The Friday Night Shift

My life officially became a disaster movie at exactly 7:43 PM on a Friday.

"You're up, Carlos," Mr. Henderson said, tossing me the grimiest **hat** I'd ever seen. It smelled like teen spirit and 2019. "Mascot duty."

I stared at the polyester monster. The party store's giant dancing **bear** costume. For my third date with Jasmine. The girl I'd been low-key obsessed with since September.

"No cap, you want me to wear THAT?" I asked.

"Only shift available, fam. Your choice."

My brain was practically vibrating. Jasmine was supposed to meet me here after her volleyball game. I'd already flexed about working this "cool party store job." Now I was going to be a sweaty bear.

The costume was worse than I imagined. Fuzzy, hot, and with zero peripheral vision. I stumbled around the clearance aisle like I'd never used my legs before. Kids were screaming. A toddler literally cried.

Then the bell chimed. That specific bell.

"Carlos?"

I froze. My heart dropped into my fuzzy bear stomach.

"I, uh, got you something," Jasmine said. Through the tiny mesh eyeholes, I could see her holding a plastic bag with a **goldfish** swimming inside. A carnival prize. "From the fair. Thought you might like it."

She bought me a fish. For our third date.

I ripped off the bear head. Sweat plastered my hair to my forehead. I probably looked like a disaster.

"That's... actually really sweet," I said, voice cracking.

Jasmine laughed. Not mean laughing. Real laughing. "You're wearing a bear costume."

"Long story. So much secondhand embarrassment right now."

"You're ridiculous," she said, but she was still smiling. "Wanna get food after your shift? I can come back."

"Bet."

As she walked away, I looked at the goldfish bag, then at the bear head on the floor. Sometimes the most cringe moments become the ones that actually matter. I put the head back on. A customer was waiting.

"Yo, can I get a balloon?" some kid asked.

"Coming through," the bear said. "Working on it."