Jake pulled into the Canadian Tire in Mount Pearl. He hated working here. Thank God he was finished here. The manager kept everyone working just enough to be full time but not enough to get all the benefits. Cheap bastard. I always seemed to get all the garbage shifts as well. The lot was always full and they sold a lot of hardware. The rich got richer I guess, he thought.

He parked and patted the car on the dash. It survived the trip. He turned it off and it shook and sputtered to a stop. He got out, making sure to take the packsack with him, and walked across the parking lot to the front door. He walked to the back of the store and went into the back room. He walked up to his locker, unlocked it, and stuffed the few things into his packsack. He left in the shirts with the logo on it. He would not need them again.

Smack, his face hit the open locker. He turned around quickly and saw the manager, Brett, there. He was a big guy, who liked to intimidate people like this. It was not the first time he had pushed Jake.

“You cost me money Jackoff.” Said Brett. “When you quit I had to give people extra shifts. You owe me.”

Jake stared at him coldly and said “No you owe me and I expect vacation pay as well.”

Brett laughed and said, “You are a tool, if you expect that. Maybe I will just beat it out of you.”

With that he punched Jake in the stomach. Jake never moved an inch. Brett looked at him with a look of disbelief on his face and swung again. Jake grabbed his fist in midair and twisted it, forcing Brett to his knees. He then grabbed his nose and pinched it hard. Blood began to flow out of Brett’s nose and tears poured from his eyes.

“That was a mistake.” Said Jake. “Maybe I should break your arm and nose. What do you think Brett?”

“I am calling the cops for assault.” Said Brett.

“Do not worry.” said Hal, “I have the feed from the security cameras, do as you wish.”

“No I am calling the cops.” Said Jake. “A lot of other people in this store will back me up as well. Your best bet is coming with me to the office and getting Laurie to cut me a nice check now.”

With that Jake let go of him. Brett slowly stood up then rushed at Jake. Jake grabbed him by the nose again, and forced him to his knees. He squeezed harder, and tears came out of Brett’s nose.

“I guess I will break it then.” Said Jake.

“Please no!” begged Brett. “I will go to the office.”

“No more funny stuff ok?” asked Jake.

“I promise.” Said Brett.

Jake let him go again and moved back a little. Brett got up slowly and grabbed at his nose. Jake took a Canadian Tire red shirt out of his locker and tossed it to Brett.

“Wipe you face with this.” Said Jake “It is the same color as blood.”

Brett pushed it against his nose to try and stop the bleeding. He then turned and stumbled out of the room. Jake followed him. He walked up the hall, and opened a door marked Office and walked in with Jake close behind.

Laurie looked up from her desk as the door opened. She was an attractive brunette, with a very nice figure. She gasped as she saw Brett.

“What happened?” asked Laurie.

“Hi Laurie, he tripped and fell in the locker room.” Said Jake. He looked at Laurie with a smile. In his opinion she was a beautiful woman, and he always had a crush on here.

Laurie looked at Jake and blushed. He looked different and for some reason she felt attracted to him. She was not unhappy with Brett’s injuries either. He was a pervert who made crude comments and was always checking her out, and tried to look down her shirt all the time.

“So why are you both here?” asked Laurie.

“Cud him a Cheque.” Mumbled Brett, still trying to breath through his busted nose. “He is no longer working with us and wants his vacation pay.”

“What, I do not understand?” said Laurie.

“He said, to cut me a cheque for vacation pay.” Said Jake. “I am not working here anymore.”

Laurie was surprised, as the accountant she had never been asked to give anyone vacation pay before. She turned to her computer and pulled up the accounting program. She typed in Jake’s name and pulled up his details. Click, click, click then save as she went through the details. Since getting her business diploma at The College of the North Atlantic, she had worked here. She had won The Governor General’s Medal when she graduated as the top student in all the province. She had wanted to continue in university or even do a certification, but was stuck here and could not afford anything.

“Ok,” she said as she looked up at Jake and smiled. “the funds have been sent to your bank account.” Jake smiled back at her, and she found herself blushing again. She had such bad luck with guys, every one turned out to be a jerk and a loser. Maybe Jake was different and for some reason she felt very attracted to him. She took out a business card and quickly wrote her cell number on the back.

“Take this.” She said to Jake blushing again. “Can me anytime if you need anything? My personal number is on the back.”

As she handed it to him their hands touched and it seemed like a shock went through both of them.

“Thanks.” Said Jake smiling, surprised by the shock. “I will see you later.”

“Ok.” Said Laurie.

Jake made a fake lunge at Brett, who fell backward over a chair.

“See you around Brett.” He said. “You should get that nose checked out.”

With a wave he was out the door leaving a shocked Laurie and angry Brett behind. He made his way through the store and back to his car. He unlocked the door and got in, replaying the events in his head, it was very bewildering.

“I did not expect this.” Said Hal.

“Expect what?” thought Jake.

“Your reaction with the female is similar to my creators on their planet.” Said Hal “This is what happens as the males gather their females. In the past males fought over females, sometimes to the death.”

“Why would I experience this?” asked Jake.

“I used my creator’s DNA when I made changes to you.” Said Hal. “It seems some of their social behaviours have moved as well. I will have to research this further. I think it best if you go back to your apartment until we resolve this.”

“I will if the car starts.” Thought Jake. “I do not have any food either. I will stop at a bank machine to get some cash and order some pizzas when I get home.”

The car sputtered to life and Jake pulled out of the parking lot.