Free The Other Side of Perfect by Victoria Peters

ONE
     
    Jennifer Edwards placed the carton of eggs into the paper sack as the voice over loud speaker announced “Clean up in aisle three! Jennifer, bring the mop...”
     
    Jennifer sighed as she concluded the sale on her register. 
     
                  “Rough day?” the customer asked.
                  “It’s fine, just part of the norm around this place” she said.
     
    The customer picked up the sack and walked out the door. Jennifer went to the cleaning closet and grabbed the mop and bucket.
     
                  “Jennifer, the floors are waiting!” the voice uttered sarcastically.
                  “What am I, super woman?” she huffed under her breath.
     
    As she turned the corner to aisle three, the manager, Rick Richmond, stood ‘cockily’ over three broken bottles of pickled herring.
     
                  ‘ Yuck !’ she groaned as her stomach churned.  The odor and site of the tiny fish               was overwhelming. ‘ Shit! My life sucks !’ she thought to herself. 
     
                  “Took you long enough!” Rick scolded.
                  “I was finishing with your customer, Rick!” she snapped.
                  “Watch your tone, young lady, and just do your job!” he demanded.
                  “I always do” she replied. ‘ And yours, and Martha’s and pretty much the whole               store’s’ she mumbled under her breath. 
     
    Jennifer had not had the best start in life by most standards; she was a single mother of one, deserted by an invisible dad, and little to no financial stability to speak of.  Despite her lack of education, she was a bright girl with a beautiful aura about her.  Visually, she was stunning.  Even when she was up to her elbows in spilled herring, her beauty was evident to those around her. 
     
    The long dark hair and super, bright brown eyes were elegantly framed upon her sweet Latin-American face. The face of an angel, a model, and... hell, she looked like a movie star, but she was as far from the glamorous life as anybody could possibly be.
     
    With her asymmetrically shaped face, including high cheek bones, dainty chin, the tiny dimple on her right cheek, fashionably perfect lips and the perfectly framed brow line, it was rare when she wasn’t noticed by the male customers or staff members. Despite her appeal, Rick never found it hard to insult her. 
     
    She’d have quit eons ago, but she needed the money for her and her daughter. It wasn’t just her anymore, and she'd be damned if she would do anything to make her daughter's life anything less than perfect. 
     
    Jennifer began to clean up the mess.  But as she bent down, her delicate bottom caught the attention of a couple of guys nearby.  They paused and gawked like ravenous wolves, desperate for a ‘meeting’ with the she-wolf. 
     
                  “Would you look at that ‘ bootilicious’ babe!” one of the guys said.
                  “Ooh, Damn Hot! I could definitely go for a piece of that! Mmm!” his friend               replied.
     
    She heard them initially, but tried to ignore their calls.  But, their persistent howls and comments irked her on this particular day.  She stood firmly and turned to face the drooling dogs. Without a word, she flashed them a look of utter disgust. 
     
                  “Wow, sugar! Don’t be glaring like that baby, you’re stunning. We Homo Sapiens               can’t help ourselves. You’re simply fine and mmm, mmm good, girl!” said one of               the guys.
                  “Even with the tiny fish stinking up the joint.” said the other.
                  “Look guys” she said.  “I’m busy here.”
                  “Oh sugar, we don’t mean no