{"sf1_id":1037472,"sf2_id":"5nzrKExn","title":"FML With Coda","author":"Sneeze","words":1108,"posted_at":"2016-06-28T20:23:00.000Z","tags":["Comedy","Fennec","Retail","Rubbers","Sad","This is a story about safe sex","african wild dog","awkward","condoms","sheaths","sleeves"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1037472-fml-with-coda","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/5nzrKExn","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/cc/be/ccbe74e1-384a-4e90-8bcf-7ee5abe17c43","description":"#1 of scraps\n\nIt's always awkward running into someone you used to know.\nThis 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.\nThis version has a coda on the end of it that I feel really helps the comedy aspect of the story, but ultimately hurts the punch of it. I can never decide which I prefer, but since I feel the need to be high-art pretentious, I put the coda in scraps.\nComments appreciated.\nCopyrighted 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!","content":"_FML_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Kevin placed a few more candy bars on the rack, trying to arrange them neatly.\u0026nbsp; Then he leaned back, tossed his head behind him, rolled his shoulders and sighed.\u0026nbsp; Part of it was sincere fatigue, the other was sincere boredom.\u0026nbsp; 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.\u0026nbsp; It didn't matter, he got paid regardless.\u0026nbsp; And it paid well enough to cover part of his tuition and let him live off campus, as long as he kept a roommate.\u0026nbsp; Covering his expenses was more important than sleep.\u0026nbsp; He pulled a few more bars from the box and stacked them.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; 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.\u0026nbsp; 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.\u0026nbsp; He'd see them soon enough, he was the only cashier working right now.\u0026nbsp; He stacked a few more candies before going to his register.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Kevin leaned forward and rested his thin arms on the checkout space, doing his best to appear at least conscious for the customer.\u0026nbsp; He didn't have to wait long, his large ears heard the patron coming back up the aisles to the front.\u0026nbsp; Still, he didn't turn toward them, just followed their footsteps.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; All of a sudden, they stopped.\u0026nbsp; Finally looking toward them, Kevin was surprised.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A rounded and very curvy African wild dog in a light jacket stood there, looking with shock and discomfort on her face.\u0026nbsp; The tip of her tail twitched nervously.\u0026nbsp; Her large, expressive brown eyes looked at Kevin, then quickly scanned the other, obviously empty register stations.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Seemed the unpleasant surprise was mutual, but Kevin reached out first.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Hi Sarah.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Hey . . . Kevin . . . .\u0026nbsp; \"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She didn't move.\u0026nbsp; One hand fumbled with her jacket zipper, the fingers of the other flexed around the basket she was holding.\u0026nbsp; Her tail continued to twitch.\u0026nbsp; Her feet shuffled a bit, as if she was about to walk away.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Is there anyone else here tonight?\"\u0026nbsp; she asked.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Kevin was taken aback by the question.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Just me,\" the fennec said.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You don't have, like, a . . . uh . . . self-service checkout?\"\u0026nbsp; she scratched behind one brown ear.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Kevin patted the surface before him.\u0026nbsp; \"What you see is what you get.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Sarah grimaced, before finally moving up to the register.\u0026nbsp; She looked at Kevin awkwardly, her round ears low on her head.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"How have you been?\"\u0026nbsp; Kevin asked, trying to dispel the awkwardness between the two of them.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Good, good,\" she replied, looking away, \"no complaints.\"\u0026nbsp; Kevin nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"Forgot you worked here,\" she said, chuckling awkwardly.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"If only it were so easy,\" Kevin said with a smile.\u0026nbsp; They both grew quiet.\u0026nbsp; Sarah rubbed her forearm anxiously.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You wanna buy whatever you've got, or are you just gonna wait till dawn?\"\u0026nbsp; Kevin asked with a small smile, trying to work in a little humor without being rude and hoping to move things along.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Frowning, Sarah pulled the first item from the basket.\u0026nbsp; Kevin pulled his mouth to one side of his muzzle, his ears going flat on his head and sticking out to either side.\u0026nbsp; Five pack of condoms, ultra thin.\u0026nbsp; Sarah placed it gently on the conveyor belt, but the sound of the cardboard touching the surface reverberated through Kevin's large sensitive ears.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Sarah pulled out the other items slowly.\u0026nbsp; Lube, cherry scented.\u0026nbsp; Whipped cream.\u0026nbsp; Chocolate sauce.\u0026nbsp; Hershey's Kisses.\u0026nbsp; Scented candles, cinnamon.\u0026nbsp; Placing her last item on the surface, Sarah reached to the racks behind her and pulled a Twix from the candy section.\u0026nbsp; Her skin glowed red beneath her multi-colored fur.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Kevin surveyed Sarah's things, mouth still twisted to one side and his ears flat on his skull.\u0026nbsp; Why, oh why couldn't she have waited till dawn?\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Aren't you forgetting the strawberries?\"\u0026nbsp; Kevin said, looking back up at Sarah, feeling the chill in his own voice.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She flushed further, her ears going red.\u0026nbsp; \"He has an allergy,\" she said in a small voice.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It didn't make Kevin feel any better.\u0026nbsp; Picking up her items one by one (condoms first), he started scanning.\u0026nbsp; With the 'sleeves' still in his hand, he asked \"Paper or plastic?\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Latex.\u0026nbsp; PLASTIC!\u0026nbsp; Plastic, I meant plastic.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Kevin winced only for a moment before he pulled a plastic bag out and began packing her things in it.\u0026nbsp; Sarah's entire face turned a bright red, her eyes wide as quarters.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Your total is thirty-two sixty-nine,\" Kevin read automatically, then frowned.\u0026nbsp; The list of items danced with insidious joy on the screen.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Sarah paid with cash, still blushing as she handed the money and received her change.\u0026nbsp; She mumbled a 'thanks,' then turned to go.\u0026nbsp; Reflexively, Kevin said \"Thank you for shopping, have a great night.\"\u0026nbsp; He froze, clamping his eyes shut in embarrassment.\u0026nbsp; Sarah stopped, a shudder shaking her body and her tail giving one last twitch across her large hips, before walking out the building.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Kevin pulled his phone from his pocket and clapped it on the counter.\u0026nbsp; He scrolled for the one picture he hadn't managed to delete.\u0026nbsp; He looked at the smiling faces, the happy eyes, the entwined hands.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It didn't make him feel any better either.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After a minute or two, he snapped the phone back to the main menu and checked the time.\u0026nbsp; Two hours and some change left in his shift.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Great.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Kevin twisted the key in the lock and walked into his apartment a few minutes before three.\u0026nbsp; Classes would suck tomorrow (technically today), but he only had two.\u0026nbsp; Plenty of time for a nap before another night shift.\u0026nbsp; Whatever; get money.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Kevin threw his jacket on the couch, and saw a purse on the floor next to one arm.\u0026nbsp; His roommate had brought his date home.\u0026nbsp; Okay, whatever.\u0026nbsp; Kevin trained his hearing toward the bedroom, and barely heard familiar light snoring.\u0026nbsp;_At least they're asleep,_ he thought.\u0026nbsp; No need going through _that_ tonight, of _all_ nights.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Kevin stripped to his boxers in his room, then went to the bathroom and began to brush his teeth.\u0026nbsp; His roommate's door opened softly, carefully; footsteps tiptoed toward the bathroom.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Kevin?!\"\u0026nbsp; a familiar voice said, making Kevin stop his brushing.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Really?\u0026nbsp; _Really?\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_\n\n  \n  \n\n"}