Married to a Bully

Things Are Changing

It was an unusually cool day in Texas, but Anna was already sweating inside the massive meat packing plant. She didn't care for the face mask, but it helped mask the harsh odor that made her stomach turn when she arrived. 

Her new supervisor gave her a lengthy tour, showing her the ins and outs of pork production. It was a disturbing sight, but she listened attentively, straining her ears to hear over the loud machinery. 

The elite Pork Company had expected Anna to start her new job Tuesday with this brief orientation which was supposed to be Monday. But she missed those two days because of her drug-addict mother, Lisa, who had taken her '02 Saturn on a four-day joy ride. 

Lisa returned early Wednesday morning with her newest mooching boyfriend holding her thin body upright. Anna didn't care for Larry whenever her mother's back was turned; he eyed her with hunger. Despite her contempt for both meth heads, Anna had let them in without a fuss. Her mother was drunk, high, and barely able to stand, let alone argue with her only daughter over a vehicle. 

Anna was only 19, but she was no longer shocked by her mother's bad behavior. She was far too used to Lisa being gone for days at a time. That neglect had started early on when Anna was in middle school. Back then, it had been easier to push responsibilities onto her irresponsible mother. Now as an adult, it meant she no longer could eat free meals at school or stay at a friend's house when her mother refused to pay the bills.

Anna had worked since she was fourteen, starting with under-the-table work and babysitting gigs. By sixteen, she began working full-time, struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Even with two consistent jobs, she still needed something more to keep up with her mother's recklessness. She had used her savings to bail her out of jail just last month, which added struggle to her already challenging effort. 

 Anna was so optimistic about this new job. It would have her making more than the others combined. She considered herself lucky that her supervisor understood her delay, but when Lisa disappeared for another three days the following week, they had no choice but to fire her. Anna was bitter at the missed opportunity and thankful she had yet to quit her other low-paying jobs.

A&J furniture store sat on the corner beside a convenience store, behind a Mcdonald's. The small crowded furniture store rarely had many customers, but the employees kept the place clean and tidy just in case they did.

Anna cleaned, emailed receipts, and charged cards. When customers paid in cash, she always took a few dollars to compensate for the low salary since the shabby furniture store did not pay much. Anna had started working there in high school and loved the job, her coworkers, and the location, which was right down the street from her apartment, giving her no excuses for being late. Her other job at the tax center was not far away either, and she hoped to start full-time as a CPA next year but needed extra money for the classes.

After Anna finished vacuum-cleaning the rugs, she flipped the switch bringing the loud machine to a halt. She then wiped down the furniture until it gleamed thoroughly and returned to her small desk.

Sorting through papers, Anna flinched at her coworker Marsha's loud voice.

"What?" Marsha gasped, standing to her feet, "Mr. Carl is dead!"

Anna glanced at her as she flipped her braids, holding the phone closer to her ear. 

"So, he's dead, dead? Damn!" Marsha groaned, looking toward her. 

Anna tried not to roll her eyes at the dramatic woman, hoping everything was okay and not another fake excuse for Marsha to leave early.  She ignored her conversation to concentrate on her typing, even though she was still talking loudly on the phone, interrupting her focus.