A Very Berry Night rough draft

A Very Berry Night.

Mona put head in her hand as she stared at the monitor. “Huh. What a dull night.” She didn’t even bother to laugh at the sitcom on television. “Very, very dull.” It had been one month since she had made an ill fated bet with her friend Greg to see if a curse at Goodman’s Friendly Market was true. A curse that if she stole from the store she would turn into a blueberry. Not only did she lose the bet, but she had to go through something she wished she hadn’t.

She threw a potato chip into her mouth as she watched the show. “I still can’t get the thought of them juicing me out of my head.” She shivered. “They waited until I was so full and ready to burst, juice leaking out of places I am not exactly proud of. Then they pressed me over and over, getting every last drop of blueberry juice out of my body. I don’t know what was worse. Thinking I was going to explode or turned into a human pancake.” She sighed. “Oh I know. Seeing Greg’s “I told you so” look.” She rolled her eyes. “And having to have blue skin for a week. My boss thought I was on drugs.”

Mona sighed. “I am not going anywhere near that place again.”

Greg walked into the room. “Hey.” Mona grunted in response. “I am going to a Dungon Delver’s group tonight. All night thing. You want to come?” Mona shook her head. “Oh come on.”

She turned her head. “I said no.” Mona sighed. “I have never played that silly game in my life. I wouldn’t even know how to get started.”

Greg sighed. “Well do you have any plans besides watching. . .” He narrowed his eyes. “What in the world is this nonsense?”

“It’s umm. . .” She shrugged. “Well truth be told I don’t know. I have been just killing time before work.”

“Work? What on earth could you be doing at this hour?”

She sighed. “My boss needed some people to come in as Cassity and Ophilia were sick. So Mark and I were the unlucky ones selected.”

“I didn’t even know the candy shop sold anything this late at night.”

She stood up. “Jamerson’s Sweet Tooth doesn’t. I have to take over for security. Something I never thought I would do.” She sighed. “Apparently there are some candy bandits so I have Mark to watch my back.”

Greg laughed. “Candy bandits?”

She sneered. “It is a serious thing. Especially this time of year. The store can lose a lot of money and kids can get full up and in pain. We don’t need anyone going to the hosbital because they raided our store.”

He held his hands in the air. “Or possibly become a blueberry because they stole the wrong piece of candy.”

She clenched her hand into a fist. “Not funny.”

“What? Scared you might turn big and blue again?”

“I am not going to. It was a one time thing.”

“But what if you have a blueberry allergy now? Or what if it’s a full moon berry thing?” He laughed. “You know last time it was on a full moon and tonight. . .”

She pushed him towards the door. “That is enough blueberry fear mongering for tonight. I have to get ready for work and you have to go to devlers dungons or what ever it’s called.”

He laughed. “Yes. Go get ready for berry security.”

She shoved him out the door. “Out!”

“But my. . .” She slammed the door in his face.

Mona took a deep breath. “It will be ok. Just get dressed. Go to work and get through the shift.” She walked into the next room where her new grey uniform lay on the bed. “You are not going to turn into a blueberry again. There is no reason for it. Everything will be fine. Fine.” She slid her t-shirt and pants off. “It isn’t like Greg has any idea on how that stuff works.” She slipped on her jacket. “It was a one time curse from that stupid store.” She slipped on her slacks. “How could I possibly inflate again?” She laughed. “That is right. I have nothing to fear.”

She grabbed her flashlight and nightstick, attacking them to her belt. “Ok I am ready.” She smiled. “Time to get this over with.” As she walked to the door her phone ran causing her to jump. “Ahhh!” She shivered and picked her phone up from the table. “Ugh get a hold of yourself Mona.” She took a deep breath. “Hello?”

“Mona? Where are you?”

“Mark? I am on my way down.”

“You should have been here an hour ago.”

“Mark.” She looked at her watch. “Our shift doesn’t start until five minutes from now.”

“What?” There was a pause. “Oh my god. How did I get that mixed up. Like shit.”

“Mark. Can you not yell into the phone?”

“I’m not yelling. You’re yelling.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What is wrong with you.” He hung up. “Ugh please don’t tell me I am going to have to babysit him as well as watch the store.” She sighed as she opend the door to her apparment. “That is the last thing I need tonight. A crazy partner to keep me company. I live with a crazy man I don’t need one at my job.”

She walked to the elevator and sighed. “I do wonder though. Could Greg be right? Could I have a blueberry allergy?” She rubbed her chin as she walked inside. “Nah. That sounds outlandish.” She crossed her arms as the elevator traveled downward. “Maybe I should have a blueberry tonight to prove it.” The doors opend and she walked out into the lobby. “Nah. I think I will wait for another day to prove that. Sometime when I am not at my job.”

She walked outside and looked up at the full moon. “Oh hey it is a full moon out tonight.” She waved at the moon in the sky. “Hello up there. How are you doing.” She laughed. “Do you really think you are going to turn me into a blueberry because my friend Greg does.” She giggled. “How silly.” She whistled as she walked down the street, the glowing sign of Jamerson’s Sweet Tooth at the end of the block. “I think if that moon was going to cause any wereberry issues I would feel the effects by now.” Mona shivered. “It is unsuualy warm out though. I thought it was supposed to be in the low forties. I am glad I have to wear this uniform. I am sweating.”

A few moments later Mona found herself at the candy store. She slipped the key out of her uniform pocket and unlocked the door. “Ok. Time to get this damn shift over with.” She creaked the door open. As she walked inside she was immideitly blinded by a beam of light.

“Stop right there you varmint.”

Mona cried out as she was hit on the side of her body. “Oww.” She reached out and grabbed the arm of her assailient. “Mark!”

“Huh?” He blinked his eyes as Mona forced his flashlight to shine on the ground. “Oh Mona. I thought you were some punk breaking into the store.”

“With a key?” She held it in front of his face.

“Umm. . . you never know with such crafy devils. They stalk the night. Searching for their surgr high of the night.” He scratched at his neck. “They are the true devils of Halloween. Not the monsors of terror movies, but candy crazed kids.” He shrieked. “Ahh! Save the taffy!”

She switched off his flashlight. “What is with you tonight?”

His eyes twitched. “I have been up for three nights straight prepping for tonight.” He laughed. “I won’t let these kids get by me. No sir ree.” He turned around. “Hey you. Stop!”

Mona sighed.  “Umm no one is there Mark.”

“Oh yes there is.” He wandred off. “Hey kid. Come back here.”

She rubbed her forehead. “It is going to be a long night.” She blinked her eyes as she looked at her hands. “Huh.” She narrowed her eyes and looked at her finger tips. “Is that a blue dot on my index finger? It cant’ be.” She squinted her eyes. “I think my eyes are playing tricks on me just like Marks are.”