Sunlight flowed through the pale blue curtains to fall on the small form huddled on
the full sized bed. The pale light danced in the woman's straight brown hair,picking out
the red and gold highlights. She hugged a dark blue body pillow as if she was a child
and it was her security blanket.A soft whimper escaped her lips as a frown flitted across
her face.Slowly her eyelids opened to reveal steel grey eyes with hazel flakes in their
centers.She blinked as if sleep still fought to draw her back into the land of dreams.
With a low groan, she struggled out of the black comforter and placed her feet on the
grey carpet.She pushed her long hair back from her face and gazed at her bedroom.
Her eyes landed on the small and cluttered computer desk in front of her. Sighing,she
rose to her feet and crossed the room.Pulling out her computer chair,she then sank into
and bent to turn her computer on.As she waited for it to load, she looked about the room.
A small bookcase sat on the side of the bed closest to the computer.On the other side
was her small closet.A oak dresser was across the room,beside the door.A pile of dirty
clothes lay ignored at the foot of the bed,surrounded by piles of books that didn't fit
in the bookcase.The room was small and books took up most of the space,stacked in
piles,waiting for a bookcase the woman never seemed to have the money.
The woman rested her head in her hands,hunched in misery as she stared at the
computer.Every day she wake up and searched the web,hoping that this would be
the day she'd find a job.Day after day, week after week,she searched, putting in endless
job applications and resumes.Every job she thought she would be good at,and some she
didn't, received an application. Every time the phone rang,she reached for it with hope
in her heart,only to have that hope killed at each interview.She felt their eyes appraise
her,judging her and finding her wanting or lacking in what they were looking for.Her
heart broke a little each time she could seeing them dismiss her in their minds.
What was she lacking?She wore nice clothes and had gotten a hair cut.She even
wore makeup,something she rarely did as she hated the way it felt on her skin.
At 37,she was beginning to feel like she was past the best years of her life.At each
interview,she saw younger,and prettier, women with less experience get the job.
Maybe she had too much experience but she wasn't going to lie when they asked
her why she felt she was qualified for the job.It had been too long since she had
last had to play this game and in those ten years the rules had changed.
The economy had gotten worse.She lived in the one of the worst hit areas in
the nation.The area had once been one of the leading manufacturers of textiles
and furniture.Then all the jobs were sent overseas and most of the plants were closed.
Thousands of people were without jobs and most had no training or skills to find
another job.Suddenly,people that had been making anywhere from twelve to twenty
dollars an hour were forced to take minimium wage jobs.Their paychecks were half
of what they were used to.With less money,they had to make every penny count.
Extras were cut out.Bills and groceries took priority over new clothes and things for
the house.Going to the movies or out to eat was limited to special occasions.
Shopping just for fun was a luxary few could afford.
Soon,retail stores were having to let people go and the people they kept had to
know and be willing to do everything.Jobs were a scarcity and people fought to find
one.Employees were scared,going into work each day,wondering if this was the day
they might lose their job.And despite all of this, the cost of living kept rising. Gas prices
went up, causing the cost of everything else to go up. Just keeping a roof over your
head and food on the table became a struggle. People went deeper and deeper into
debt just to make ends meet. Many lost their homes.Younger people moved back
into their parents' homes.Life had become a nightmare that you couldn't escape from.
She had known she was lucky to have a job.Then came the day she had never
thought would come.The employees came in to work to find the district manager there.
He came by every month so that wasn't unusual. However, some of the people from
high up in the company were also with him.Unease spread amoung the employees,
dread forming in their stomachs. their district manager called them all into the breakroom
to break the news.The store was closing in January.It was one week until Thanksgiving.
There would be no Merry Christmas this year.One by one,he called them into the office
to give them their severance packages and to thank them for their hard work.
The next month and a half found them watching the store they had worked so hard
to keep open being empty of product.They worked in a daze,not wanting to admit that
it hurt to see their store being stripped. On the last day,they watched the last customer
leave and lock the doors behind her for the last time. Then they stayed in the store
for a long time,talking about the fun times and the bad times they had gone through
together. Laughter echoed and tears flowed as they all walked the store once last
time.As they walked out one last time,they each gazed at the store,remembering
different things but all knowing their time as a family was over.For they were a family.
They had laughed and cried together,fought and helped each other just like family does.
That had been three months ago and the woman was beginning to lose hope.Still,
every day she went out to see who was hiring. She put in at least one hour every day
online,searching for a job.Her soul was battered and bruised from rejection but she kept
trying.Despair and depression threatened to overwhelm her.Her bank account was quickly
approaching empty.She knew she couldn't give up but there were days she wanted to.
A job had to be out here.She just wished she could find it before she ran out of money
and hope.
The woman rose to her feet and walked to the bedroom door. A job application
was half finished on her computer screen.It would still be there when she come back.
Her stomach was growling and she had to eat.Time to raid the almost empty cupboards.
She opened the door and walked through, closing it behind her.One day at a time,one
thing at a time was all she couldmanage right now.Food called and she answered.
Rejection could wait.Then the sound of a phone ringing filled the house.Hope sprang
anew.This could be the call.This could be a job.
