# FML

Author: Sneeze
Tags: Comedy, Fennec, Retail, Rubbers, Sad, This is a story about safe sex, african wild dog, awkward, condoms, sheaths, sleeves

#1 of Kevin and the Night Shift

It's always awkward running into someone you used to know.
This was written in 2012, after I read some posts online and got bored on the bus. I'm really fond of this one. I actually de-fur-ized it and submitted it to the undergrad fiction magazine at the university of I was attending; it was accepted! Meaning I have been legitimately published in a very technical sense of the term.
Comments appreciated.
Copyrighted to me, please don't steal; except the thumbnail, I have no idea where I found that  the icon is q-dk's on FA:  I'm bad with internetz so here's a link! http://www.furaffinity.net/user/q-dk/ Go give a lookie!

_FML_

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kevin placed a few more candy bars on the rack, trying to arrange them neatly.&nbsp; Then he leaned back, tossed his head behind him, rolled his shoulders and sighed.&nbsp; Part of it was sincere fatigue, the other was sincere boredom.&nbsp; Not a lot of people came during the night shift, and with the new Flor-Mart just a few blocks over, even less people were coming nowadays.&nbsp; It didn't matter, he got paid regardless.&nbsp; And it paid well enough to cover part of his tuition and let him live off campus, as long as he kept a roommate.&nbsp; Covering his expenses was more important than sleep.&nbsp; He pulled a few more bars from the box and stacked them.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kevin rubbed his eyes as he heard the door chime and the click of shopping baskets from the front of the store with his fennec's ears.&nbsp; He swiveled them toward the customer as they walked toward the back, but he didn't bother to look before they disappeared in the aisles.&nbsp; He'd see them soon enough, he was the only cashier working right now.&nbsp; He stacked a few more candies before going to his register.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kevin leaned forward and rested his thin arms on the checkout space, doing his best to appear at least conscious for the customer.&nbsp; He didn't have to wait long, his large ears heard the patron coming back up the aisles to the front.&nbsp; Still, he didn't turn toward them, just followed their footsteps.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All of a sudden, they stopped.&nbsp; Finally looking toward them, Kevin was surprised.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A rounded and very curvy African wild dog in a light jacket stood there, looking with shock and discomfort on her face.&nbsp; The tip of her tail twitched nervously.&nbsp; Her large, expressive brown eyes looked at Kevin, then quickly scanned the other, obviously empty register stations.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Seemed the unpleasant surprise was mutual, but Kevin reached out first.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hi Sarah."&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey . . . Kevin . . . .&nbsp; "

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn't move.&nbsp; One hand fumbled with her jacket zipper, the fingers of the other flexed around the basket she was holding.&nbsp; Her tail continued to twitch.&nbsp; Her feet shuffled a bit, as if she was about to walk away.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Is there anyone else here tonight?"&nbsp; she asked.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kevin was taken aback by the question.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Just me," the fennec said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You don't have, like, a . . . uh . . . self-service checkout?"&nbsp; she scratched behind one brown ear.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kevin patted the surface before him.&nbsp; "What you see is what you get."&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sarah grimaced, before finally moving up to the register.&nbsp; She looked at Kevin awkwardly, her round ears low on her head.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "How have you been?"&nbsp; Kevin asked, trying to dispel the awkwardness between the two of them.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Good, good," she replied, looking away, "no complaints."&nbsp; Kevin nodded.&nbsp; "Forgot you worked here," she said, chuckling awkwardly.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "If only it were so easy," Kevin said with a smile.&nbsp; They both grew quiet.&nbsp; Sarah rubbed her forearm anxiously.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You wanna buy whatever you've got, or are you just gonna wait till dawn?"&nbsp; Kevin asked with a small smile, trying to work in a little humor without being rude and hoping to move things along.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Frowning, Sarah pulled the first item from the basket.&nbsp; Kevin pulled his mouth to one side of his muzzle, his ears going flat on his head and sticking out to either side.&nbsp; Five pack of condoms, ultra thin.&nbsp; Sarah placed it gently on the conveyor belt, but the sound of the cardboard touching the surface reverberated through Kevin's large sensitive ears.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sarah pulled out the other items slowly.&nbsp; Lube, cherry scented.&nbsp; Whipped cream.&nbsp; Chocolate sauce.&nbsp; Hershey's Kisses.&nbsp; Scented candles, cinnamon.&nbsp; Placing her last item on the surface, Sarah reached to the racks behind her and pulled a Twix from the candy section. &nbsp;Her skin glowed red beneath her multi-colored fur.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kevin surveyed Sarah's things, mouth still twisted to one side and his ears flat on his skull.&nbsp; Why, oh why couldn't she have waited till dawn?&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Aren't you forgetting the strawberries?"&nbsp; Kevin said, looking back up at Sarah, feeling the chill in his own voice.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She flushed further, her ears going red.&nbsp; "He has an allergy," she said in a small voice.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It didn't make Kevin feel any better.&nbsp; Picking up her items one by one (condoms first), he started scanning.&nbsp; With the 'sleeves' still in his hand, he asked "Paper or plastic?"&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Latex.&nbsp; PLASTIC!&nbsp; Plastic, I meant plastic."&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kevin winced only for a moment before he pulled a plastic bag out and began packing her things in it.&nbsp; Sarah's entire face turned a bright red, her eyes wide as quarters.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Your total is thirty-two sixty-nine," Kevin read automatically, then frowned.&nbsp; The list of items danced with insidious joy on the screen.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sarah paid with cash, still blushing as she handed the money and received her change.&nbsp; She mumbled a 'thanks,' then turned to go.&nbsp; Reflexively, Kevin said "Thank you for shopping, have a great night."&nbsp; He froze, clamping his eyes shut in embarrassment.&nbsp; Sarah stopped, a shudder shaking her body and her tail giving one last twitch across her large hips, before walking out the building.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kevin pulled his phone from his pocket and clapped it on the counter.&nbsp; He scrolled for the one picture he hadn't managed to delete.&nbsp; He looked at the smiling faces, the happy eyes, the entwined hands.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It didn't make him feel any better either.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After a minute or two, he snapped the phone back to the main menu and checked the time.&nbsp; Two hours and some change left in his shift.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Great.&nbsp;

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/B1QEBkE1
Part of the series Kevin and the Night Shift
Next: https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1039956-proper-planning.md