My day had begun like most others. The sun had barely cracked the sky when I clocked in for my morning shift at the supermarket. It was unusually chilly for October, and I was glad to be inside — at least for a little while. Most of my work involves deliveries, so I’m often out in the elements. But my boss did let me use the store’s van, and I was overjoyed when she told me that its heater was finally working again.

My job isn’t the most glamorous, but it puts enough money in my pocket to pay for college textbooks and leaves me some leftover to drink at the bar with my buddies. You might be surprised to hear, though, that I love chatting with the customers.

There’s one specific patron who caught my eye — Cecilia. She’s in her late 40s, which means that she’s old... Read More