Saturday Special

One Saturday evening the store is hopping like a frog that has been force-fed an entire pot of coffee, to the point that Fernando has literally nothing but a big stack of twenties and a smattering of ones in his till. A group of four high schoolers, two male and two female, drop by and browse the store for a bit before selecting a movie.

“Hey, uh, tonight there aren't any specials are there?” asks the male ringleader of the group when he brings his tag to the counter.

“No, unfortunately,” says Fernando. “Saturday is a soundly unspecial night.

“Well, no,” he adds after a moment of reflection, “It would be free popcorn night but I'm fresh out of that. It's been really busy today.”

“That's not good,” says the female ringleader of the group from slightly behind the male ringleader. “I don't think it's fair that everybody else could have gotten popcorn and we don't. I demand something special to make up for it.” And she crosses her arms and sticks out her lower lip.

Fernando exhales. “I mean...I'm not sure what I could do for you guys.”

“Well, either we get something special or we're not renting.” The lip-stick-out-ness increased in might and valor.

“I could dance a merry jig for you,” says Fernando suddenly, despite the fact there are about five different groups of people browsing the store and Fernando has, put charitably, the dance skills of a paraplegic and beached orca.

Her eyes twinkle mischievously. “You're serious?”

So Fernando puts his money where his mouth is and steps out from behind the counter and dances a short and hopefully merry jig. One of the other customer-groups applauds politely.

“Ok, you win,” says the ringleaderess. “We'll rent. You're one heck of a salesman.”

“Why, thank you,” responds Fernando. “You're one heck of a customer, complimenting me on my salesmanship.”

“Your ego looks like it needed the boost after the embarrassing thing you just did,” says she. And everyone laughs and the rental is processed and the group of four leave the store. Fernando then helps the next customer group in line.

Fernando hopes the four high schoolers come back soon. He likes fun and witty customers.