1.2 – A New Friend?

My first night in Willow Creek was less than ideal.  It was particularly cold and more frustratingly, rainy.  In fact, the rain absolutely decimated my fridge and oven.  So not only was I cold and wet, but I now had no source of food at home until I either repaired the fridge myself or had the money to call a repair service which would probably take months…Just as soon as I thought things were looking up, it all crashed down again.

I had no choice but to go to the gym to shower.  I smelled like a wet dog when I woke up, and I doubted that the library would let me in to check my work email in this state.  Luckily, the rain let up during my walk, and the gym wasn’t that far away.  I can’t say that I was too pleased at the looks I was getting from the other people on the street.  All under their neat black umbrellas as dry as they woke up in the morning.  It made me mad.  I shuffled into the gym as quickly as I could, not making eye contact with anyone.  I hopped into the shower, scrubbing off the filth of the night.  Afterward, I did allow myself some TV time.  I wondered if I’d ever be able to afford a TV.

I walked to the library as the sun rose behind me.  Willow Creek was a beautiful town, even when it was a rainy day.  The pinks and blues that illuminated the sky put a skip in my walk.  As did the thought of seeing Phillip again.  I wondered if he’d remember me.  I didn’t have long to wonder before I saw him entering the library, presumably for his shift.  I smiled broadly and half-jogged into the building.

“Hello again,” I said after I caught my breath.  Hm, maybe I do need to use the gym for more than showering and watching TV, I thought to myself.

“Amelia!” he greeted with a huge grin.  “Back so soon?”

“Ah, yeah.  My computer back home isn’t working at the moment you know, with the rain and all, so I needed to borrow one here.  And I thought a change of scenery might be good for my productivity,” I felt bad for lying, but how could I tell him about the pathetic piece of land I call my house.

We talked for a few more hours, myself careful to avoid conversation about where I lived.  It’d have to wait, for now.  Despite wishing I could stay for longer, my stomach was growling, and I was in desperate need for food.  Remembering that my fridge and oven were currently out of commission, I went to the next best thing I could think of…the nightclub.  Being a Monday night, it wasn’t too busy, and I could tell the bartender was surprised to see someone here.  I asked for some complimentary chips, and she seemed pleasant enough to hand me a bowl.  Less work than making a drink, I suppose.

It wasn’t long before someone new walked into the club  She had fluffy black hair and a beautiful red dress on.  Simply put, she was gorgeous.  I was surprised when she sat right beside me, ordered a drink, and began talking to me.

“So what brings you here on a Monday night?” she asked, sipping her drink.

I’m still not sure why I did it, but I actually told her the truth.

“I’m basically a homeless homeowner, and I don’t want to have to go to my house until I absolutely have to.” As soon as the words slipped from my lips, I regretted them.  I looked down in shame, expecting the woman to walk away from my pathetic self.

“Ah, well, can’t say I haven’t been there,” she laughed.  “Jobless, homeless, and in a nightclub praying that when I go home, everything will magically be better.”

“Well, I do have a job,” I replied, laughing dryly.  “Just haven’t started yet.  And it’s just as a lousy tech support worker.”

“Well you’re already at a better place than I was at your age.  I was probably shacked up with some drug dealer who didn’t know right from left.  Unemployed, of course.  But you know what I do now?  I’m the manager of an accounting firm downtown.  And you know how I started there? As a lousy mail carrier and paper pusher.”

I looked up at her, shocked.  “You’re kidding! How’d you do it?”

“Work hard.  Always.  Push yourself to be a better person even when it sucks.  Just cause you’re in tech support now doesn’t mean you’ll always be.  But the only person who can change that is you.  Have faith in yourself, but always keep in mind it’s working hard that gets you to where you need to be.”

I smiled.  It’s as if the universe knew I needed an extra push.  I silently thanked the Watcher above and smiled at the woman.

We talked for a little while longer, lightheartedly.  I learned her name was Misty and that she was originally from a town called Brindleton Bay.  She dissuaded me from ordering a drink, saying I needed to be in my peak performance for my first day tomorrow. She convinced me to go home, and it wasn’t until I walked out of the bar that I realized how tired I was. My eyes were heavy as I walked home.  I wanted to collapse right into bed, but instead I fixed the fridge all on my own.  Despite my lack of handiness and my incredible sleepiness, I learned I had a knack for repairing these kinds of things.  It put a new drive in me to learn something new about myself two decades into my life.  I tossed and turned in bed, excited for my life ahead and my first day on the job tomorrow.