“Hey, do you want to
come to my graduation party?” a young lady asks of the Keeper one
day as Fernando fills out a rental slip for her. She is one of
Fernando's most regular of regular customers. “I would have sent
you an invite but, um....” She looks down at the floor. “I
actually don't know your name. You're just kind of the movie store
guy to me.”
Fernando shrugs and
laughs. “Happens a lot, actually. 'Movie Store Guy' is apt enough,
considering names probably started as labels based on what people did
way back in the olden days before electricity and indoor plumbing.”
He scratches his cheek. “When it is? I can't guarantee I'll be able
to go, I'm afraid. Work kind of gets in the way of most things.”
“It'll be June 7th.”
“Oh, I'm sorry, I
definitely can't go then. I have a wedding to attend over that
weekend.”
“You're getting
married?” she asks, studying Fernando with no small amount of surprise. “I didn't even know you
were engaged.”
“Well that would be one
hell of a surprise if I were. No, I misspoke. Actually I'm standing
in a wedding for my best bud. Thank you for the invitation, though.”
“It's okay! You going
to get somebody else to run the store then?”
“Nah, I'll shut it
down. It ain't gonna be no thing.”
Fernando's guest giggles,
pays for her movies, and leaves.
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