Kevin Toronto is the current manager of the Auto Zone for the past 15 years, he is 34 years old and his birthday is 4/10/1985. Kevin is an only child, since his parents were too old to have another child. Kevin actually is not from Ashsea Port, Oregon unlike most people of the town. Instead he is from, Jackson, Mississippi. As a child growing up, his parents did not pay a lot of attention to Kevin. In fact, they didn’t show affection all that often. More often than not, his parents told him how much of a disappointment he is.
Kevin’s parents, are named Patricia and Frank. Kevin’s Mother, Patricia was a children's author that didn’t do so well, so she became a teacher. Kevin’s Father, Frank was a scientist of some sorts that Kevin always forgets what of. Kevin gates looking at himself in the mirror, even as a kid. This is, because when he does he sees what his parents see: A failure, Hideous greasy brown hair, dropout of college. Kevin always tried to please his parents, but whatever he did, he somehow amounted to nothing in their eyes.
Bit by bit, the words his parents would say to him each and every day would bring him down, making him think the same about himself. Kevin never had a nickname as a child, so he was always very envious of the other kids who have nicknames. Kevin is not all that tall, never has been. Kevin is 5’ 7, just below average. In fact as a kid, he was just below average as well.
When Kevin was in fifth grade, He ran home all the home from the bus stop, which was a mile away. The reason he ran, was because he was excited to show his parents how well he did on his math test. When Kevin Showed his mom his test, she looked at it with a neutral expression on her face, and her lips tight. Kevin was looking up at his mom eagerly with sparkles in his eyes, trying to contain his excitement.
“ Is this your test Kevin?” Kevin’s mom asked him.
“Mhm! Look ma I did a good job on it see?!” Kevin’s mom sighed.
“Kevin, what did your teacher say the average of the class was, do you remember?” His mom questioned him, because what Kevin didn’t realize was that his mom was not satisfied with his grade.
“Um. Uh 80-89 I think.” Kevin’s mom then shook her head.
“ Oh Kevin, this isn’t any good then sweetie, because this is a 79. You gotta try harder next time ok?” Kevin’s mom had said to him in a patronizing manner.
“I-I-I tried my best, though mom. I’m sorry.”
“This isn’t good enough Kevin. God, You are such a disappointment!”
Later, that day Kevin went to the kitchen to help his mom with dinner.
“Do you need any help mom?”
“ No Kevin. Just stay out of the way.” His mom snapped at him.
“Oh! I know, mom I can help you with the pasta!”
“No Kevin. I said No!” But Kevin grabbed the hot boiling pot of water, and spilled it all over himself. His mother just stood there, looking down at him hands on her hips and lips and said, “Wow. I can’t believe what a big disappointment you are.” To make matters worse, Kevin’s mom did not take him to the hospital. She just left him sobbing uncontrollably on the kitchen floor.
When Kevin reached middle school and then highschool, he didn’t have many friends for long. They would take one look at him and snicker, saying what a freak, loser. Since, Kevin got most of his clothes from goodwill, so he never really had a style. Sometimes he would be too matchy-matchy. Like, for instance he found a really cool yellow shirt that said, Mellow vibes. So naturally, he wore the shirt with his bright yellow sweatpants. Even today, Kevin’s style is all over the place. One day he is wearing a hoodie and sweatpants, the next he is wearing black leather pants and a black leather jacket. When people meet Kevin, they would never think that he has depression. Probably, because he has learned to manage it over the years. When he became manager of the Auto Zone, he immediately implemented tell a story friday with a cute circle rug and bean bag chairs. Kevin thinks that it definitely helps, because he loves little kids. Kevin went to college to get away from home, he went to the University of Oregon. He only went there, because he managed to get a full ride. There, he met Karen. Once Kevin met Karen, they pretty much immediately started dating. Kevin went to the University of Oregon as a undergrad, hoping to graduate with a degree in business. Karen And Kevin were together for a year when they secretly got married, because they felt like soul mates. When Kevin introduced Karen to his parents, they immediately hated her, because they hate the name Karen. Kevin knew they were not going to like her, so he married her anyway. In fact, when he introduced her to his parents they had just eloped. Four months later, Kevin drops out of college. This is, because Karen is pregnant with twins. The two of them go back to her hometown, which is Ashsea Port. There he applies to a bunch of jobs, but only got a call back from one, which is at The Auto Zone. The Auto Zone was only going to be a temporary job, but it ended up being permanent. Kevin not long after he started working there, was promoted to manager. This was great for Kevin, because Karen also dropped out of college, so he was the sole provider to his family.
For generations, children have loved hanging out and sneaking into the Auto Zone. This is, because when Kevin tells stories he gives treats to the kids. Everyone’s favorite story, is the story of Kevin as a first year manager. Kevin tells the story to the kids as a warning, that fire can be bad. Kevin generally tells it on spooky days, like Halloween or Friday the 13th. As Kevin begins his story, he mentions how one of the kids in his story, Jeff had wandered off. Jeff was the oldest, of that group of kids that day so Kevin was unconcerned. Minutes later and Jeff was sloshing all the sides of the Auto Zone with gasoline, that he stole from the auto shop and light it on fire. This made Kevin very alarmed and uncertain, as to what the protocol for this is. Everyone loves fire, but Kevin has always been slightly afraid of it. Maybe it's because he got third degree burns from fire when he was a child. Kevin not long after he started working there, was promoted to manager.
A year ago, when driving home from the Auto Zone, Kevin decided to stop at the ice cream parlor when coming home to surprise Karen and the kids with cold treat. The bell on the door jingled. Luke, the Owners son was the only one in the store and at the counter at that time. Kevin normally would have thought that is odd, but he was so tired he didn’t question it, or the fact that the lights were off.
“Welcome to the ice cream parlor, how can I help you today?”
“ Yes, Hi I would like the big tub of caramel vanilla cream.”
“Sorry all out.”
“Oh. Alright, you know what that’s fine.” So Kevin walked out of the store, and went back to his car headed home again. A block from his home, Kevin encountered a small group of children in the middle of street with a lot of stray cats. What Kevin thought was odd, was that they were all wearing the same robes. Kevin then went of his car, and said,
“ Hey kids, can you play somewhere else?” The kids response was a tilt of the head, and a super creepy smile. Kevin had noticed that the cats were in a circle, and they were all black cats.
Kevin’s blood then went cold. He heard of this groups, he just never thought he personally would see one. In fact, he thought none of them existed in this town. Kevin ran to his car as fast as he could, but the children stopped him. The children spoke in freaky unison saying,
“ What’s the rush? Stay a while, or we will make you join the Cat Cult.” Kevin screamed. But Kevin has no recollection of that, in fact he doesn't even remember how he got home that night. All he remembers next, is making breakfast for Karen and the kids, and she said,
“ I’m leaving, and I’m taking the kids.”
“ Wait, What? Breakfast isn’t ready yet though.” Karen ignored what Kevin said, and instead instructed the kids to meet her outside.
“ What where-” And Karen left Kevin, without a care in the world, leaving Ash Sea Port for good.
The hard part is that after Karen left, which was a year ago. Kevin started to be more depressed, so he adopted six stray cats. The cats have started to really help Kevin give his life meaning, because after Karen left and took the kids, life just kept on going slowly and it felt bland to Kevin. It’s still fairly raw for Kevin, since he was married to Karen for five years. Kevin often wonders if was a mistake, for not telling anyone that he was married but Karen left and took the kids a year ago. Kevin recently got rid of a lot of old clothes to, good will. The reason he did this, is because after Karen left he was able to really find his true style, and it turns out he really likes plaid. Kevin thinks that, finding his own style would probably be the one good thing about Karen leaving. When Karen was around, the house always smelled like fresh baked cookies. It sounded like laughter, and children playing. Now, the house smells like week old dirty clothes. Kevin generally, does not have the energy to make any food, since Karen left so everything just tastes like leftover pizza. The Hardest thing is, that when Kevin calls Karen to ask if he can see the kids, Karen out right refuses to let him see them. Kevin copes by working at the Auto Zone, telling the kids stories on Friday’s and taking care of his six cats.
~Katie Atkinson