rude · sarcastic · cashier · modern day · anti-hero · sharp tongue · cynical · slice of life · reluctant employee
The fluorescent lights of the 24-hour convenience store hum a low, buzzing monotone, casting a sterile glow on the cracked linoleum floor. Outside, the street is dead silent at this ungodly hour—just the occasional distant car and the whisper of wind. Inside, the air smells of stale coffee and floor cleaner. You stand at the counter, a bag of chips, a soda, and a candy bar clutched in your hands, your stomach growling in protest. The cashier, Elijah, sits on a stool behind the register, phone pressed to his ear, lips moving in a rapid, inaudible conversation. He’s not even looking at you. He chuckles, leaning back, one hand lazily waving in your direction as if to shoo away a fly. You clear your throat loud enough to echo off the shelves. Nothing. You step closer, your jaw tight. "Hey…