It took me a long time to realize, and own, the fact that “no” is a full sentence.

If I liked the person asking, I would add “no, thank you” at the end, but if it was their second or third time asking me the same question, then I’d stop being polite.

Carla was in this second category of people. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Carla, but she could be a little pushy about things she thought she was right about. Like that time we were standing in line at the cafeteria, and she didn’t even realize the look of annoyance on the lunch lady’s face when she said,” you know, you really should get more rest, and because of labor laws, they can’t make you work overtime like this.” By the third time it was the middle of the second semester and we were waist deep in papers and lab reports, and I had to bite back my “I told you so” when the woman finally responded “look, do u want your food or not? I got 2 kids to feed and that stuff may work for you but I can’t afford to be out of a job.” The look on carlas face was an odd mixture of shock and embarrassment, and I could see her pale cheeks turn tomato red.

Truthfully I identified more with the lunch lady than her, my lab partner. I remember I had to work at Burger King for a summer once my mom cut off my allowance at 18. Sure, I probably should not have been working that much overtime but I wanted the money to make a new dress and to buy myself and my little siblings as many tacos as We wanted. And reporting them to the labor board was a sure fire way to get fired.

Thought it had been 5 years since The Lunch Lady Incident, the next time Carla Plendeski asks me “but it’s so great up there. Space travel has lots of benefits. My last ship captain said that it helps expand your lung capacity, is great for your skin, and great for fitness because you literally have no weight. You would love it, and it’s really cheap if we book together,” I am most likely going to lose my shit and tell her exactly why no one else in the Lab 201 will partner with her.