Long Live The Problem Child

Viv hid her smile and laugh behind her hand. She understood that tourist were good for business, yes, but they also tended to clog up all the interesting places in town and made it impossible for her to do any real investigating when some family from California was camping next to a supernatural hotspot. “Since you don’t seem particularly interested in our shirts, is there anything else I can help you find?” she asked, hopping off her stool behind the counter and circling in front.

“Actually, you can help me.” Indigo said as she looked away from the shirts that she glanced over once the person behind the counter mentioned the sale. Glancing over all the other nick-nacks and items that were in the general store, she looked up and saw the person come from behind the counter to speak with her. Reaching into her pocket and pulling out the small list that was written on paper from the Mayor’s office--her boss, so to speak, Indigo handed it over. “I need whatever is written on this list. I think it’s a bunch of candy or something, he was talking about a sweet tooth before he called in into the office to grab the list. Apparently instead of being the clerk and getting whatever work done today, I’m the Mayor’s intern--but hopefully it’ll pay off.”

“Every time I mention I’m staying at the hotel in town, I get looked at like I’ve got ten heads. The silly little ghost stories can’t be that bad can they?”

“Bad enough where no one dares to utter any word about them.” Indigo said as she overheard the women near her. Turning around the face them, she had come face to face with someone who wasn’t around here. Tourists and outsiders were attracted to the forgotten mining town that once was and locals tend to frown upon the ones who came into town wanting to seek the truth about the place. “Go ahead and ask someone the rumors about this place. I’ll guarantee you that you’ll get doors shut in your face and be told to head back home.”

“That’d make more sense, wouldn’t it?” Vivian laughed with a shrug. “Dad thinks that we’ll sell more at a lower price, and a sale makes people think they’re getting a better deal than they actually are.”

“Well, I’m sure your father knows what he’s doing and hell, if it’s worth anything you might as well try to get some extra money out of the few that pass by and stop here for only an hour before getting back on the road. God know that’s all the tourists are good for.” Indie said, muttering the last few words to herself more or less with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Shirts in the back are thirty-percent off!”

“Sweatshirts are still full price, but they’re super comfy, so it’s worth it.”

“A sweatshirt in this heat?” Indie replies with a puzzled look on her face. They lived in the desert, a sweatshirt almost seemed obsolete at this point. “Shouldn’t the sale be the other way around--I mean you might sell more if they were on sale instead of the shirts.”