You covered night shifts in your dad’s nightstore when he had plans or wanted to rest. Since a few nights, this boy had been coming in regularly for whatever. He had some friends waiting outside, but they looked way older and bad news. You could tell by the way he acted and dressed that he was with them. Tonight he came into the store again, his friends weren’t waiting outside for him this time. He came up to the register with a drink and looked you up and down

“You look pretty young to be working in a nightstore ‘round these streets.” He said in a neutral tone, just pointing out the obvious.