Vertebrae (In Progress)

Chapter 1: The Simple Life of Willa Bean

  'That noise. What is it? It sounds familiar...'
 A buzzing blare sounded at regular intervals. I wondered why it was and why it was in my room... my room...
 I snapped awake and slammed my alarm clock. Hard. It immediately stopped buzzing and the time blinked out before I could see it.
  'How long had that thing been going off?'
 I groggily snatched up my cell and glared at the time. It was 7:24. My alarm had been going off for 24 minutes. I lept out of bed. I was severely late. This would definitely cost me. I dragged on a change off clothes, tossing my pajamas onto my bed and leaving the covers messy. I quickly bushed my teeth and splashed cold water on my face. It was frigid. And wet.
 I realized my flaw and changed into my work uniform. I ran a comb through my hair, pushed it half neatly into place under my headband, and tied my frilly apron on. Ever seen the Frog Princess? Yeah, that Disney movie. Well, in the beginning Tiana falls into bed and then the alarm goes off after a moment and then she has to go to work again. That's how I feel. I probably get more sleep than that, but I feel as though I've had the equivalent amount.
 I grabbed my stilettos, my purse, my keys, my cell, and a muffin as I ran out the door and jumped into my car. I stabbed the keys into the ignition and took off. I was really, really late. I'm almost never this late. My shift started at 7:20 and it was 7:30. I had to slow down to the speed limit but I still pushed it.
 I suppose that there wasn't too much rush. My boss, Joline or JoJo, wouldn't mind too much. I just liked to be punctual. I munched my muffin as I drove along the semi empty road to my work. I hurriedly parked the car in the "Employees Only" section of the lot. After I had secured my car's lock, I tugged on my shoes and ran for the door. Running in high-heels? Not fun. I can testify to this.
 I bumped into the glass door, confusing them with my bedroom door which opened by pushing and the Diner's door which opened by pulling. I tugged open the door and tripped over the trim. In my heels. Ouch. I scurried up and gathered my dropped belongings, hoping no one had noticed my awkward entrance.
 I jammed my stuff into my locker and clocked in. I was 15 minutes late. Dang. I turned around the corner to come face-to-face with none other than my boss, Ms. JoJo herself. I opened my mouth to begin my rapid-fire apology but she held up a finger and turned her head a bit.
  "Just make sure it does not happen again," she stated.
 I nodded and thanked her graciously.
  "Now get to work. Customers here don't serve themselves!" JoJo turned the corner and I set off to work.
 Technically, the place was called JoJo's Diner and Cafe, but no one felt like saying all that so we just stuck to JoJo's Diner. I checked the schedule. I was on waitress duty today. Wahoo. I pinned my name badge in place (a little lopsidedly if you ask me) and got to work. My first customer was a sweet old lady who ordered a simple breakfast biscuit. Yeah, I knew she was going to order that. All the old folks do here.
 My morning shift went on as usual. Only was complaint was made and that was from a middle-aged man who said that there was a beetle in his muffin or a fly in his soup. Whatever it was, there was a bug that he had hallucinated because when I inspected his meal as I took it back to the kitchen, there wasn't a trace of any form of bug or insect. He probably realized halfway through his meal that he wanted something else. It happens all the time here.
 I took my lunch break around 11:45 and met up with my best friend, Karis. Karis is one of the most amazing people in the world. Of course, I'm sure all of you would say that about your besties as well. I sat at our usual booth until I heard the tinkling of the bell above the door and the familiar click of Karis' heels. She glanced around as if looking for me then spotted me at our booth. I'm sure she knows where I am, she just gets paranoid sometimes and she likes to check for danger before situating herself.
  "Willa!" She smiled. "It's so nice to see you!"
  "Karis, you see me every day almost."
  "I know," she stuck her tongue out at me. "I just wanted to say something different for once."
 I rolled my eyes but smiled. She has always been herself, even in the face of strangers. She doesn't like routine, but as a secretary at Genghis Corp. she has to deal with it.
  "How was the morning shift?" She asked over her bowl of chicken noodle soup.
 I shrugged. "Just the usual, I suppose."
 We exchanged a few comments and remarks on our day before I confronted her on what had been troubling me lately.
  "Karis," I began. "Do you ever feel like your day is repeating itself? Like, over and over?"
  "Yes," she paused to gulp down a spoonful of broth. "And you know it bothers me. I'd like to change it up a bit."
 I thoughtfully took a bite of my hamburger, chewed on it, and then continued.
  "Well, I'm tired of waiting for something to change. You know how I've been slowly saving up to go back to college?" Karis nodded, so I continued. "Well, I've decided to take up another job. So that I can get my income up higher," I explained.
 Karis glanced up at me, concern displayed openly across her face.
  "Do you think that's a good idea? Ya know, with the stress of your one job already and all... Do you think you could handle it?"
  "I've been thinking about it for a while. My income just comes in too slowly."
  "I bet that most of your money runs goes into your care for Stinky! He's taking your money," Karis smiled triumphantly.
 Stinky is my giant centipede. I got him a few months ago. He takes a lot of my care but he's fairly docile. I love Stinky, but Karis strongly dislikes him. And all other bugs, for that matter. She watched me feed him for the first time a while back and ran out screaming. Oh yeah, he eats bugs, mice, rats, and occasionally a small bat. I do tend to spoil him. Which reminds me, I forgot to feed him this morning. Dang.
  "Stinky does not take that much care. He costs less than my apartment bill to care for," I replied. I love Stinky because with him around, I technically don't live alone. And he's really cute.
 I bet you're wondering, why name a centipede Stinky? Well, the lady I bought him from (hurrah Craigslist) was calling for her cat, Stinky, and I thought she was calling the centipede (and that she was off the the head a tad) so when I found out the truth I called him Stinky from then on. He actually doesn't smell bad at all. The only thing I need to worry about him is if I want to hold him. He needs to be fed first so that I'm not what he wants to eat.
  "Well, where would you work?" Karis questioned.
  "I was thinking that I'd sail the seven seas as a pirate. Or maybe I can be the mermaid on the front of the ship. Only I'd wear a shirt with that tail. I do have standards, you know," I replied with a mock air of thoughtfulness.
 Karis narrowed her eyes. "That's my dream. Gosh, I see how it is." She waved her hand in mock frustration.
  "Really? I thought you wanted to be a Pokemon master! Ya know, complete with a Pikachu and everything..."
  "I was eight! Everyone wanted to be a Pokemon master then!"
  "I dunno... What about that plushie Pikachu that you still have?"
  "That's because it's cute!"
  "Uh huh. I know you still want to be one."
  "Well, what if I do?"
  "Well, that's your problem."
  "Alrighty then. Now since I know what I want to be, you need to tell me seriously what you're going to be. Other than a waitress."
 I sighed. "Fine, you win. I was thinking of working for a bigger company. Maybe even Genghis."
  "You're not serious," Karis gasped. "Then we could be, like, work buddies and stuff!"
  "Yeah, it's not like you work across the street and live one door over from me or anything already..."
  "Well, you know what I mean."
  "Yeah, but what do you think of my plan?"
  "I think that you should go with what your heart says. And maybe pray about it. Whatever you feel is best."
  "Well, I'm glad to hear that because my interview is on Wednesday."
 Karis went fish-faced. "No way. You're totally pulling my leg."
 I shook my head. "It's been on my calendar for two weeks. I finally decided to tell you today."
  "And not too late, either. I can still recommend you, giving you a much higher probability of actually getting the job. They've also been looking for someone like you. Wow, it's practically your birthday!"
  "Actually, it will be tomorrow..."
  "Yeah, tomorrow. Note why I said 'practically.'"
 Our conversation continued until both our breaks had nearly ended and we returned to our jobs. I had to stay at the Diner until 11:30 to close for the night. As I swept up the last of the dirt and dumped it, JoJo appeared from around the corner to the kitchen and made a sweeping motion with her arm, dismissing me for the night. I nodded, clocked out, gathered my stuff from my locker, and returned to my small car. I checked my texts before leaving. I only had one from Karis that informed me that she'd be visiting me tonight. I started my car and left the lot.
 I reflected on my day on my drive home. My conversation with Karis had gone well as I had expected. Other than that, it was the average, typical day. An atmosphere of melancholy filled my car. I returned my apartment, leaving my keys on the hook and locking the door behind me. I opened a cabinet in my small kitchen and retrieved the container filled with Stinky's live food. Yum, bugs.
 Stinky was pacing impatiently in his aquarium as I approached. If he had eyelids, he would've glared at me. One disadvantage of being mostly made of solids. I fed him and watched as he snatched each of the squirming bugs up. After he had fed and looked a lot more content, I cautiously placed my hand in his path and he scrambled up my arm and onto my sleeve. Each of his legs stung my skin a bit but I did not mind. He rested peacefully and silently on my shoulder. I gently ran my forefinger down his sleek body, careful not to upset him.
 As I was getting up to fix me some late dinner, I heard a knock on my door. I was up anyway so I answered it. Karis stood outside my door, waiting eagerly to come in.
  "Karis! I wasn't expecting you here," I said with a roll of my eyes.
 Karis smiled and went to give me a hug but froze when she saw Stinky. He looked up at her and sort of grinned as if he knew his presence terrorized her. I invited her in.
  "Can I get you anything to eat? I was about to fix myself something," I offered.
  "Nah, I just ate. Thanks, though," Karis situated herself on my couch. I removed an alfredo chicken pasta packed from my small refrigerator/freezer and heated it in the microwave. Karis and I exchanged small talk while I waited. I seated myself in a chair at my small, round table and dug into my meal.
  "So I recommended you to my boss and he is all 'she sounds like just the sort of girl we are looking for for this position' and looks like everything's looking up and all. Which means you're practically hired!" Karis spouted out.
 I almost choked on my pasta. "Really? I thought that you were joking when you said you would recommend me!"
 Stinky began to move. He crawled down my back and onto my chair. I watched him from the corner of my in case he made a break for either the wall (I'd have trouble getting him down from the ceiling) or for Karis. He made it to the floor and made a bolt for Karis. She noticed and shrieked as I dove for the speedipede. I didn't startle him (he'd bite me) but I did put my hand in his path and after he'd waltzed onto it (his thoughts were probably set on terrorizing Karis) I lifted him back into his aquarium. He pouted a bit but climbed under his "log" for a nap or something.
  "Sorry about that, Karis," I apologized. "I guess he finds you too attractive."
 Karis chuckled nervously at my joke and resituated herself on my couch. I threw out my empty pasta package and washed my fork off before joining Karis on the couch. We talked and talked for a while before she left so that I could retire for the night. I was happy that I didn't have to work tomorrow and I had church, but I enjoyed church. It wasn't until 1 pm so I had some time to sleep. I wrote in my journal but beforewards I glanced at a few of the previous entries and realized that they were all almost the same. I wrote my daily entry (it almost mirrored the others other than the news Karis had given me) and fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of enormous centipedes and tap dancing stilettos.