“I’m beginning to think the degrees don’t mean diddly-squat to anyone but the students who think they need them to get somewhere in life. Boy are we disillusioned. I would be better off as a gardener. Then I might have some experience in digging through dirt! Maybe I should start putting on my applications, ‘desperate’ in the education section instead of my degrees.”
She chuckled and said, “Raven, my car barely makes it to these belittling interviews. I’m riding on the rims and can’t get a job to get my car worked on. I even park as far away from the entrance doors as I can, so no one sees me.” Raven couldn’t bring herself to laugh. Tamara made jokes to hide her misery.
“My poor, little car has carried me through five years of college and work, four interviews and it’s holding on as if it knows I need it for just a few more. I feel like we are bonded, and it hears me pleading with it.”
“You sound like me with my car. I was going through the same thing. Then I went and quit my job and wondered why I chose to walk off of a cliff at that particular time.”
“Nowhere to go but up, right?” Tamara said.
“Bingo! That’s why we’re going to lunch tomorrow.”
“Raven, my boss would croak before she let me off for a long lunch.”
“Then quit!” Raven said.
“Are you crazy? What would I do then? I’m barely holding on in my finances —and my sanity.”
“You have no idea how much I would like to walk in and tell her I quit! Now, how does it feel to know you’re without your spare-tire to kick around? I have fantasized about doing that as you can tell.” She smirked.
“I can’t quit until I find a better job, then I will. You’re trying to make me be brave like you, but I’m not.”
Raven wasn’t giving up and she wasn’t going to tell Tamara the whole story just yet and especially over the phone.
“Tamara, I’m not joking. I want you to call in sick tomorrow, or quit, but you’re going to lunch with me. I have something explosive to tell you—and a job offer you will not be able to refuse.” Raven waited for a reply that didn’t come.
“Are you there?”
“I’m here, but I can’t believe what I’m hearing. You sound straight out of the God Father movie. I can’t refuse it! What kind of a job did you get anyway?”
“A good one!”
“I knew it! When did you get it and what is it?”
“I’ll give you every detail tomorrow. Dress up and be ready for a shock.”
“I’m already in shock. Somehow, I don’t know if this is fair to me. Go to lunch, get fired, with no explanation upfront.”
“I can’t explain it without seeing you.” Raven explained.
“I’ve got it! Misery loves company and you want me to get fired so I can spend countless days with you as we search endlessly for those great elusive jobs we’re concepting, while we sip on iced teas in paper cups sitting side by side in our darling cars at a drive-in.” Tamara had such a dry and witty sense of humor. She could say sarcastic things about bad things, and still make you laugh.
“You know…you could do stand-up comedy and I could be your agent?”
“That doesn’t sound like my line of work either, unless it pay well, then I can adapt.”
“Oh girl. You are a one of a kind.”
“Raven, my adrenaline is getting a kick out of this conversation, but my better judgment is kicking me in the behind.” Tamara sighed heavily. “You’re my best friend and I’m trusting you. I’ll call in and say I’m taking a personal day off. Now, before I bite the bullet, did I really hear you say, you had a job offer waiting for me? I’m a bit slow here. I’m tired, hungry, and I just got home from work. Did I really hear you correctly? Or, are you serious about the stand-up comedy gig?”
“I didn’t mumble. You heard me correctly. It is not about a comedy gig either.”
“Will your car make it?” Tamara blurted out.
“Yes! It will!” They both erupted into laughter.
“Tamara, you’re going to wake up in the morning and realize this is not a joke. We’re really having this conversation. Your life is going to change tomorrow
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