Eventually, Keys says, he "realized that's a loser way to live," so he went into Cambridge to look for a job.

Keys has been working at HMV for five days, and he says he doesn't want to leave when the Christmas rush is over, though he has lined up a part-time job at the Harvard Faculty Club.

"I love the discounts," says Keys, a self-proclaimed music enthusiast. "And I was sick of having to serve somebody a croissant or a cup of coffee and have them give me attitude."

Keys' passion certainly seems to lie in music instead of bakery items. He is outspoken about the subject, offering opinions on everything from a Violent Femmes song piped into the store ("they suck") to a Fiona Apple poster ("she's pretty hot").

But Keys is paying more attention to his job performance. As long as he gets good reviews, there's a good chance he'll be asked to stay on.

"If we get a good worker, we'll be flexible about when they work," said Mike Clifford, an HMV buyer.

Christopher Gibbs, a supervisor, said that some Christmas workers try to stay on full-time after the holiday and that the decision on whether to keep each one is made on a case-by-case basis.

If they'll have him, Keys would like to stay put past the frantic December rush.