Father's Song

7 • M Y - N A M E - I S - P R I N C E • 7

Katelin Jones
9/16/2023 (Saturday)

I've been staring at it for twenty minutes.

I need to get up and move.

I've been standing infront of Henry's side of the closet since I decided to continue where I left off.

But I've been staring at my unfinished work instead.

Just put some more shoes in a box.

No.

Yes.

I can't do it.

Yes you can.

But I can't let go yet.

I'm suddenly startled by the sound of my phone ringing. I walk out of the closet as fast as I can and pick up the cell, reading the name at the top of the screen. Lucy.

"Hey." I say, going through the cabinet in my bathroom to grab a Prozac. I take two.

"Hey, Kate. Could you give me a ride to work later today? We can stop somewhere and get breakfast – it's on me." She says.

I sigh with relief after swallowing the two pills. "Yeah, sure. I'll be there in about a half hour. I just need to shower and get ready."

"Sounds good. See ya then."

I hang up the phone and splash my face with cold water, trying to calm myself down. After staring at myself in the mirror for a long time, I get myself undressed and into the hot shower.

---

"So, you're showing the new guy around today, huh?"

"I am?- Hi, yes, can I get two hash browns, an iced caramel coffee, and... what did you want, Lucy?"

"A hot black coffee. No sugar, I only like the ones they have at the office. But their coffee tastes funny."

I finish giving the person on the speaker my order and pull up to the next window.

I grab Lucy's card she hands me. "Thanks. And, what do you mean?"

"You know." She puts her debit back into her wallet once I hand it back. "You're getting new guy started on his first day today."

I chuckle. "I am?"

"I heard Big Boss Lady talking about it," she says.

Once we get food and drinks, I start driving to work. "You're incredibly nosy."

"I know." She bites off a piece of her hash brown. "I should work on that. But this is exciting! You get to talk to the guy more. I have to know all the deets."

"I'm kind of nervous now." I turn the radio on to fill in any awkward silence.

"Why?" She asks.

"I've never been... I don't know, "in charge" of somebody before."

She laughs. "I'm sure Big Boss Lady will tell you exactly what you have to do with him. Besides, he's probably more nervous than you are because it's his first day working with us. We're all complete strangers to him, so try to make him feel welcome and let him know that he already has a friend to rely on. Don't forget to mention me, too!" "

I pull into a parking space and turn the key to the ignition to turn off the car.

We clock in five minutes early, and make our way to our offices after Lucy gets sugar for her coffee. The weather outside is starting to get cold, and I wonder why I decided to get a cold coffee instead of a hot one.