Oreo

Customers come into River Food Market asking for Oreo. The staff introduce her as the manager.

She arrived from a local animal shelter about six years ago. Her age was unknown when the store adopted her. One practical reason was the mouse problem. William Amendaño, who helps care for Oreo, never saw her catch one. By the time he started working there, the pests were already gone. His explanation is simple: they knew better than to come into her store.

Most days, Oreo follows German while he stocks drinks and cleans the store. William and German both feed her, and German handles what the staff call "Oreo duty." She knows how to stay close without looking busy. She watches from the floor, a shelf, or a box, then sleeps wherever she decides the shift can continue without her.

The store bought her a bed. Oreo still chooses cardboard boxes. She likes a spot where she can lie down and watch employees and customers at the same time. Once she takes one, everyone treats it as hers.

William describes her as calm, independent, observant, a little sneaky, and unintentionally funny. She ignores toys when she feels like it and appears from behind displays to see what everyone is doing. Customers notice when she is missing. Some come in and ask for her by name.

Oreo has spent six years turning her daily routine into a job title. German stocks the drinks. William helps feed her. Oreo watches them work from the spot she claimed.