Shattered

Hazel (e)

Hazel
6.
I had a job. A job that I knew absolutely nothing about. Actually, that wasn't true. I did know about the business world, but the sinking feeling returned as I realized that this was exactly where I needed to start. I knew that the one right step in that direction would lead me exactly where I should have been a year ago. The familiar tug of anxiety curled its fist into my mind, the same fist that stopped me from reaching for the one dream I'd always longed for. But could a job with a crazed boss and anger-issues to match really get me anywhere?

Justin was always the tech-savvy one. My brother was the one who could easily take apart a computer piece-by-piece, and in a blink of an eye, it would be back together again. He knew the ins and outs of computer and electrical basics. I was suddenly thankful for his talent, and for all the years he helped re-wire lightbulbs, and his ability to fix cars without so much as a second thought. Who knew this was where I'd end up.

Three rings went through before I could get hold of the familiar voice of my younger brother. Fall semester was just beginning for his second year at Missouri State, so I was almost certain I wasn't going to get ahold of him.

"Justin," I said, surprise in my voice. "I need your help."

"What is it?" Voices in the background caught my attention, and the sound of shuffling could be heard on the other end.

"Hold on," Justin added. "Its kinda loud in here, I can't hear you."

The line goes quiet along with the background, but someone in the distance called my brother's name. A couple words were exchanged that I couldn't make out, and then,

"Hazel?"

"I need help," I said. "I may or may not have done something really, really stupid and now I need to learn how to use a computer. Can you teach me?"

Justin remained silent. I could practically see the gears turning in his head as he took in my words. When he didn't say anything, frustration flooded through me.

"Listen," I sighed, pushing a hand through my messy strands. "I accidentally spilled coffee all over a customer today and he's making me repay by working for him. And I think I need to learn how to do office work."

"Wait, what?" Justin quickly replied with. "Are you actually being serious?"

"Yes." I hissed.

Laughter rang on the other end, and I pulled the phone from my ear. You've got to be kidding me.

"Justin!" More laughter. I groaned.

It looked as if I'd be on my own—whatever I would be doing, how hard could it be? If I was good with a needle and thread, organizing patterns could be no different than organizing files. Right?

I hung up on my brother mid-sentence, only the phone rang a second later.

"It's fine," I answered. "I'll figure this out—"

"You're not joking." There was amusement in Justin's voice, but the laughter was gone.

"You've got three seconds to tell me something useful." I said, pulling my phone from my ear. My finger hovered over the end-call button.

"Three."

"What kind of job is this?"

"I don't know—I told you, office work, maybe? Two."