Welcome to Wednesday One Shots, the series where we share a bonus story with you to help

you get through the week.

This time around we have a story from a listener named Ghost Horse.

At the time of this story I was about 20 years old.

For reference I'm short and female presenting.

At the time I worked at a big well-known retail store as a merchandising associate.

The store was short-staffed so while it wasn't part of my duties I was the fitting room

attendant on this particular day.

There was a desk in front of the fitting rooms that housed a phone and a hanger bin as well

as a few other odds and ends one might need to put clothes away.

While attending to the fitting rooms I stood behind the desk to greet customers going

in and coming out but occasionally I would leave the desk to go put things away.

Things were slow that day so I was away from the desk for quite a while putting clothes

away and straightening up the clothing areas.

I was walking from the shoe section to the men's section when I saw a customer walking

toward me.

He looked like anybody else from the area.

He was wearing baggy jeans, a tight tank top and a flat brim snap back hat.

I greeted him and asked him if he needed help.

He stopped walking and looked me over.

At first he said no, then he took a step forward, one hand tightly clasped over the other

as he addressed me again.

...