they come into the store in pairs, mostly. well, what did you expect? it is the fourteenth of february. and that means that yesterday was the thirteenth of february. the day that i was fired for a second day in a row from the same job. what do you mean you don't understand? i was fired on tuesday. then, i was un-fired when i pointed out that they had no reason to fire me. then i was fired again on wednesday, because, well... they don't need a reason to fire me. it's what we call "right to work" and texas has practiced this system of laws since 1947. everything i've read on it seems to say that it's meant to protect the employee, but it seems that more often than not it's used in the employer's favor. but that doesn't matter right now.

it was the thirteenth of february; her birthday. granted, i completely forgot about it. i'd like to say it was because i was busy being fired again, but i would have forgotten anyway. it was part of the deal i made with myself. forget everything about her and get on with your life. i was doing a pretty good job of it, too. well, i mean, exept for that nine-part tell-all last month. so maybe it was partially because of that. maybe it was just that it's hard to forget someone's birthday when it's the day before a "holiday". or maybe it was because of the absence of someone to think about tonight.

tonight... as they come in in pairs. it's about 45 minutes until the pocket sandwich does it's last show for the evening. it's pretty typical to get a little rush before the show starts. people want to waste a little time. tonight however, i seem to notice them in pairs... more so than usual at least.

next door they're selling little wicker baskets in the shape of a heart. inside each one is a bottle of wine and two glasses nestled in deep red tissue paper. next to it is another basket. this one is rectangular and contains the same red tissue, but in this one are four little two-serving red bottles of wine and four glasses. there are no baskets with a bottle of crown royal and one glass. i walk out with just a coke.