The Kid's Whistling

Roy works in a department store where he has worked alone most nights. During the summertime the store hires on high school kids. This year it was Jack. One problem that Roy had with Jack is that Jack whistled all the time which annoyed Roy. Maureen, Roy’s significant other shows up out of the blue. It is late and she has gotten wet from walking the six blocks in the rain. Her presence unsettles Roy more than Jack’s whistling. Maureen knows Roy is working late during the Christmas season but feels the need to check up on Roy. Roy is painting a sign with the word ‘Toyland’ on it. Roy painstakingly brushes the letters adding glitter while they are wet. He brush strokes the final letter and realizes that it is wrong. He notes: “It was nothing Simmons [his boss] or anybody would notice—who looked at signs, anyway? –but Roy knew it had been ruined, and now knew why. The kid had stopped whistling.”