Hard Times at Michael's

Okay, so I work part time at Michael's because I just like being around the supplies. And the customers are great, too. When I see them it's on the sales floor and nobody gets cranky until they get to the register and must part with their money. My co-workers, however, are all dead. I see them breathing, I hear them belching, but other than that there is little life in them. The good part is that dead people hardly bother with you at all (unless they're a zombie, of course).
So why the hard time at Michael's you ask? Because in retail when customers don't buy there are fewer hours for employees to work. My hours are all tied to how much they spend at the register. And this makes the manager, Tim, cranky. He easily slides between manic and grumpy, but when sales are low he tips the balance to grumpy. If he's in one of these moods everyone knows to stay out of his way. Once as a unexperienced newbie I asked him a question not knowing (nobody warned me because they are dead) his condition. I cried for at least an hour. Now I am much more cautious. Actually I try not to talk to him. I can always duck behind a tall ficus tree if I see him coming.
So I'm feeling a little better about these hard times at Michael's. As I write this it occurs to me that with less hours I'll see Tim less and I'll have more time to blog. And that is a very good thing.

With fondness,
Linda