The Fairy Lights Under Phoenix City

Chapter 6

It was another gloomy day in Phoenix City. It had always been a dark and dreary place, but now it felt even more dramatic with Sylvanna gone. The gray clouds seem to hang over Aphmau as she went looking for a newspaper stand.

Aaron was taking care of her moving arrangements, so now all that was left was to find a new job. Jobs in the city were scarce and precious. So it would take time. But Aphmau was determined to start over again.

It seemed as though everyone was out on the streets that day. After all, it was a Sunday. People needed to finish their weekend shopping trips before going back to work. A stream of people, probably still working over the weekend, flooded the stairs down into the subway. Aphmau walked past them, scanning for newspapers.

She found them quickly. Quicker than she expected to, at least. In the suburbs there were almost no newspapers. Everyone got their news from the internet or saw it on TV, so they saw no need to collect papers to clutter their perfect houses. The only time Aphmau ever saw papers in the suburbs was when people were making collages or paper maiche. But in the city people seemed more open minded. Or maybe they just liked papers more. Good, Aphmau was looking for a job.

Immediately she ruled out half of the offerings on the page. She didn't have the skills to do welding, plumbing, or electric work. She also couldn't do anything with heavy lifting or botany. So right away her options were narrowed to a dangerously thin two options. What would she hate less, working at a religious organization or a sex shop?

Aphmau sighed, putting the paper back. Back to the drawing board.

She scoured the internet and asked all around town. Every bakery and store at the mall turned her down. It seemed as though no one was hiring. Aphmau sighed in frustration and pulled her bangs aside. She didn't have time for this! She had to take Celeste on a walk and go change the flowers on her mother's grave!

Then, of course, she should have guessed that fate would have brought her there.

Laminca Incorporated.

It among the tallest buildings in the city. A shining spectacle of reflective glass and shining steel. It seemed almost as though the building was trying to compensate or brag. A show of dominance over all other companies in the city. Aphmau sighed.

She couldn't.

After all the favors he had already pulled for her. She couldn't ask for another.

Yet she still found herself drifting forward. She pushed open the glass doors with force.

All eyes in the lobby immediately went to her. Which made sense. She looked very out of place.

The lobby of the Laminca company was mainly black and white with shades of grey in between. The art, what little there was, was cold and corporate. Everyone in the room had dark hair with black suits and dress shoes. Every lady had her hair pulled back or chopped short and wore little to no jewelry. Aphmau wore a purple cat-eared hoodie with black ripped jeans and black ballet flats. Her backpack was white, but had many bright and colorful keychains, which jangled loudly when she moved. She blushed self consciously.

Nonetheless she strode forward to the stern-looking lady at the desk, who scowled at her approach.

"Can I help you?" She said sharply.

"I would like to see Aaron." Aphmau told her.

Everyone stopped again and glared at her. The lady sneered. "Mr. Laminca is busy."

"I'm sure he'll make time for me." Aphmau said.

"Who do you think you are?" The lady spat.

"My name is Aphmau Jimenez." She said loudly. "I'm a friend of Aaron's."