When I was in high school I got a job as a cashier at Rally's Hamburgers. It was my first real job. I was 16.

Some of the older guys that worked there were weird. Johnny was just an asshole. He made fun of me for being a virgin. When he asked me in front of everyone if I'd ever slept with anyone I told him that I didn't think it was any of his business and then everyone knew. I still don't think it was any of his business. "You'll be going down on it," Johnny said one time, "And be licking and slurping and gettin' that juice all over your face. Then you stick your dick in it and that pussy'll start farting: thbb, thbbbb, thbbbbbb..." He took it upon himself to "prepare" me. I had a close friend who worked at a coffee stand near Rally's and occasionally she'd come to see me. When she'd leave Johnny would descend on me like a hawk and ask if I was gonna nail her later that night. I usually just turned red and shrugged him off.

Lucio would pat my ass and ask, "Cuantos? Cuantos, Thomas?" Sometimes he'd sneak up behind me and pick me up in a reverse bear hug. The first few times he did it I tried to laugh it off but eventually I fought him. The minute he touched me I'd kick his shins with the heel of my shoes and punch him until he let me go. Despite that I kind of liked Lucio. He could be cool sometimes.

The store manager was a workaholic named Alfredo Lemus. He taught me what it meant to be punctual, efficient, and totally enslaved. I thank him every time I set foot on San Diego State University.

Angel was a very nice, mild-mannered immigrant who sent money back to his family in Mexico. He had a good, gentle sense of humor and I always liked talking with him. It was usually me, him, and Lucio closing the store, and most nights we got along pretty well.

But looking back on it I still say Fuck Rally's, and everyone who worked there.