Surprise

In the wet spring of 1998, a town south of the border in Washington state had one convenience store and a suspicious lack of chocolate Kinder Surprise Eggs. The convenience store had two people in it: a young red-headed woman in a faded leather jacket named Elsie and a blonde clerk with a penchant for plaid and red lipstick named Lena. The two friends met in high school and stayed in contact for the following years. Lena was the type of person Elsie’s parents warned her about, but Elsie liked that about her. There was never a dull moment with Lena around.

Elsie walked down the disorganized aisles and scanned the empty shelves lined with dust where her favourite sweets used to be. “They were here yesterday. What happened?”

Lena blew a long string of smoke from behind the counter. “FDA came down with new restrictions - Kinder surprise eggs are now illegal. ‘Choking hazard’ or some bullshit. I have two crates in the back and no way to sell them.”

“Seriously?” Elsie swiped some dust off the shelf and shook her head. “I loved those things.”

Lena nodded. “You and everyone else. I’ve gotten a dozen requests for them today. According to the other workers, it’s a $300 fee if you get caught with one.”

“That’s more than I make in a month.” Elsie could never imagine spending that much on chocolate. “I’d prefer jail time.”

“Why sell chocolate when you could sell drugs or weapons and get more money?” Lena said with a raised brow. “Go big or go home.”

Elsie laughed. “You would be a horrible drug dealer.”

“Maybe.” Lena absentmindedly wiped down the counter and didn’t meet Elsie’s gaze.