Judgmental (a Percy Jackson AU)

For the First Time in Forever

      Hazel couldn't believe it when she got the job, but she was thrilled. Sure, she wouldn't be getting paid to make art, but she would be getting paid to help display art. Hazel's first day at Iris's Art Gallery was a Tuesday and Hazel woke up early to get ready.

After dressing in the required black pants and blouse, Hazel pulled her curly hair back into two ponytails. She ate a quick breakfast of oatmeal and scrambled eggs. The roads were icy and Hazel's car took awhile to start, but she still managed to park with five minutes to spare.

Hazel was greeted by Iris at the front desk. Iris had studied art history in college in the 60s and she often wore loose clothings. Her grey hair was pushed back by a tie-dyed headband and she wore a rainbow peace-sign necklace.

"Hazel Levesque!" Iris said. "I'm so glad to see you. Are you ready for your training?"

Hazel nodded. Iris stood up and beckoned for Hazel to follow her as she strolled through the gallery and towards the rooms closed to the public. They kept stopping to gaze at the art. Hazel spotted Frank's painting again and wondered if she would see him again. She pushed the thought away and let herself soak up the beauty of the place.

The art gallery was large and spacious. The walls were a light grey color in most of the rooms that allowed the art to be the focus. The only exception was in the Rainbow Room. It was an exhibit made to honor LGBT artists and the walls had been painted with bright colors by a dozen teens who were involved in their high school's GSA club.

      Iris opened a door and led Hazel into one of the rooms closed-off to the public. Hazel gasped. The room was cluttered with art. Greeks amphorae were stacked on shelves next to New Orleans voodoo dolls. Hazel spotted clay tablets covered in what looked like cuneiform and a silk tapestry depicting a knight throwing his lance at a snail.

       "This is beautiful," Hazel said in wonder.

        "It is," Iris said. "This is why I work here. I get the honor of preserving this beauty. Someday, I will die, but this art will live on."

     She turned around to face Hazel and added, "When that day comes, my son, Butch, will own this museum and he will rely on you and my other employees for help and guidance."

      "Of course I'll help," Hazel said.

       She still wanted to see her work up in a gallery, but this would be a pretty good day job. It was certainly much better than her last job at Walmart. The customers could be crazy and she had worked the closing shift at s neighborhood Walmart where the registers completely shut down after midnight. One guy, a man named Priapos with eyes as hard as carrots, had pulled a gun of her when she had been unable to sell him the fresh veggies he had put into his cart at a quarter past midnight. Hazel hoped nothing like that would happen here.

     "Well," Iris said. "Let's get started. You have much to learn."

    Hazel followed her boss with a skip in her step. This was the best job she had ever had.