Keeping Us Apart

Bondi St Blues (1)

A sigh works through my lips as I, for what feels like the billion and half time this week, peruse HELP WANTED ads in the newspaper. The small size of my town made it tough to find work, let alone good and most of all good paying, jobs. My previous job at H&M had been very suddenly terminated when the higher ups decided that the location I was employed at no longer needed about half of its current staff. Several good friends of mine had been cut as well, and it deeply affected us as poor college students. It sucked major balls and resulted in me having to find a job ASAP. Like yesterday. Probably even a week ago.  Of course this sudden lack in cash meant I had to move back in with my mom like a kiddo again. Oh joy.

And so I am laying sprawled out on my queen sized bed, newspaper opened to the ads and a highlighter poised between two fingers. It quickly becomes evident that I am never going to find anything in here and I quickly toss the crinkly paper away in disgust. God. How tough does this really have to be? Have I wronged the universe? The cosmos? The Higher Powers That Be? I face plant into my bed with a groan. Hopeless. That's when I heard my cellphone ring, the familiar sound of Joel's band making me lift my head and bring the phone close, answering the call as I lift the device to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Hudson?"

"Duh, who else would it be?" I joked. Joel can be such a dork sometimes.

"I have a question for you," he says without answering my own.

"Yes?" I flip over onto my back and stare up at the glow in the dark star studded ceiling above me while I waited for my brother's reply.

"What would you think about moving here to Brisbane with me?" For a moment I don't say anything in response. This clearly isn't the first time Joel's shocked me beyond all speech capability.

"Hudson? Is that a no?"

"No, no, I just.." I can barely string together a coherent sentence.

"So yes?"

"What about the cost?" Finally, a sentence! And of course it's a downer one. But seriously, a move by myself is not doable. I can't even pay for my own Netflix anymore! But of course Joel has a solution. Like always.

"Don't worry about that, sis. You know I always take care of you. I've got a spare room at my apartment."

"Where have you been while I've been living with my mom?" I joke.

"Sorry, been really busy with the new album, it comes out in just a few months. I promise, from here on out I've got you Hudson. I'll take care of the paperwork too, I'll just need you to fax me some stuff later." I almost can't believe that he wants me to move to Australia with him, but I decide not to question it. At least not right now. "Oh, and did I mention you've got a job when you get here?"

"You're really the best big brother, you know that? Can I ask what the job is?" I ask with a smile in my voice.

"I know. My buddy Ahren has got a clothing line, he needs you to help him out at the shop. Hey, gotta jet, but I'll be in touch very soon. Try to have everything ready to go by the end of the month. And by that I mean pack your shit!" He says with a laugh.

"Fine! Okay, bye!"

Wow. Go me. A job, a move to a beautiful new country, living with my big brother, and a luxury high rise apartment all in one day? I'm on a roll. I set my phone down again beside me and take a couple deep breaths then pinch my thigh hard, just to make sure this isn't all a dream. Thankfully when I open my eyes I find this to be real, and a smile spreads over my face as I think of the adventures to come.