Reality of Daydreams

The "Wish Bracelet"

The phone rang. I was the closest to it this time. Shooting a glance at my coworker, who now had a smug look I realized I would have to answer it this time. Rolling my eyes, I picked up the phone. 

I didn't hate talking to customers or taking orders or even speaking on the phone. I've simply become lazy. Keeping my tone cheerful while rattling off the daily specials I was welcomed by an equally friendly voice. It wasn't even that hard for me to be cheerful. Strangely I wasn't faking the curious happiness of speaking to another human. Few times I have gotten difficult phone calls, but every time, after amazing advice from coworkers, I shrug it off and eventually forget. 

"Will that be cash or card?" I asked almost automatically, as the dialogue was mostly scripted and memorized. I made a face at my coworker who was now stuck sweeping the floor. The least desirable job. Finishing up the order with a 'have a nice day' I hunged up and leaned against the wall behind the order counter. It wasn't too bad. Working a couple hours a couple times a week. Not a serious job, still paid well enough. But deep down I knew I needed to either work more hours or find some sort of internship that could look impressive on a resume or something. I sighed. I tend to do that a lot, sighing but never really attacking the problem head-on. I began to fiddle with some arbitrary work that didn't require much thought. Because the restaurant was mostly dead when it came to orders I had plenty of time to chat with my coworkers. 

So why tell you so much about my part-time job? This turned out to be the first time I had really ever questioned something so strangely present in my life. A thin worn double layered string around my right wrist. 

As I was grabbing a couple boxes from the backroom with Kelly, she asked a question that didn't seem so important. "What's that?" it was nonchalant, but with my spaciness, I snapped back as though she had pointed out something dangerous "What's what?" She hoisted a box up into her arms. "That blue thing on your wrist? I've never seen you not wearing it." She was still distracted and would soon forget the question or even speaking to me. I paused, staring at it while holding the large box in my arms. Why was it there? I knew where I had gotten it. I even knew when. But why? We moved the boxes into the office. Setting her share down she asked again. I tilted my head. "A lady gave it to me when I was abroad. It's actually a ribbon, but when she put it on me she tied it on too tight so I had to stretch it out." I offered my wrist for her to see more clearly. She looked concerned in a patronizing way. "Bro, why don't you just cut it off?" The thought was almost unimaginable. Why didn't I think of that? Even now with the idea introduced, I could feel it grow less prominent in my mind. Why would I ever do that? or, What did the ribbon ever do to deserve that? "I can't do that." "You want me to do it for you?" "No, I just.. can't?" Kelly looked at me like I was crazy, but mind you that was her normal look. "Why not?" It clicked "It's a wish bracelet." Right, a wish bracelet. The idea was familiar, however deep down I knew it really wasn't. She looked at me confused so I explained: "When it falls off you make a wish." She furrowed her brow. "Why didn't you just start with that then?" "I forgot." I laughed.  and the topic of discussion vanished as soon as it had appeared. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Authors Note:

This will most likely be a hit and miss sort of story as I may run with it or just drop it like a hot potato. So readers discretion is advised... lol

This story will mostly be based on my random daily daydreams. The mighty what-ifs and have-nots. Although this first chapter is almost straight from reality the underlying idea was from my imagination. (Daydreamed in the moment or thought of afterwards you be the judge)

I only really have one question to ask anyone who ends up reading this.

"Is the MC a boy or a girl?"

I can't decide and it honestly doesn't matter to the story that much :p