A smoochy couple leans on the counter, oblivious to Julian, waiting for them to relinquish their skates. Wendy sprays the insides of skates. Finally, the couple loose their grip on each other long enough to leave the skates and saunter off, enraptured by each other. Julian sighs. Wendy eyes them.

Wendy: (re: the couple) Jesus spare me.

Julian: Only four more hours.

They work.

Julian: (cont’d) I thought you were off tonight.

Wendy: I was. Mick and I were supposed to go for dinner. I took Nina’s shift so she could catch an earlier train.

Julian: He bailed?

Wendy: Yeah. He’s going home to his folks. Bastard. We had a whole Christmas in the city planned. Then his folks freaked out about him not being home. And by then the flights were so expensive. So plans…kah-plooey.

Julian: That