NOT GIVING UP ON FOREVER

Chapter 30

"Where are you??" the stepfather roared.

"Coming!" Anna moaned, with shortness of breath from running.

"You're as slow as a turtle! Get ova here! Why do I always have to call you? Ah, here you are, finally. Tell me, why does your room look like a barn? What did you do? Hm? We know how to read books, but we never learned how to wave a broom, ya witch!"

"I'll clean it up," Anna muttered, lowering her head.

"Sure, you will! Otherwise, I'll throw you out in the streets. You like living there, huh? Like a dirty street cat, huh?"

"No."

"Huh? Can't hear you!"

"No, sir."

"Then grab a mop and a rag, and run to scrub. You pig! I'm ashamed to look at you. Straight A's, is called. Only books you can read, and can't keep no house clean. Pig, let me repeat. Shame on you!"

Anna moved toward the storeroom to get a bucket. Tears ran down her cheeks.

"Pig!" he kept on. "Filthy pig!"

Beep beep-beep!!!!!

Anna opened her eyes. The phone rang. She looked around frantically. Her whole shirt was soaked with nightmare sweat.

Beep beep-beep!!!!! The phone insisted.

"Hel-l-lo. Hello."

"Miss Ryans?"

"Yes, I am. Who is it?"

"My name is Millie. I'm HR of International School №678. We would like to offer you a splendid teaching position. I saw your resume online and certainly decided to call y..."

"Hold on, Millie. School? It is an old resume. I already stated on the first page that I am not in search. I'm already a successful teacher at the moment..."

"It's okay. We are ready to pay you three times more than you are now getting."

"What?"

"Our director is impressed by your linguistic abilities and is sure that you deserve a greater career and freedom. You will be very useful to us. I scheduled you for an interview tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. Suits you?"

"Millie, wait for a second..."

"How about 5:00 p.m.? Maybe 5-30 p.m.?"

"Millie."

"Come to the metro Bli Five by 5-00 p.m., write down the address..."

"Millie! Look, I... Wait, what? Metro? In the Garth there is none. Where are you calling from?"

"Uh... Mining Great, Ma'am."

"Millie, I'm in another city."

"Never mind."

"Excuse me?"

"We'll reschedule the interview for the end of the week. Enough to fly up here? How about Friday?"

"Millie, that's not serious."

On the other end of the line, a cute voice sharply became serious.

"I know you think it's very fast, Miss Ryans. But this is a great chance. You go out of the competition only on the achievements of your resume. The director, when she saw your file, put aside—or rather, threw in the trash—the CVs of nine candidates. You wrote the truth on your resume, didn't you?"

"Of course, I did!" such a question even hurt Anna.

"So you're on the verge of a big change, and me- on the promotion, which I advise you not to spoil. Metro Bli Five, 14 Rome street, building 6. Friday, 5:30 p.m. Waiting for you! Deal?"

Anna was speechless, but against her will, the answer itself came out loud and clear:

"See you then, Millie."

For a moment, she sat on the bed, blankly looking around the apartment. She landed only a few hours ago and immediately flopped down to sleep.

She quickly googled School 678, which resulted in one of the most prestigious schools in the capital. Millie was right—it was a chance for Anna. All of a sudden, she had a headache.

She scrolled down over the incoming messages, opened one, read it, and pressed the "Call" button.

"Yeah?" a man's voice answered at once.

"Mark, it's me. I'm flying to Mining Great."

"Anna? Hey. You what? When?"

"I have an interview on Friday."

"Are you moving to the capital?? When did you decide that??"

"Just now. If the interview goes well, can I stay with you for a while? I don't know my fate yet."

"Certainly. Wow, such a drastic change. You okay? How was the flight?"

"All is great."

"Mmm... Okay. So, wow, I'll see you. It is unexpected."

"You wanted to see me, right?"

"No, no, of course, I did. It's just so fast. I thought I needed to talk you into it for a few more years or so."

They both giggled.

"So, everything's okay?" asked Anna, herself little realizing the turn of events.

"There is no problem. I'll meet you at the airport on Friday."

"Thank you." Anna looked at her watch. "Nine o'clock. In the capital, the difference is three hours?"

"Yeah," Mark confirmed. "Anna. That's great news."

"Yeah... I guess!"

"Listen, I gotta go now. I'll call you later, okay?"

"Okay."

Anna hung up the phone and fell back on the bed. Her mind was swarming with thoughts: Millie, work, Mark, capital, Randall.

Randall!

Oh, indeed, it would be a dizzying change...