An elderly man, a brief delusion, and Clementine’s 17th adventure at The Happy Store.

That day at The Happy Store was strange in more ways than one. Or, rather… it was strange in just one way, but enough so to fulfill a quota of “strange” for the entire year... although the morning had started out ordinarily enough.

Since Mondays were always slow – regardless of weather, holiday sales, or special promotions (50% off on all Christmas wreaths), only Betty Davis, the lead sales associate, and Clementine Fraile, our diminutive retail heroine, were minding the store.

As usual, Clementine grabbed a broom and dust pan and did what she called “My Cinderella thing,” while Betty performed the mysterious administrative duties required at the start of the day.

After having worked in The Happy Store for almost a month, Clementine had seen her boss in several guises: Real-life double (but prettier and older) for the Betty of Archie Comic Book fame; no-nonsense and instructive Supervisor Betty – “If a customer ever talks to you like that again, just walk away;” and comic-relief Betty – “This vase is absolutely ghastly. Let’s sell it to the next person who walks in.”

That Monday, Clementine would see her in yet another incarnation.