The Greeter

During work, Martha always kept a bottle of Lysol wipes in her oversized vest pocket. Sometimes she carried two if she worked the weekend, as that was always the busiest time of the week. Most of the store’s customers were turned off when she greeted them with a smile and asked if she could wipe down their face with a disinfectant wipe, but she had her regulars. Some of them would come just for a cleaning. She was quick and gentle. They liked that.

They also liked how she would cradle you in her strong arms, like a grandmother would hold a baby. The palm of her one hand supporting the back of your head as the other hand thoroughly cleaned you. And she too enjoyed holding people. Sometimes she would hum a tune or whisper in their ear what was on sale that day.

At 77 years old, Martha enjoyed her job and her life inside the store. It was really all she had ever known. She never travelled. Never got married or had children, even though she would have liked too. So she considered every customer that walked through that front entrance as family. She never forgot a face. She once dated a nice man named Charles who worked in the men’s shoe department. But after two weeks of a lovely courtship, he was caught stealing a pair of slippers. Heartbroken, Martha promised herself she would never date a fellow co-worker ever again.

After each twelve-hour shift came to an end, Martha would hobble back on her swollen feet to the bedding department and retire for the night on one of the floor model beds. Falling asleep pretty quickly, she usually dreamed of being crowned Employee of the Month in a lavish blue velvet gown and silky white gloves. Once in a while, she would have these recurring nightmares, where she couldn't find any Lysol wipes, leading not only to her firing but getting banned for life from the superstore. It was on those nights she would wake up in the middle of the night in a panic and quickly double-check the stock in the back room before she could fall back asleep.

It was hard for her when the global pandemic hit. The store was forced to shut down and she spent her days aimlessly roaming around the aisles tidying things up, but there was only so much she could do to pass the time. Larry the store manager tried to keep things entertaining for his employees. He would often gather them up and sing a series of some of his favourite show tunes but nobody really cared to listen. Often the young stock boys would laugh at him from the back. Martha didn’t think that was nice, but she wouldn’t bother telling them that. They wouldn’t last long here anyway; Larry and the other regional store managers were always trading them around for fun like cheap hockey cards.

Like a cat at a window, she spent a lot of her time staring out into the outside world. Closing her eyes, she would envision the dark sky raining blueberries, with grape juice flooding the streets. The idea of going out there gave her more anxiety than ever before. On top of that, she was starting to miss human touch. It had been months since she last held someone in her arms and wiped down their face. Remembering back, it was a stressed-out middle-aged man who came in with his three teenage kids. They watched in awkward silence as their dad relished in a moment of relaxation. He even asked for a second wipe down, which Martha was more than happy to do. She also made sure he was aware that all portals in aisle forty were currently twenty percent off.

“Where do they lead to?” he whispered, his voice cracking with what sounded like desperation. Martha smiled as she lifted him back up to his feet.

“I don’t know. I’m too nervous to jump into one. But I hear good things.”

At one point during the middle of the pandemic, Martha found herself standing in aisle forty staring down into a black abyss-like hole. Of all the years she had worked at the superstore, she always avoided the portals, never feeling comfortable around them. Also, employees were only allowed in this aisle if they were helping a customer. But there she was, bored enough on a random Tuesday afternoon to be breaking the rules. She didn’t know much about the portals, except that they came from China and that they were expensive. She could never afford one even if they were on sale and her employee discount was a joke. She once witnessed a toddler accidentally stumble into a hole and disappear. Her panicked mother screamed and jumped in after her. They never returned and the husband was forced to buy the portal. As she stood over one, Martha wondered what was on the other side if she jumped in. Maybe she would land on the moon? A moon filled with Lysol wipes. She liked that idea. The pandemic also made her feel like it had wasted her time. Precious time considering she was already in her senior years. Maybe if she jumped into the portal she could go back in time? She thought about Charles. If she could do it again, she would have spent all her money and bought him a pair of slippers. She wasn’t there for much longer until Larry came by and asked her to move along, reminding her of rule #354 in the employee handbook.

One day Martha woke up and the store was filled with colourful balloons and streamers. The pandemic was finally over.

Larry gathered the employees for an early morning meeting to let everyone know it was business as usual again. An ecstatic Martha couldn't believe her ears as she stood at the front of the group with six Lysol bottles already shoved into her vest pockets. Larry ended the meeting with one of his favourite songs and everyone joined in, including the new crop of stock boys and an out-of-tune Martha, who sang the loudest of them all.

As the front doors were unlocked and the first wave of customers began pouring in, Martha’s heart grew double in size. Within minutes, her regulars were back and ready to be held. And no masks required! To Martha’s delight, a small line formed as people waited for their turn, which had never happened in all the years she had worked at the store. Employee of the Month sounded pretty good right about now, she thought. After going through three Lysol bottles, she took her first break and made her way over to the women's fashion department. She browsed through the dresses that were on clearance. A new, young employee named Nicole approached.

“Can I help you with any of these?” she asked.

Martha turned to Nicole and noticed her dyed cotton candy pink hair, nose ring and large bags under her eyes. Martha smiled.

“Just browsing, thank you.”

“You’re the store greeter, aren’t you?”

“Customer Concierge.” Martha politely replied back.

Nicole leaned in and whispered, “Do you think maybe I could get a wipe? I heard they’re pretty good.”

Martha was taken aback by this statement. This was the first time she had ever heard the suggestion her work was talked about.

“Who told you that?”

“Oh, I forget. I think maybe Derek? I think that’s his name...”

Derek was an experienced stock boy soon to be traded for two new stock hires.

“He told me his mom talked about you at dinner one time. Said you made her feel like she was back in the womb. He thought that was a pretty weird thing for his mom to say but like, whatever.”

Felt like she was back in the womb? If only Larry could hear this now, a proud Martha thought, as she examined a pretty dress that hung from the rack. Its large shoulder pads could be used in a football game.

“I’m Nicole, by the way” as she stuck out her bony, pale hand.

Martha’s strong hand reached out and shook it. “Martha”.

As they shook hands, Martha noticed Larry up in his crow’s nest office with a pair of binoculars, watching the two.

“I better get back to work,” said Martha. “But when things get less busy, come see me.” Martha tapped one of her Lysol bottles in her vest. “I’ve got one of these with your name on it.”

“That would be awesome!” Nicole replied, with a large smile on her face.

It had been the first time in a long time that someone had ever been this nice to her without wanting something in return. She envisioned her and Martha becoming close friends. She thought about the idea of dying Martha's grey hair pink one day soon. The two punks in the store, beating up the pervy men who linger around while their poor wives take care of the children at home.

For the rest of the day, Martha was on cloud nine. Things felt back to normal and her batteries were finally getting recharged. That night, lying in bed, as her swollen feet began to shrink back to their regular size, she slept well. She dreamed not only of getting Employee of the Month but being promoted to Head Customer Concierge. In front of the entire team, Larry handed Martha a large trophy, which she then raised high into the air, as one of the fluorescent lamps that hung from the store ceiling shone down directly onto her, basking her in a sparkly glow.

The next afternoon, Martha was standing at her post when Larry’s voice crackled her name over the store intercom. A few curious employees nearby looked over at her, wondering what it could be about but too afraid to ask. But Martha already had a feeling. With her head held high, she began to walk to the back of the store. She wondered if Larry already had the trophy waiting for her when she walked into his office or if he would surprise her with it when she wasn’t looking. She decided she would pretend to be shocked if he did; it was the tasteful thing to do.

When she got into the office she was greeted by a somber Larry and, instead of a trophy, a robot sent from HR. The whispered employee nickname for the robot was Miss Doom. As her eyes fell on the robot, Martha’s legs began to shake. The last few steps to the hard plastic chair at Larry’s desk felt like a marathon.

“Please sit, Martha.” Larry said.

She couldn't believe this was happening. It felt like she was having an out of body experience. The robot’s cold, electronic voice clicked on. Due to the current financial climate, the company would be re-structuring and, unfortunately, they would have to terminate her contract effective immediately. Martha’s ears echoed with the news. She sat numbly in the chair as she waited in fear for the next step in the process: the robot would pick her up and escort her out of the store, where she would be tossed in one of the dumpsters behind the building.

“Martha, I want to stress, this has nothing to do with your performance.” said Larry.

When the ringing in her body slowed down, Martha whispered, “But where will I go?” Larry paused for a moment and thought about it.

“I hear Florida is nice?”

Martha tumbled from her chair and crouched down at Larry’s feet.

“Maybe you can trade me to another store? I’m worth at least three stock boys.”

Embarrassed and exposed, Larry motioned to the robot to stop recording the meeting; it shook its head, sending fluorescent reflections around the small room. Larry picked Martha up off the floor.

“I’m sorry Martha, there is nothing I can do.”

Sobbing uncontrollably, she collapsed in his arms. Larry awkwardly placed his thin arms around her. They held each other for a brief moment, before he began to softly sing into her ear:

My little bumble bee,

You suddenly came to me.

In the backyard of my secret garden,

My little bumble bee.

My flowers yellow and blue,

You filled my heart with honey dew.

My tea you sweetened,

Forever, my little bumble bee.

After Larry finished his song, he squeezed tightly, feeling Martha's body relax.

“You can finish your shift if you want?” he said. Martha looked up at Larry and nodded.

“Thank you,” she replied.

Larry hauled her back to her feet and she heavily turned to leave. From its metal body, the robot printed out a letter of recommendation and a $100 gift certificate to the store.

With her last Lysol bottle in hand, Martha returned to the floor and back to her post. Still feeling numb and embarrassed from what just happened, it was hard for her to greet any customer with a smile that wasn't forced.. As people zoomed past her, she eventually just stood there like an out-of-place statue, deep in thought. For the majority of her life, she always took comfort in thinking she would die in the store. Her body would be placed in a Lysol-sponsored coffin and probably buried under the store, but secretly she had always liked the idea of being placed on the rooftop instead. At least from up there, people could take notice from miles away, reminding them to keep a clean face at all times. But now she didn’t know where she would end up and the thought frightened her, as she squeezed a Lysol bottle closer to her chest.

Word quickly spread of her shocking dismissal. Employees who had worked with her for years slowly came up to her one by one and offered their support. Each requested a wipe down as a sign of gratitude and respect.

With her shift coming to an end, Martha found herself with one last Lysol wipe. She decided to hang on to it just in case. She also decided to go make her bed before leaving the store. It was, after all, the polite thing to do. As she headed over, she noticed Nicole in the women’s department sitting by herself and lost in a troubled thought. Martha examined Nicole’s face which was caked with heavy makeup. It reminded Martha of an old photo she once saw in the book department, of a young, haunted soldier who had just seen battle and had dry mud splattered all over his face.

Martha approached Nicole and pulled out her last disinfectant wipe.

“Oh my god.” said Nicole, clearly upset. “I heard what happened! Are you okay?”

Martha wasn't sure how to respond to that question. All she could do was smile and ask,

“Do you still want a wipe?”

“Of course.” Nicole said without hesitation.

As Martha gently placed Nicole’s head in her hand, a concerned Nicole looked up into her eyes.

“Where will you go?” she asked, as Martha began to wipe the makeup off her face.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe Florida?”

“I hear it’s nice.” Nicole said.

With Nicole in her arms, Martha took her time removing the makeup. She felt Nicole relax in her arms, but could not perceive the memory that began to flash behind her eyes: she sits after school in her neighbour’s kitchen, the neighbour being a friend of Nicole’s mother, who babysits her while her mother works double shifts at the coffee shop. She sits next to her at a wooden table, admiring the self-proclaimed psychic’s wild dyed blue hair and clanking costume jewelry. The woman spreads a deck of tarot cards before Nicole, as a cloud of smoke from burning sage majestically drifts through the air.

As Martha removed the remaining make-up from Nicole’s face, she exposed a fresh new face with glowing skin underneath. Martha saw a younger Nicole, one that looked to be around eighteen years old.

“So much better.” Martha said with a smile, as she gently raised Nicole to her feet. It was the first time in a long time that Nicole’s face had been bare in public. She blushed, feeling exposed.

It suddenly dawned on both of them that this was the moment to say goodbye. After a pregnant pause, Martha and Nicole gave each other an awkward hug. As they did so, every flat screen in the electronic department briefly turned on and emitted a blinding light. Larry in his crow’s nest office immediately shielded his eyes, as his mind went straight to the late-night sci-fi movie he had fallen asleep watching the night before. He shook his head. Clearly not a spaceship, Larry. He buzzed the floor manager to take a look at electronics.

It only took a minute or two to make the bed. When she was finished, Martha looked around the area to make sure she was alone. She let a few browsing customers walk past her first before slipping herself under the bed, heart pounding so loudly she was sure it would give her away.

It was the middle of the night when the store was completely empty and the lights turned off before an anxious Martha crawled out. She quietly made her way across the main floor and over to aisle forty where she finally stood in front of a portal, just like she had found herself last year before quickly getting escorted away by Larry. Staring back into the black abyss, Martha could feel her heart beating loudly in her ears. Her palms were sweaty, a feeling of nausea washing around her stomach. She wondered again what would happen to her if she jumped. Only now it was a matter of when. Maybe if she wished hard enough, she would find herself on a Florida beach? She pictured herself sitting down in the sand with her superstore vest on and watching the waves of the ocean crash along the shore, as the sun shone brightly down on her. Maybe they could bury her body in the sand, she thought. That wouldn’t be so bad. But then she quickly envisioned a group of adventurous boys digging up her bloated body, as tourists gathered around to take pictures.

As Martha jumped into the air, her last thought was a hope that this wouldn't be the end. Perhaps another shot at the same life. Where this time around, she would know better and not let missed opportunities pass her by. Entering the portal, she thought about Charles again and what a second chance at a life with him in the store could have been like. She would have cleaned his heart everyday. As she disappeared into the black hole, the fluorescent house lights flickered and buzzed aloud, mimicking the sound of a thousand bumble bees.

The next morning, Nicole walked into the store. She took pause at the empty spot where Martha would have been standing with a smile on her face and Lysol wipe in hand, as sadness flickered across her heart.

Larry gathered the employees at the front of the store to officially announce Martha’s departure. It was a hard team meeting for everyone. Usually in cases like these, Larry would sing a tune to help lift spirits but even he wasn’t in the mood.

Standing at the back, Nicole wondered if she would ever see Martha again. As Larry tried his hand at a pathetic tap dance, she gently placed the palm of her hand on her belly and looked around at all the misfits standing before her. She wondered if she could trust anyone here. It was at this time she felt a sudden change, as the baby inside her punched and kicked like a little boxer. Taken aback by the frantic activity, she placed her second hand on her stomach and looked around to see if anyone had noticed the sudden change on her face, potentially exposing her secret. The baby felt stronger than ever before. Whoever was inside, they were eager to get out and, for a limited time only, start their new life.