A N G E L (Roger Daltrey)

Twenty Six

Janice's POV

I tossed the letter into the mailbox and went back inside. Nancy was laying in her bed reading the newspaper.

"Check this out. Job listings." She pulled the page out and handed it to me.

I scanned the paper carefully.

"Lots of these jobs require previous experience, I don't have any previous experience." I sighed.

"Flip it over, I saw a cool one on the back that I think you might be interested in." A sneaky smile spread across her face, making her look more like herself than I had seen in several weeks.

I turned the page over in my hands. There, at the top, was the listing.

Help Wanted

Cafeteria cook wanted for Fieldview Elementary School.

Responsibilities may include preparation of food, serving of food to the children, and maintenance of the kitchen. High school diploma or equivalent desired but not required. Must be able to lift heavy boxes, large cans of food, etc. Open interviews Thursday and Friday at 2pm.

Below that was the address, but I already knew where it was. Fieldview is where I went to elementary school.

"A lunch lady!" I exclaimed excitedly. "I could be a lunch lady, that could be really fun actually."

"Yeah, you love cooking and baking! And, you like little kids. And that's where we went when we were little. It's perfect!" Nancy seemed pleased with herself.

"Only thing is I can't lift heavy things by myself." I worried.

"Meh, I'm sure they'll like you enough that they won't care. Besides, it's not like you'll be the only one working. Surely somebody can take two seconds to help you." She said.

"That's true. Ah, nuts." I snapped my fingers.

"What else?" Nancy inquired.

"Fieldview is too far away from here to walk and I don't even wanna ask to take your car. I have to find something in walking distance." I handed the paper back to her and sat down on my bed.

"There's this groovy new thing thing called the bus, airhead." Her tone was cold at first, but I relaxed after she started laughing. Her dry humor always made me second guess myself, even more so now.

"You got bus money?" I returned.

"I mean, I've definitely got enough quarters to last you two weeks. Then you should get your first paycheck and it won't be a problem." She carefully tore the want ad out and folded it into a sloppy paper airplane before chucking it over the short gap between our beds.

I watched as it careened into the air, shuddered, and then took a nose dive into my shoe.

"Alright." I stated with purpose once I had picked it up. "Just call me Ol' Lunch Lady Jan."

***

Thursday afternoon came fast. I pulled on some jeans and a sweater, and then tied my hair back in a ponytail. Nancy instructed me to take a quarter from her coin jar for the bus, wished me good luck, and sent me on my way.

The sky swirled gray and I pulled my coat tighter around me. It was getting bitterly cold outside. I wouldn't be surprised if there was snow falling as early as next week.

After a bumpy bus ride, I found myself standing in front of my old elementary school. I walked into the front office where the same old desk lady from my childhood sat, looking older than ever.