a funny squishy noise when you walk. In less than ten minutes they call our number and I wince. There’s no way in hell anyone can make a fresh patty in such a short time. Think adventure , I say over and over in my head.
Mark grabs our food and we walk back to the car. I keep thinking that maybe we should stop and get something that I’m more familiar with, just as a backup plan.
“Listen, I’ve had their hamburgers before and they are really good. Just trust me this time, ok? I can tell you’re freaking yourself out over something silly.” He smiles and I find myself relaxing.
“I don’t know what you mean. I’m not freaking out. I was just thinking about work and stuff.”
“Whatever you say, Birdie. I know you better than you think, by the way, so it’s better to just cut the crap because you’ll never fool me.”
And with that, our hamburger conversation is over. At home we eat in front of the television , sitting on the floor next to the coffee table. Some guy with no teeth is on TV running after some animal and I can’t understand a word he’s saying. How in the world do these people end up on TV? I force myself to take a bite of the sandwich and I have to say it’s pretty darn good. We eat in silence and the teeth-optional man continues to chase his animal for the next hour or so. What a stupid show.
We clean up after ourselves and I stretch out on the sofa , putting my head on his lap so he can play with my hair. I always said that if I ever won the lottery, I would hire someone to play with my hair 24/7. It’s so relaxing and makes me think of when I was little and my grandma would brush her fingers through my hair and tell me bedtime stories. Life was so simple back then.
I wake up disoriented and stiff . It takes me a few seconds to realize I’m on the sofa with my head facing Mark’s crotch. What the hell? I look up and watch him breathing softly, his eyes still closed. When did I fall asleep? I wonder. I could hear my phone ringing so I get up as gently as I can, not wanting to wake him up.
“Hello?” I whisper as I walk to my room, closing the door slowly.
“Oh my God, Sofia I’m going to kill you!” Mona yells. “I’ve been calling you the whole day and left you a thousand messages. Where have you been?”
“Slow down woman, I just woke up. I was out to get food with Mark and left my phone at home. When we got home the TV was on , so I didn’t hear it ring. What’s up? Did something happen?”
“I heard what happened on Friday. Birdie , why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you come straight home from work? I would’ve stayed with you and figured out what to do about it.”
“How did you find out ?” I cringe.
“Well that bitch from your office called you and when you didn’t answer , she got my number from your employee file since you listed me as your emergency contact. She wanted to tell me that you left some plant and a picture in your office when you were let go on Friday. I told her what she could with both and hung up on her. You were too good for that place anyway. I still think you should talk to my dad and sue their asses.”
I listen quietly since there’s no way I can interrupt when she’s on one of her rampages. “Yeah well I don’t know how good I was since I no longer have a job. And no , I don’t want to sue. You and I both know how that works. The big guys with their big bank accounts will win, and I’m going to waste my time for nothing. Instead, I’m going to use that energy to look for another job.”
“Good, that’s good. So what’s this I hear about you moving with Mark?” I can tell she is smiling now.
“What the hell, do you have spies all over the place? How did you -”
“Jon that’s how. I guess he talked to Mark last night and he mentioned it. Mark was asking if we had extra boxes. Is it true? Are you going to move in with him? And why are
Mark grabs our food and we walk back to the car. I keep thinking that maybe we should stop and get something that I’m more familiar with, just as a backup plan.
“Listen, I’ve had their hamburgers before and they are really good. Just trust me this time, ok? I can tell you’re freaking yourself out over something silly.” He smiles and I find myself relaxing.
“I don’t know what you mean. I’m not freaking out. I was just thinking about work and stuff.”
“Whatever you say, Birdie. I know you better than you think, by the way, so it’s better to just cut the crap because you’ll never fool me.”
And with that, our hamburger conversation is over. At home we eat in front of the television , sitting on the floor next to the coffee table. Some guy with no teeth is on TV running after some animal and I can’t understand a word he’s saying. How in the world do these people end up on TV? I force myself to take a bite of the sandwich and I have to say it’s pretty darn good. We eat in silence and the teeth-optional man continues to chase his animal for the next hour or so. What a stupid show.
We clean up after ourselves and I stretch out on the sofa , putting my head on his lap so he can play with my hair. I always said that if I ever won the lottery, I would hire someone to play with my hair 24/7. It’s so relaxing and makes me think of when I was little and my grandma would brush her fingers through my hair and tell me bedtime stories. Life was so simple back then.
I wake up disoriented and stiff . It takes me a few seconds to realize I’m on the sofa with my head facing Mark’s crotch. What the hell? I look up and watch him breathing softly, his eyes still closed. When did I fall asleep? I wonder. I could hear my phone ringing so I get up as gently as I can, not wanting to wake him up.
“Hello?” I whisper as I walk to my room, closing the door slowly.
“Oh my God, Sofia I’m going to kill you!” Mona yells. “I’ve been calling you the whole day and left you a thousand messages. Where have you been?”
“Slow down woman, I just woke up. I was out to get food with Mark and left my phone at home. When we got home the TV was on , so I didn’t hear it ring. What’s up? Did something happen?”
“I heard what happened on Friday. Birdie , why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you come straight home from work? I would’ve stayed with you and figured out what to do about it.”
“How did you find out ?” I cringe.
“Well that bitch from your office called you and when you didn’t answer , she got my number from your employee file since you listed me as your emergency contact. She wanted to tell me that you left some plant and a picture in your office when you were let go on Friday. I told her what she could with both and hung up on her. You were too good for that place anyway. I still think you should talk to my dad and sue their asses.”
I listen quietly since there’s no way I can interrupt when she’s on one of her rampages. “Yeah well I don’t know how good I was since I no longer have a job. And no , I don’t want to sue. You and I both know how that works. The big guys with their big bank accounts will win, and I’m going to waste my time for nothing. Instead, I’m going to use that energy to look for another job.”
“Good, that’s good. So what’s this I hear about you moving with Mark?” I can tell she is smiling now.
“What the hell, do you have spies all over the place? How did you -”
“Jon that’s how. I guess he talked to Mark last night and he mentioned it. Mark was asking if we had extra boxes. Is it true? Are you going to move in with him? And why are
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