The manager's office at Pete's Burgers, is actually supposed to be a closet. There are no windows, and the only light source is a naked lightbulb attached to the ceiling. The desk is cramped against the wall, but it still manages to take up more space than there is in the room, which is why the door can't close.
I'm sitting in the folding chair across the desk, but I stand up as soon as Jeffrey comes in. He's wearing a black polo shirt with a tag that says 'manager.'
He's the kind of thirty-something that found any job straight out of high school, and has stuck to it for over a decade.
"What can I do for you Charlie?" He asks, as he pins a paper to the cork board on the back wall.
There's no point in beating around the bush, so I tell him. "I want my job back, Jeff." He narrows his eyes at me, so I add, "Please."
"You know I'd love nothing more than to let you come back, god knows we could use your enthusiasm around here." he motions at the room, to make a point.
"That's great, I can start today if you want." I begin to pull my hair into a pontytail, but his expression stops me middair.
"You know I can't do that. I can't risk having the mayor close the restaurant."
"I'm being blacklisted from every possible job here, how the hell am I supposed to make money?"
"Don't you have that fancy scholarship to pay for everything?"
A frustrated sound escapes my mouth, and it startles the both of us.
<><><><><>
Asking for my old job back was a waste of time, so I leave right after. I'm waiting for the bus by the street, when I take out my phone to check my email. The university has not responded back with any news, and their lack of urgency threatens to worsen my mood. I'm about to put my phone away, when I notice the message that stands out from all the subscription spam. It's directed to me.
Hello,
I noticed that you responded to our listing.
How would you like to meet up in person to discuss the details of this employment opportunity?
Please let me know as soon as possible.
Regards,
Mitch Howard
Who the hell is Mitch Howard? I proceed to search up his name on Google, but nothing comes up. I hadn't actually expected a response from them. For all I know, the job doesn't even exist-yet, it's as good as the job offers are going to get for me. I quickly type a polite reply, before the bus comes to a stop in front of me.
<><><><><>
Adam calls sometime later, and asks to go shopping with me, but I say no. I didn't want to turn him down, but I also didn't feel like explaining to him that I'm completely broke. Instead, he comes over and we have sandwiches on the front steps of my house.
"Did you add mayo to this, it has a sour undertaste." he says after taking a large bite of the sandwich.
"No, I know better than to add mayo to your food, Adam." I respond, as I try to handle a bee that keeps buzzing dangerously close to me.
"So then, what is it?"
"It's my secret ingredient, will you just trust that I won't poison you?" The bee insists on hovering by my head, and I'm almost afraid it's confused me for a sunflower because of the yellow headband I'm wearing, but then it flies off abruptly.
"Okay, fine." He gives up, but after another bite, speaks up again. "I know we already discussed this, but do you think I can change your mind about staying here all summer...we can go on a roadtrip like old times, I'd even let you drive, sometimes."
YOU ARE READING
The Last Wild Flower
General Fiction"If this is a garden, does that make me a flower?" "Charlie, you're the only flower in a garden full of snakes." ~~~~~~~ Perfect student Charlie has her entire life planned out, and in it, there is no time to party or find love. But everything blows...
