I
needed a job, and it didn't matter where. Going home everyday was
like walking into a never-ending nagfest thanks to my portion of the
rent being overdue. Of course, I couldn't blame my roommate for being
mad. We had gone through this time and time again. I'd get a job,
screw something up, and be back out looking for another one within a
few weeks. More often than not, I'd barely have scrounged up enough
money for my portion of the rent.
“ I
don't understand why you can't just stick with one thing,”
Mandy complained. She'd been my roommate for the past two years, but
I was beginning to fear that arrangement was coming to a close. I
could see the weariness on her pale face, the same look I'd seen on
my previous roommate's face before she gave me the boot in lieu of a
more stable friend. It hurt to think the same thing might happen
again, but I really didn't know what to do about it. “If jobs
were supposed to be fun, they wouldn't call it a job. They'd call it
happy eight hours of the day,” Mandy continued.
“ I
know,” I sighed, resting my head between my arms on the table,
so I wouldn't have to look at the disappointment on her face anymore.
“ I
don't know how much longer my Dad is going to help flip for your part
of the rent. He's getting really agitated with this whole thing.”
“ I
just need a little more time.”
“ Where
all did you go today?”
Now
the interrogations began. I knew what she was getting at. Mandy
thought I really wasn't looking for a job, that while she went to
school and work, I moped around the house or went out with friends.
She'd caught me lying before. It was an isolated incident where I had
gotten fed up with the search and decided to go have a beer with our
friend Eric instead. Eric had paid, so I couldn't see what the big
deal was. Besides, I had needed a break. Job hunting is exhausting.
I
groaned, feeling my anxiety levels rising. To keep the peace, I
needed to keep my cool. If Mandy kicked me out, I'd be screwed. I
wasn't on good terms with my parents, and none of our other friends
were dumb enough to room with me. None of them, except for Eric.
It
was a thought, but I definitely didn't want to go there. Eric had a
crush on me from the moment we met in college. He pursued me
relentlessly for about a year, but he eventually gave up when he
realized it wasn't going to happen. Occasionally, Eric would drop a
hint or two, but I'd quickly dash his dreams by turning it into a
joke. Living in close quarters with him wasn't a comfortable thought.
“ I
went to a few restaurants and gas stations,” I finally
responded.
“ How
many is a few?”
My
jaw clenched involuntarily. “Two restaurants and a gas station.
Would you like to know the addresses and the times I went as well?
Perhaps you'd like the phone numbers so you can call and find out if
I was actually there?”
“ Jen,
stop.” She rolled her eyes, quickly blowing off my bad
attitude. “When you go to one gas station, it's not gas
stations plural. Three places aren't enough. I hate to tell you this,
but you have until the end of the month to get a job, and if you
don't stick with the next one, I don't think we can do this anymore.”
My
heart sank. Damn.
I knew this was coming. What am I going to do now?
“ Listen,”
Mandy's voice softened as she watched depression flood my face. “I
don't want to lose you as a roommate. You're a really cool girl; you
just need . . . Maybe you're not applying for the right kind of jobs.
Maybe you should try something out of the public eye.”
“ I'm
not qualified for anything better than restaurants, gas stations, or
retail,” I grumbled, now wishing I had stayed in college. It
was too late to go back though. My parents had cut off my funding
long ago, and I couldn't afford to send myself. Besides, so many
years had passed that I'd feel old compared to everyone else there.
It made me cringe to think thirty was just around the corner. Where
had the time gone? Wasn't life
needed a job, and it didn't matter where. Going home everyday was
like walking into a never-ending nagfest thanks to my portion of the
rent being overdue. Of course, I couldn't blame my roommate for being
mad. We had gone through this time and time again. I'd get a job,
screw something up, and be back out looking for another one within a
few weeks. More often than not, I'd barely have scrounged up enough
money for my portion of the rent.
“ I
don't understand why you can't just stick with one thing,”
Mandy complained. She'd been my roommate for the past two years, but
I was beginning to fear that arrangement was coming to a close. I
could see the weariness on her pale face, the same look I'd seen on
my previous roommate's face before she gave me the boot in lieu of a
more stable friend. It hurt to think the same thing might happen
again, but I really didn't know what to do about it. “If jobs
were supposed to be fun, they wouldn't call it a job. They'd call it
happy eight hours of the day,” Mandy continued.
“ I
know,” I sighed, resting my head between my arms on the table,
so I wouldn't have to look at the disappointment on her face anymore.
“ I
don't know how much longer my Dad is going to help flip for your part
of the rent. He's getting really agitated with this whole thing.”
“ I
just need a little more time.”
“ Where
all did you go today?”
Now
the interrogations began. I knew what she was getting at. Mandy
thought I really wasn't looking for a job, that while she went to
school and work, I moped around the house or went out with friends.
She'd caught me lying before. It was an isolated incident where I had
gotten fed up with the search and decided to go have a beer with our
friend Eric instead. Eric had paid, so I couldn't see what the big
deal was. Besides, I had needed a break. Job hunting is exhausting.
I
groaned, feeling my anxiety levels rising. To keep the peace, I
needed to keep my cool. If Mandy kicked me out, I'd be screwed. I
wasn't on good terms with my parents, and none of our other friends
were dumb enough to room with me. None of them, except for Eric.
It
was a thought, but I definitely didn't want to go there. Eric had a
crush on me from the moment we met in college. He pursued me
relentlessly for about a year, but he eventually gave up when he
realized it wasn't going to happen. Occasionally, Eric would drop a
hint or two, but I'd quickly dash his dreams by turning it into a
joke. Living in close quarters with him wasn't a comfortable thought.
“ I
went to a few restaurants and gas stations,” I finally
responded.
“ How
many is a few?”
My
jaw clenched involuntarily. “Two restaurants and a gas station.
Would you like to know the addresses and the times I went as well?
Perhaps you'd like the phone numbers so you can call and find out if
I was actually there?”
“ Jen,
stop.” She rolled her eyes, quickly blowing off my bad
attitude. “When you go to one gas station, it's not gas
stations plural. Three places aren't enough. I hate to tell you this,
but you have until the end of the month to get a job, and if you
don't stick with the next one, I don't think we can do this anymore.”
My
heart sank. Damn.
I knew this was coming. What am I going to do now?
“ Listen,”
Mandy's voice softened as she watched depression flood my face. “I
don't want to lose you as a roommate. You're a really cool girl; you
just need . . . Maybe you're not applying for the right kind of jobs.
Maybe you should try something out of the public eye.”
“ I'm
not qualified for anything better than restaurants, gas stations, or
retail,” I grumbled, now wishing I had stayed in college. It
was too late to go back though. My parents had cut off my funding
long ago, and I couldn't afford to send myself. Besides, so many
years had passed that I'd feel old compared to everyone else there.
It made me cringe to think thirty was just around the corner. Where
had the time gone? Wasn't life
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