My Tomorrow by Megan Nugen Isbell

watching the second season of Mad Men on Netflix.  I didn’t think I could stand another moment of TV, but I had nothing else to do.  This reclusive life was getting old fast.  I shut my laptop and made my way into the kitchen, scouring the cupboards for something to eat. Nothing looked appetizing.  I was craving Chinese food from the restaurant down the street, but knew I shouldn’t.  Take out cost money, which was something we had very limited amounts of at the moment and the foreseeable future since I’d blown the first and only interview I’d had.  I pushed the craving aside and instead decided on spaghetti, or my version of spaghetti.  Ground beef was expensive, so my spaghetti would just be noodles and an off-brand jar of sauce.  We were too poor to even afford Ragu. 
    I sat myself down with my dinner, staring at the red slop, suddenly wishing I was at home enjoying one of my mom’s delicious home cooked meals.  Even if she did piss me off, there was no denying she was an amazing cook.  Chicken and dumplings sounded good or maybe the eggplant parmesan she made with the homemade sauce recipe she’d learned from my grandma.  My mouth watered just thinking about it and anything would’ve been better than this lame attempt at a meal.  It was sustenance at least and I twirled it onto my fork, eating it reluctantly as I resumed my Mad Men marathon.
    I was engrossed in my show and eating the last few bites of my pasta when the phone rang.  I didn’t recognize the number.  It had a Manhattan area code though, and I picked it up curiously.
    “Hello?”
    “May I speak with Natalie please?” A voice came through the receiver.  It was familiar, but I couldn’t place it.
    “This is her,” I replied.
    “Hi, Natalie.  This is Leslie Graham from Taylor and Saben.”
    “Oh hi, Leslie,” I said, my heart pounding as I came to terms that this was it.  It was the moment of truth.  I’d either be elated or crushed by the end of this phone call.
    “I’m calling to offer you the position you interviewed for today,” Leslie said in a flat voice.
    “Oh,” I said, my tongue suddenly tied and I struggled for a moment to formulate more words. “Thank you.  Thank you so much.  I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”
    “Well, the decision was easier than I expected.”  Leslie’s voice didn’t offer any feeling.  I still couldn’t read this woman. “I take it you’d like the job?”
    “Definitely.  Thank you!” I said, trying to tone down the excitement in my voice.  I wanted to sound professional, not desperate. 
    “Would you be able to start tomorrow?  You can come in and meet with HR to fill out paperwork and get oriented with the office.”
    “Yes.  I can come in tomorrow no problem.  What time should I be there?”
    “Everyone usually gets here around eight o’clock, so if you could be here around 8:30, that would be good.”
    “I’ll be there.”
    “Alright.  We’ll see you tomorrow.  Welcome to Taylor and Saben.”
    “Thank you, Leslie.  See you tomorrow,” I said and hung up the phone, slamming it down on the table, standing up and doing a little dance, unable to contain my excitement.  I got the job!  I didn’t know how, but I got the job and I couldn’t wait to tell Ethan. 
     
    ~~~
     
    I knew I should go to sleep.  I actually had to get up early in the morning, but I couldn’t sleep, not without telling Ethan.  I’d nearly forgotten about the tension between us when he’d left for work.  That didn’t matter now.  I just wanted to tell him.
    I was lying in bed, in the middle of a book that was a little too scary to be reading while I was home alone late at night, but it was good and it made the time pass.  I heard the doorknob turning shortly after midnight and I could hear him tiptoeing in the living room, trying not to wake me.
    “You don’t have to be quiet.  I’m awake,” I called to him and he appeared in the doorway a moment later