I’ve been out of work for 4 months. My boyfriend, Jimmy, took me in after I left my parents house. He doesn’t say it, but I can tell that not working has been bothering him. He’s in his first year of law school and has a lot on his plate. I’ve tried so hard to find a job, but no one has called me back. I see an open job interview for a bar downtown. I know for sure if I can get in front of the owner the job is mine, I was always better in person than on paper anyways. I schedule my interview for 5pm Friday. It works out because Jimmy gets out of school around that time and I can just catch a ride back with him. I get excited and tell him about the job. He tried not to show me his noticeable excitement. I check the bus and train routes and plan to arrive 30 minutes early. I can stop at the 7eleven downtown and grab a drink and some gum beforehand. Then, if I have time, I can stop by his school and freshen up in the bathroom before heading to the bar. Friday comes around and I wake up. I grab my navy button up shirt, black jeans, and a cardigan. I purchase my bus pass for the day and toss my charger in my bag. Shower, brush my teeth, curl my hair, put on makeup, and off I go. I head to my bus stop and wait. I check the time, 3:26pm. Great, 4 minutes to spare. I pull up twitter on my phone and search around. I check the time again and it’s 3:51pm. Buses are always late in Dallas so I don’t think much about it. I do some more scrolling, 15 minutes have passed and still nothing. I start to panic but take a breath and replan my route. I wait for the 4:15pm bus and hop aboard when it comes by. I’m a little behind, but decide if I don’t stop it should make up time. The bus makes it downtown and I dart to my train. I check my makeup as the train passes by stations, stopping and going, picking up and dropping off. I can’t help but check the time over and over again. I finally distract myself by looking out the window. I notice it’s getting a bit dark outside. I pray to God that the rain doesn’t start until I make it to my destination. I hear my station called and get off the train. I feel a drop of rain kiss my cheek on it’s way down, as if to congratulate me on this awful day. I check my phone and see that I have 15 minutes to make it to my interview. I start walking and check for the fastest route. I’m 10 minutes away on foot if I walk fast. The rain started to pour down. It was hot and sticky like right before a tornado. I pulled out my umbrella and turned my walk into a run. As I ran street to street my umbrella was slowly dying. I watched it turn inside out as the wind swept though it. I refilled the umbrella and shoved it back into my bag. I figured if I was a little wet the owner would understand. I finally made it to my final street. I waited for the walk sign to change and darted across the street. I made it to the sidewalk and felt my leg give out…then I felt nothing but cold. I had fell straight into a puddle. I huge, muddy, wet puddle. I tried to get up but the world had finally won and I just stayed there. A guy came up behind me like an angel and pulled me up. I said thanks and just stood there looking down at myself. I took a breathe and the rain stopped. I turned around and walked to Jimmy’s school. He met me outside smiling. I ran up and started crying and explained my day. He asked if I went to the interview and I lied and said yes because I couldn’t deal with disappointing him too. I told him the owner understood and laughed, but in reality I just couldn’t handle being someone else’s story. The story of the wet girl that came in for an interview and choked back tears the whole time. The icing on this bad day cake was having to walk through a law school soaking wet with smeared makeup. I could feel the weird looks from the people all around. When we made it to the car I undressed in the parking garage and put on Jimmy’s oversized emergency clothes. Shivering in an oversized blue hoodie and blue jeans, I placed my head on the window and let the tears flow down. I knew this was a day that I’d laugh about in the future, but right now it just stung.

KaBLOW I got hit by a car Whatever I have to walk it off this is the most important job interview of my life if I died because a car hit me they would think I’m weak and wouldn’t hire me I run ignoring the man who was trying to apologize for almost killing me and trip on the crosswalk Suddenly a stampede of people come and cross the road and every time I try to get up my face is met with the sole of a shoe , when I finally get up I cross the road and carry on my merry way Everything was actually doing pretty good so far, kind of a rocky start but hey! Hold on… something cold is trickling down my spine I drop my coffee and get dizzy I look at the reflection of the store window And see blood all over my hair! Oh crap! I slap my self to wake up and start running looking for something ,anything to help and I get scared by the sound of Thunder and run into a lamp post .. I feel tiny drops of water all over me I look up at the sky and notice that it’s actually quite dark! It s raining! It could help wash off all the blood on me! Maybe the universe is on my side I start basking in the rain .. but suddenly all my hairs are on their ends, I feel ticklish, my hair starts floating and my necklace is vibrating.. LIGHTING!!! rip the necklace off and throw it as far away as possible and it gets struck by lighting in MID AIR!! People around me start screaming and run to shelter…. Whatever! I DONT have time to waste! I look at my watch and -I HAVE 5 MINUTES LEFT!!! I run like I Never ran before, there is no way I was missing the interview for my dream job, I take a look at the google maps on my phone, I’m sooooo close… I run past the screams, and lighting, and thunder, once in a while passing some people enjoying their coffee in a sheltered coffee shop, other people playing in the rain with their kids. I see the building I’m looking for not so far away! I’m so close! I run Even faster and before I know it the doorknob is in my hands and I’m seconds away from my dream The cat cafe, a place I have wanted to work all my life. I sit at the desk as a person in a chair turns around and greets me, it’s Garfield? He takes one quick glance at me, and says “You have come great lengths for this job, you’re hired” I couldn’t believe it, all it took to get my dream job, was a concussion, losing my necklace, and possibly breaking several bones…. How amazing is that!? They didn’t even ask me any questions! They knew I was perfect for the job!

“Really Ms. Wyatt. I don’t want to waste your time. We take punctuality very seriously here at Hope Island. Our community of at-risk youth needs to know they can count on us—“ “Please! Sorry to interrupt Father Lovejoy. I’m never late. Really I pride myself on being organized. As a kid things were a little catch as catch can. I’m not like that,” Vicky said panic tinging her breath. “This job is a perfect fit I swear Father.” “It’s Reverend. Calm yourself no need to get upset, love. There will be other jobs. Reach out to us again next semester.” Rev. Lovejoy tented his fingers in the universal symbol of benevolent obstinacy. Vicky’s lip quivered. “I was calm. I wanted to be calm for the interview so badly. I even took a run along the Charles.” Vicky collected her purse and briefcase. “You ran too long is that it, love?” “No, I didn’t. I gave myself plenty of time. I saw a dead cat on the jogging trail. Plump and glossy coat, a calico. Clearly someone’s housecat looking for adventure and hit by a motorbike or a car or a something and crawling back home for help and not making it. I saw a lady stricken standing nearby, big eyes open mouth. I was going to run past and say sorry. When I saw she wasn’t looking at the kitty. The lady on the side of the road was looking at the head and shoulders in the river.” Vicky slung her bags over her arm and headed for the office door. “Head!” “Head and shoulders, yeah,” Vicky said opening the door. “Whoa wait. What’s this…” Rev. Lovejoy said and started scrolling through his phone. “I jumped in the Charles hoping the head and shoulders were on a live guy who was just unconscious hoping I could help. I could smell the death on the water I knew that smell. The guy was gone but I had to get him to shore. Someone called the police. The lady just started screaming delayed shock you know. Passersby helped me get the body ashore then the statements to be made. The cops were nice because we were all students and such. Even the body. They got my details and let me go back to my apartment. I took a shower and got dressed and hurried here. I was on time and then I remembered something and made myself late. I blew it. Thank you anyway Father I mean Rev. Lovejoy.” Vicky stepped through the door and closed it behind her. The clergyman raced around his desk and through open the door. “Wait did you know the person who died? Had you seen them before? What did you remember?” “No I never saw him before it was the cat. I remembered the dead cat. I took her photo and moved her off the path so I could help her be found by her people. Calicos are almost always females. Uusually sweethearts, you know. She was loved and would be missed. Never knowing is the worst, I know. I’m going to share her photos online so someone will know what became of her. Know she didn’t run away right. Goodbye Father.” Vicky stepped into the elevator. Rev. Lovejoy leapt into the closing doors. “First forgive a foolish old man.”

Today is the day Keisha had long awaited!! At the ripe age of twenty-five, Keisha had obtained a few of her major goals! She had recently graduated from nursing school, obtained her loft apartment and had applied for her first nursing job! Her position would be on a pediatric unit at the world renowned, Martinsville Medical Center in downtown Detroit. Most of her student nurses, in her graduating class spoke of high hopes of landing jobs at Martinsville, on either the maternity or pediatric units. Keisha, was ecstatic after finally, receiving the long anticipated call, to set up her interview for “ her dream job!” Two months had passed since submitting her résumé, so Keisha naturally assumed, that she was not in the pool of applicants, and would not be offered an interview… But much to her delight…she was!! ********************************************** “Oh Noooooo! No Way!….No Seriously???” this can’t be happening!!!” Keisha scream!! as she glanced over at the red numbers illuminated on her alarm clock, glaring back at her from her oak nightstand? “I can’t believe my alarm clock didn’t go off again!!” she exclaimed, as she vigorously rubbed sleep out of her eyes, she became entangled in her fluffy, purple duvet, and almost tumbled and scrambling out of her queen size bed. “ It’s 9:48 and my interview is at 11:00! so that gives me about an hour to make it to the hospital on time” she thought. I’ve heard it’s proper etiquette to be at least 15 minutes early if possible, Keisha rapidly rationalized to herself. Thankfully, she had already reserved her Uber, the day before. The driver’s estimated time of arrival was to be between 10:15 -10:25. At a records pace, Keisha quickly showered, wrapped herself in her warm velour towel, and hastily applied her make-up to her flawless, cocoa butter, skin. She then sprayed rosewater on her golden brown, Sister Locks while shaking her head three times, back-and-forth for styling. As Keisha slipped into her Vera Wang black suit, with crisp white blouse, she received a call from an unidentified number. “ Great! This is probably my Uber driver calling to say he’s a little bit early”… Keisha speculated as she proceeded to answer the call. But, much to her dismay, the gentleman on the other end was calling to inform her that her Uber driver had been involved in a minor fender-bender, and there were no replacement vehicles in the area at this time. “Wow! …Um…. Um….Okay!!!… Keisha abruptly ended the call, while stomping her feet in disbelief. She immediately called her next-door neighbor Donovan, who owed her a few favors, as she frequently watched “Penny” his Labrador retriever, while he was away. Donovan, medium height, middle-age man with salt and pepper hair, worked nights. After several rings, he sluggishly answered the the phone, briefly hesitated…but finally agreed to give Keisha a lift. Martinsville Medical Center, was only about 10 minutes away from Keisha’s loft apartment. If they headed out by 10:30, she should arrive in plenty of time. Keisha, slipped into her six inch black suede pumps, to complete her look, took one final twirl, in her full length mirror, and was extremely pleased! She shouted “You go Girl!, You’ve Got This!” Feeling an extra sense of confidence, she gathered her black Michael Kors purse, and ran outside to meet Donovan, whose head was under the hood, of his 2008 green Ford pick up. His mahogany toned face, appeared frustrated as he slammed the truck’s hood, after hearing Keisha running down the concrete apartment steps. Keisha and Donavan were driving along, carrying on small talk, when suddenly , the pick up began making, high sounding, sputtering, clinging, and backfiring noises. After a couple minutes of that, the truck began to smoke, and finally completely shut off!! Keisha’s, eyes became “big as saucers” as she fidgeted in her seat, slightly turned and glared at Donovan. She spoke with clinched teeth, “Donovan!!!what’s going on with your truck??” She pleaded. while trying to contain her composure. “Hmmmm …sounds like we might be out of petro! My little “green machine’s” gas gauge doesn’t work anymore, but no worries…Miss. Keisha, I always keep my gas can close by. And, the station is just down the road on the left” Donovan explained. “Donavan!! I know where the gas station is!! But …I just …don’t have time …for this!!” my interview is in 20 minutes!!! Keisha snapped as she continued. “I …Um….Well… I’m going to let you take care of this situation, Keisha spoke nervously, while hastily exiting the truck, and Um…. I’m … Um….just going to….going to …walk the rest of the way!… “We’re only about five blocks from the hospital, Donovan mumbled, as he proceeded to grab his red gas can… “So Sorry about this Miss. Keisha, Good luck on your interview” Keisha, threw up her right hand, and began walking to the hospital which should have been a piece of cake, but walking a few blocks in six inch pumps, presented a bit of a challenge. Keisha, was making great strides, and had walked a couple blocks, with three more to go…when all of a sudden she heard … Creek! …Crack! …Pop! And her left foot was now level to the ground! as her six-inch shoe heel, had completely broken off!! and had landed behind her on the ground! Tears begin to wail up in Keisha’s eyes, she thought …I have one of two options… I can either…um…limp on or … Um…I can just take these babies off! I choose the latter! Keisha picked up the broken black suede heel that was laying on the ground, and took her right shoe off, in order to carry both shoes in each hand. Keisha appeared, oblivious to the awkward stares from passersby’s that she received in downtown Detroit. She continued on the rough pavement, barefooted, with only her black tights on to cover her feet. After reaching the elegant main entrance of Martinsville Medical Center, the lavishly but warmly decorated lobby, with a relaxing water fountain in the center, helped to sooth Keisha’s inner jitters. Keisha received directions from the elderly silver haired hospital volunteer at the information desk. She was the last to entered the elevator headed to the seventh floor. The glares and inquisitive looks she received, while being barefooted on a hospital elevator, were quite amusing. When the elevator doors opened, Keisha briefly glanced at her Apple Watch and exited. Time read 10:55. As soon as she entered the office, the perky young blonde receptionist, behind the desk immediately greeted her, asked her name and gestured for her to take a seat. “Mrs. Alexander will be with you momentarily” She insisted, while flashing her sparkling smile. After observing that Keisha was bare footed and carrying her shoes, the receptionist went on to say …”Poor thing, your shoes must be killing you?” “As Keisha, continued on to her waiting room seat with shoes in tow, and pride intact, she briefly, shook her beautiful locks, glanced over her shoulder, and smiled… “It’s a long story” …Keisha sighed.

I sit on the seat🪑, sweating😓 I find nothing easy about this Kahoot, as I look at the top left of the screen I see ‘11-20 Questions Answered.’ I wonder, if I will answer the question, somehow I find ‘10 x 78’ hard, but I wouldn't think it was normal to be easy. Ms. Smith quickly turned the button and I almost turned out to find the answer. I shake my head not allowing myself to hesitate. Before I could think, ‘Ms. When are we going to end it?’ A classmate said. I sat here, waiting for an answer. ‘Oh you’ll see, you will see~’ Than Ms. Smith grabbed her computer keyboard, unplugged it, and threw it at the classmates, head. Screams started as blood flowed onto the kids. THE END What do u think happened?

Dane answered on the third ring. Ricky could tell through the sound of his voice, that he was lying in bed, head arched against his pillow and aimed at the television. “The Devil do you want?” His default phrase for whenever Ricky called. “Not much,” Replied Ricky with a wide grin. “What are you up to?” “Nada my friend, just lying here like a goon. You ready for your interview?” “Well, that’s the thing. I had a dream about it.” “Weird like what kind of dream?” Dane asked as he readjusted himself on his bed. "I've only had these a handful of times and every time they trip me the hell out. Have you ever had a dream where it matches up with real-time? Like, in this dream, I actually woke up for the interview, so it didn't feel like a dream at all. Have you ever had one like that?" Dane made his generic thinking sound, "Maaaaaybe? For starters, I'm not much of a dreamer and when I do I barely remember them. So, what happened in this dream?" "Alright, so I don't remember how it starts or anything like that, but the first thing that I do remember is being locked in my room. I can't rotate the door knob and for whatever reason, the lock switch doesn't work and I'm just stuck in my room. I'm banging on the door, trying to shoulder it in, and nothing. And what's weird, is that I legitimately start to panic about the job interview." "Bizarre but keep going," Dane insisted. "Right, so I eventually get through and I get to my car. For whatever reason, I can only drive the car in reverse. I don't seem to think anything of it, and I just drive the car backward to Fletchers." Dane released a weird snort, "God Damn, that's how you know it's a dream you're an awful driver when it comes to just driving forward." "Ha-Ha. Anyway, I don't remember parking the car, the next thing I remember is being at a crosswalk. There are like, thousands of people trying to get across the street going both ways. That whole promenade of shops where Fletchers is is just popping with people. All of a sudden these weird metallic asteroid things start falling out of the sky. I don’t remember what they were, and they’re not big enough to destroy the world. But they’re smashing through people, and taking out buildings. Eventually, they start bouncing off the pavement and knocking people all over the place. I make a break for it and get to that weird little underpass where the GAP and Forever 21 are and it's just chaos." "Good God Ricky, what the hell were you watching or playing last night?" Dane asked. "Dude, I have no idea. I just sat there and watched The Office then knocked out. I woke up in a frenzy, like in those movies where the character has the most traumatic dream ever." "That’s weird, but please tell me you’re still going to the interview. That this dream isn’t going to dictate whether you go or not.” Ricky's voice strained as he selected the proper wording, "Ehhh. It kind of is." "Oh come on," Dane started, he was walking around his bedroom now. "You're afraid of a dream?" "Dane, this one creeped me the fuck out. I couldn't go back to bed, it was like 3 in the morning. Like something just rubs me the wrong way about it, and to be honest I'm not that excited to work for Fletchers. It's a shit hole dive bar, like right off the bat I was meh on the idea." Dane let out a sharp exhale, "I can give you that. Really think this over though. Your interview is at what...two?" "Yeah," Ricky agreed. "Think it over and go from there, but you need a job. I still think you should go." Ricky didn't go to the interview. ---------------------- The following morning, Ricky woke up to a text from Dane, it was a news article. The article was about a fatal accident that cost the lives of at least two people and injured around eight other patrons. At around 2:15, Drake Sampson reversed his car through the wall on the third story of the parking structure across the street from Fletchers (it's believed that he was heavily intoxicated). The car crashed through Fletchers and killed at least one employee, supervisor Emery Jones. Everyone in the bar was injured with at least three people in critical condition. Three weeks later, Ricky would accept a job at the local Guitar store. He was grateful.

‘Okay, great, I just pulled into the parking lot. Damn, I’m thirty minutes early. Too early, I’ll look eager.’ Stepper looks at his watch. ‘I’ll review my notes on this place.’ Stepper starts to read through the company’s history, again. someone knocks on his window. It’s a beautiful woman. ‘Sir, can you help me? My car died, and it’s in the middle of the road. Can you push it to the side for me, while I steer it?’ She says, blinking her eyes, looking hopeless and helpless, everything a man needs to tell himself ‘sure.’ Stepper steps out of the car, and walks over to the vehicle. He checks his watch. 25 minutes before the interview. He checks the normal guy stuff, to look like a knowledgeable hero. Engine? Looks okay. Underneath, no leaking. He shakes his head. ‘Did you call anyone?’ Stepper eagerly asks. ‘Ummm, of course, but it may take a little while, and it’s in such a bad spot.’ She looks at him, a little scared he won’t help. ‘Okay, I’m not sure what’s going on with this car, but I’ll push, and you’ll just steer it over there, yeah?’ As he points to a grassy spot on the side of the road, before it goes downhill. ‘Yes! Thank you!’ The woman says, gratefully. As Stepper starts to push, the oddest thing happens. A flock of birds start flying out of the woods. They swirl in the air for a minute, gather their flock, and fly over the car, as he pushes. Strangely, at that exact moment, they all pooped at the same time. The exact same time. The car, the road, and most importantly, Stepper, all are hit with the defecation. The white car now looks like a Dalmatian, and Stepper is full of bird shit. ‘What the f…!!!’ Stepper screams, looking at his new suit. The woman steps out of the car and looks at him in amazement. ‘I have something in the back that might help.’ She hurriedly opens the back door, grabs a roll of paper towels, and Stepper rushes over. The woman starts to speak, but he can’t hear her words over his thoughts of panic. As Stepper cleans himself quickly, out of the corner of his eye, he sees a clown walk out of the woods, right where the birds flew from. Absolute confusion and amazement set in. Stepper stops wiping the shit off of himself for a moment. The clown has a big blue suit on, with a huge red smile, and a little yellow hat. He’s holding some kind of pie. He walks right up to Stepper and the woman. Without a word, the clown throws the pie right into Stepper’s face. Stepper is in shock. He starts to wipe off the pie from his face while swearing. As he yells, the clown handcuffs his hands and pushes Stepper into the backseat of the car, shoves his feet in, and slams the door. The woman reacts quickly, and seemingly, puts down the emergency break. The clown pushes the car, and the woman slams the door shut while it starts rolling down the hill. ‘Will he be okay?’ The woman asks the clown. ‘What do you care…but yeah, he’ll be fine’ says the clown. ‘See that little stream right there at the bottom, where the road curves? The car will get stuck, and there ain’t no way he’ll get out of the car without getting soaked and muddy.’ He looks at his watch, ‘Aren’t you goin’ be late for your interview?’ The woman looks at her watch. ‘Forty minutes to kill’ she says, pats the clown on the shoulder, and starts walking to the parking lot. ‘I’ll call you later.’ The clown walks in the other direction, away from the woman, away from the man. As Lisa sits in the waiting room for her interview, in comes Stepper. Handcuffed, shat on, full of mud, water, and pie, he’s frantic. The receptionist looks at him in awe. ‘Can, can I help you, oh my, what happened…” Stepper starts to tell the receptionist the story. She calls the cops. Lisa hides herself behind the water cooler, knowing this moment might happen. ‘Lisa Smith’ her name is called. She stands up and smiles and shakes the woman’s hand. Stepper sees her walk into an office, and he starts yelling ‘it was her, it was her, she set me up!’ But, his story is so bizarre, no one believes him. Shit bird.

Oh god I have to get going, I can’t miss this. I have to prove I don’t need them.I need to do this on my own. They need to be wrong about me. I’m on my way inside, I’m running at this point. I bump into someone, I spill my coffee, my notes. I can’t believe this is happening I mutter. He seems upset, he’s rushing out of the building. My parents had always thought I would become nothing just an ordinary person working a 9-5 just barely getting by. That was the case for a bit but I worked hard got promotions and when my boss retired I became CEO. I had done it. I proved them wrong. I had done it.

Oh man. Oh man, I’m gonna be late! I better hurry. Keyes? Check. Wallet? Check. Phone? Check. Let’s go! I run to my car. Hop on the highway, and before I know it I’m stuck in traffic. Huh, must’ve been a bad accident. Finally we start to move again. Then bam! Flat tire! Could this get any worse? Man, I shouldn’t have said that. I better knock on some wood. But it was indeed too late. My spare was also flat! After waiting for the tow truck for what had to have been hours, I was back on the road once again. Just a little detour to a junkyard to get me a tire. And a spare. I’m not going to get this job. I can already feel it. But I still make it to the interview. I tried apologizing but they didn’t wanna hear it. I mean I get it. It does sound like a whole buncha bullshit. Luckily, some nice older gentleman hears all of this and introduces himself as the CEO of the company. He apologizes on behalf of his staff that he will be taking a look into better and offered me not the position I went to the interview for, no. He offered me a pay grade above the lady that yelled at me and made a whole scene out of it. Karmas a bitch, ain’t it?

Jane, what are you doing? I’m trying to hurry I have a job interview in a couple of hours. I’m really nervous Chad. Jane, was all dressed up and ready to go. Chad, the car has a flat tire what are we going to do. I don’t know Jane, I have never changed a tire out. We need to think fast I don’t want to be late for this interview. Jane was beside herself and Chad, had no clue what to do. Let’s call an Uber ok said Jane. Time was passing fast forty five minutes and no Uber. Jane was almost in tears. I need this job Chad. I know you do. Where is that Uber driver? There he is, come on let’s go. Where to lad 1423 6th street, please hurry. I’ll give you 50 extra dollars if you can get us there on time. The Uber driver was driving as fast as he could, but it didn’t look possible. I’m sorry folks but it’s to far I don’t think we can make it. Don’t give up just keep driving you can do it. The Uber driver stepped on it and was hauling ass. I see the building he said you got 7 minutes. The Uber driver pulled up and Jane ran inside. Chad, stayed behind to pay the driver. I appreciate you got us here on time how much is the meter plus 50 dollars. That will be a total of 105.00, here you go and thank you very much. We are going to need a ride back if you want to hang around. Ok I can do that, Jane , should not be real long. Chad and the Uber driver hung around waiting. time flew by fast and Jane, was on her way out the door. She had a big smile on her face and Chad said, I know you got the job by the smile on your face. Yes! Exclaimed Jane, I got it thank you Mr. Uber driver. I’m glad I was able to help. I will be starting on Monday morning. Guess what Chad, what! I’m going to be the new manager I was offered a better position meaning we are going to be ok. We are not going to have to struggle anymore. That’s great Jane, I’m so glad that your my wife. It turned out very well regardless of all the obstacles that got in our way this morning. It comes to show that no matter how difficult things may seem nothing is impossible. Chad just laughed as to say ya I know. Written By: Ghostrider 12-30-2022