me. "Are you the only one in the store, Will?" He asked.
"Yeah," I said casually, not really sure what he was up to. "What's up, Randy."
"I just wanted to make sure that guy didn't come in after me." Randy replied.
"What guy?" I asked.
"Hold on," he said. "I'll tell you in a minute."
Randy went over tot he Deli Express cooler and pulled four sandwiches out. He then walked over to the drink coolers and removed four large bottles of water. He then grabbed two large bags of Doritos and brought all of it up to the registers in a pile in his arms, dumping it unceremoniously onto the counter. I immediately began ringing up the items.
"I picked this guy up from down the highway a bit," Randy explained. He asked me to take to El Paso, but I told him I would only be able to get him to Alpine. I didn't want him going all the way to El Paso with me. But when we passed through Comstock, he started getting really weird on me."
I was eating this shit up. "Weird...how?" I asked.
Randy went over tot he Deli Express cooler and pulled four sandwiches out. He then walked over to the drink coolers and removed four large bottles of water. He then grabbed two large bags of Doritos and brought all of it up to the registers in a pile in his arms, dumping it unceremoniously onto the counter. I immediately began ringing up the items.
"I picked this guy up from down the highway a bit," Randy explained. He asked me to take to El Paso, but I told him I would only be able to get him to Alpine. I didn't want him going all the way to El Paso with me. But when we passed through Comstock, he started getting really weird on me."
I was eating this shit up. "Weird...how?" I asked.
He started talking about the devil and how he had been fighting demons his entire life. It started out sounding like he was just talking in metaphors but the more he spoke about it, the more I realized this guy was off his rocker, if you know what I mean." Randy got his wallet out of his back pocket.
"$36.50, do you have fuel? I asked as he began peeling 20 dollar bills out. I made change for him, giving him 4 one dollar bills and two quarters change.
"No." He replied. "Thank god. I filled up earlier. But I am going to tell the guy I need to fuel up and send him inside. I want to sneak out of here. Can you make sure he doesn't come out before I leave?"
"Yeah. I'll lock the front door and mop. Are you going to put out his stuff so he doesn't think you're ripping him off?"
"NO he just had a small backpack with him. I'll make him take it in with him." Randy counted back his change and dropped a five into my change bowl. "For you trouble."
"Oh, its no trouble." I have never been more wrong in my entire life. But I thought about the .45 tucked into the small of my back beneath my shirt. I carried concealed because I was the only business in 100 miles open most of the night and being on the edge of town and young, I thought I would be ready for anything.
I bagged up Randy's Groceries and handed them to him with the receipt. He still had a business to run and could write off his food expenses. And I found as a young guy, it was always beneficial to help out truck driver as they also would look out for you.
This skinny man with a backpack came waltzing into the store. He was very greasy and dirty looking. He strolled around towards the restrooms. Before he went out of sight through the restroom door, I called over to him.
This skinny man with a backpack came waltzing into the store. He was very greasy and dirty looking. He strolled around towards the restrooms. Before he went out of sight through the restroom door, I called over to him.
"Sir?" I asked.
"Yes?" He replied. "I'm going to be mopping the front of the store and then the restroom hallways. Please be careful coming out."
"Oh. Thank you," he replied.
"Oh. Thank you," he replied.
He seemed nice enough. Nothing odd. Boy was I about to proven wrong on both counts.
I heard the door to the restroom close and lock, followed by the sound of flowing water. Like most travelers, he was likely using the sink to clean up, which often meant a bird bath. I'd need to restock the soap and mop up the floors because I was sure he was the type that would bathe in the handsoap and leave huge puddles of water everywhere. Some of the messier patrons would also leave wet toilet paper everywhere after using up all of the paper towels.
I locked the front door and put up my "Closed sign." Then I began mopping the floors. It took me about 30 minutes, but I made it the entire length of the store and finally into the restroom area. The water was still running when I got there, so I knocked on the door.
"Sir, may I ask you to turn off the water?" I knocked on the door again and it creaked open.
The sink faucet was all the way open blasting water down the drain. There was a dirty backpack on the floor, but no one inside the bathroom. Had he snuck out into the store? Was he robbing the place? I immediately drew the gun from the small of my back and began search the restrooms and the rest of the store. Nothing. I checked the storage room. Locked. I checked the walk in coolers. I checked the main office. I checked the dining area, pistol drawn. Nothing. Nobody was there.
"What the hell?"
The sink faucet was all the way open blasting water down the drain. There was a dirty backpack on the floor, but no one inside the bathroom. Had he snuck out into the store? Was he robbing the place? I immediately drew the gun from the small of my back and began search the restrooms and the rest of the store. Nothing. I checked the storage room. Locked. I checked the walk in coolers. I checked the main office. I checked the dining area, pistol drawn. Nothing. Nobody was there.
"What the hell?"
I was a border patrolman at the front door. He was tapping on the glass and he immediately saw I had a gun in hand and his demeanor changed. He drew his sidearm and turned around completely business as he grabbed the mic on his handheld radio requesting backup for possible incident.
I hurried over to the door and unlocked it, holstering my weapon and letting the patrolman in.
"What's goin on, Will? He asked me, completely business and very serious. "Why did you have a gun in your hand?"
"Santy," I replied. "I had a guy in my restroom earlier. HE was in there for nearly 30 minutes. I went to check on him and he left the water running. But I didn't see him coming out and he would have had to walk right by me. I thought he might have snuck back into the store or maybe trying to jump me when I came back up. I don't where the hell he went, but he's not in the store and I freaked out."
"Santy," I replied. "I had a guy in my restroom earlier. HE was in there for nearly 30 minutes. I went to check on him and he left the water running. But I didn't see him coming out and he would have had to walk right by me. I thought he might have snuck back into the store or maybe trying to jump me when I came back up. I don't where the hell he went, but he's not in the store and I freaked out."
"Shit," he said. "We'd better find him then."
"I've checked the store, he's not in here."
"Did he go out the fire escape... fire door, whatever its called.?"
"I don't think so. If he'd opened that door all hell would have broken loose and the alarms would still be going off. I'd have to call a manager in to turn it off."
"Let's make sure, just in case." Santiago was a good guy and I was glad he was there.
We locked the front door again and went back to the fire door. Santiago pushed it open and, just as I had said, all hell broke loose. A warning light above the illuminated exit sign began flashing and an ear splitting alarm went off. A piston on the door locked in place and the door would now no longer close.
I quickly hurried over to the office phone, which was now ringing and explained the situation to the store manager. She sighed and said she'd be there in ten minutes. Santiago went back to the front door, unlocked it, and went outside to meet with three other border patrolmen that came to the store.
I quickly hurried over to the office phone, which was now ringing and explained the situation to the store manager. She sighed and said she'd be there in ten minutes. Santiago went back to the front door, unlocked it, and went outside to meet with three other border patrolmen that came to the store.
They immediately got in there trucks and began searching the outside of the building and the surround lots with their search lights. The sheriff's deputy and his wife both showed up, having heard a call across the radio that a fire alarm had sounded at the store. And then my manager arrived followed by two volunteer firefighters in full gear with the firetruck.
The store was locked up and like most small towns, we all ended up visiting out by the gas pumps, laughing about how ridiculous the situation was. So much excitement in our small town. We put the man's backpack outside in front of the door and one by one everyone left. I went back inside to clean up and begin cooking the morning's breakfast.
The volunteer firefighters were able to get the alarm to turn off and the door closed. All of it was done with a special key that no one seemed to have. Dave, the firefighter, just happened to have a spare key on his keyring as our manager forgot to bring the keys with her. He had originally installed the door anyway as he also worked as a handyman around town. He also just happened to be a reserve deputy, so he had a badge and gun hanging off his belt as well.
The store was locked up and like most small towns, we all ended up visiting out by the gas pumps, laughing about how ridiculous the situation was. So much excitement in our small town. We put the man's backpack outside in front of the door and one by one everyone left. I went back inside to clean up and begin cooking the morning's breakfast.
The volunteer firefighters were able to get the alarm to turn off and the door closed. All of it was done with a special key that no one seemed to have. Dave, the firefighter, just happened to have a spare key on his keyring as our manager forgot to bring the keys with her. He had originally installed the door anyway as he also worked as a handyman around town. He also just happened to be a reserve deputy, so he had a badge and gun hanging off his belt as well.
One by one, everyone got a cup of coffee and left. I got a little chewing for having a gun by the store manager, but in the end, she said she carried a little pink revolver with her when she worked so there was no harm no foul. I was to make sure not to carry it if the corporate manager was there. I didn't tell her that it was the corporate manager's suggestion. Nor did I mention the corporate manager had told me to keep a shotgun under the counter if it made me feel better.
This is Texas. Everyone is armed. In those days, if they weren't, well, they probably wouldn't mind if you were. Lucky me.
AT around 5AM, I went out and emptied all of the coffee pots and started all new coffee for the morning rush. I had to fill a large 5 gallon heated urn for the breakfast rush, so began making coffee in all of the smaller pots to fill the larger urn. Yes I could have just placed the urn into one of the machines, but it took forever to brew 5 gallons and by making several smaller half gallon pots, I could fill it in about 30 minutes instead of two hours.
This is Texas. Everyone is armed. In those days, if they weren't, well, they probably wouldn't mind if you were. Lucky me.
AT around 5AM, I went out and emptied all of the coffee pots and started all new coffee for the morning rush. I had to fill a large 5 gallon heated urn for the breakfast rush, so began making coffee in all of the smaller pots to fill the larger urn. Yes I could have just placed the urn into one of the machines, but it took forever to brew 5 gallons and by making several smaller half gallon pots, I could fill it in about 30 minutes instead of two hours.
530AM came around and it was time to make the breakfast sandwiches and get ready for the next shift to come in. They never did come in at 5AM, like they were supposed to. The lady never came in on time because she was usually hung over. The other assistant manager never came in because h was sure a grocery truck would show up and he hated doing inventory.
I looked at the front door and the bag was gone. Hmm. Maybe he had come back to get his stuff. Or maybe one of the deputies had taken it with him.
I went back into the kitchen and began filling the sink with hot soapy water for the morning dishes. When there cam a loud pound from the wall. The wall was 6 inch thick fired brick and concrete. Something hit the wall hard. It hit a second time and the dishes hanging from the wall all shuddered. A third hit and a large stainless steel bowl popped off its hook and fell into the sink.
This was followed by three more hits. The entire wall was shaking with each hit! Were we having an earth quake? Did somebody hit the side of the building with their car? What was going on.
I heard a knock at the front door and turned to see a Game Warden in uniform at the door. He was very concerned looking.
"Will?" He asked. "Do you know this guy over here?"
I went back into the kitchen and began filling the sink with hot soapy water for the morning dishes. When there cam a loud pound from the wall. The wall was 6 inch thick fired brick and concrete. Something hit the wall hard. It hit a second time and the dishes hanging from the wall all shuddered. A third hit and a large stainless steel bowl popped off its hook and fell into the sink.
This was followed by three more hits. The entire wall was shaking with each hit! Were we having an earth quake? Did somebody hit the side of the building with their car? What was going on.
I heard a knock at the front door and turned to see a Game Warden in uniform at the door. He was very concerned looking.
"Will?" He asked. "Do you know this guy over here?"
"What guy?" I asked. I came outside and followed the Game Warden around the side of the building.
"When I drove up," he said. "This guy ran over to the side of the building and was banging his head into the side of the building.
I looked and the was a huge bloody spot on the brick with a near perfect imprint of a face than blood ran down the will to the missing man, who was laying on the ground face covered in blood. He was rolling on the ground and moaning.
"That son of a bitch left me behind!" The man moaned.
I looked and the was a huge bloody spot on the brick with a near perfect imprint of a face than blood ran down the will to the missing man, who was laying on the ground face covered in blood. He was rolling on the ground and moaning.
"That son of a bitch left me behind!" The man moaned.
"Will, what's going on?" The Game Warden walked over to the man. "Sir, are you all right? Do you need medical help?"
"That son of a bitch," the man said spitting blood out of his mouth. "He left me here."
"I'm gonna call the Sheriff's office." I said turning to go back inside.
The man spit out blood and a broken tooth and smiled. "That son of a bitch..."
"No," The Game Warden replied. "I'll take care of this. You go back inside and lock the door. I'll get him to EMS and to a hospital."
The Game Warden helped the injured man up and walked him over to his truck. I heard him radio the Sheriff's Department. And then they were both gone.
The Game Warden helped the injured man up and walked him over to his truck. I heard him radio the Sheriff's Department. And then they were both gone.
By the time I got back to the kitchen, the morning crew had come in at 6:30 and I was able to start washing dishes. Breakfast was finished by 7, a little later than usual. But I figured as strange as the night had been, running an hour late was the least of my problems. I had the day off, and after I woke up around 2 or 3 int he afternoon, I had a full day of laziness planned.
