To the stars..

Ugly ones. [smiles] I’m sure I have a picture of the catalogue here, give me a sec. [looks through her texts real quick to find her chat with Erica’s sister and she pulls it open] These. [hands her her phone to show her a L*LaRoe catalogue] We tried to support her– we did! We bought a pair of leggings each, mine were blue, and you could tell because my legs were stained for a whole week, and Erica wore hers to the gym and they ripped while she was doing squats. 

They can’t be that ugly. [she waits patiently for the catalogue to appear, and when she does, she leans closer to look, pursing her lips to stop her laugh, nodding slowly] They’re....they’re great. [she giggles]

I gotcha. That’s why I only just got my associate’s. I graduated in 2014. That’s why I asked. I have a pretty shitty short-term memory and I wasn’t sure if I had met you in the past or not. 

Oh god, same. I barely remember the first half of high school. My boyfriend fills me in on stuff all the time.

I meant I wouldn’t consider joining an MLM seeing as they’re… you know, scams. I’m not saying they’re not working hard or that it’s not tough to run a business on your own. I saw the way Erica’s sister worked when she started selling those horrible leggings. 

[her brow raises] Leggings? What kinda leggings?

You too, Becca! Were you in GHS in the early 2010′s by any chance?

Er... [considers, before nodding] ...Yeah! I was there from like, 2013. Took some time away for a while because...personal stuff, but I was there.

hoodie - how different was your life five years ago?

It wasn’t really that much...I was about to get together with my amazing boyfriend and I was finally healing. I was clean, I was studying...I was finally get my shit together.

blizzard - what era of fashion would you bring back, if you had the choice?

Oh my god, early 2000′s. I miss my sparkly leggings. 

shiver - what’s your typical go-to fast food restaurant?

Noelle! I get called Elle sometimes, but I don’t mind one way or the other. 

Hi, Elle. Nice to meet you!

[frowns] Yeah. At least you love it, though. I think if I had a job I hated and they made me work Christmas, I… wouldn’t have a job anymore. Those boss babes on instagram make a very compelling argument when they say “You make your own hours! You work whenever you want to!” [laughs] If they weren’t, you know, MLM’s, I might consider it.

[she can’t help but smile, keeping in all of her comments, reminding herself that internalised judgement is still judgement] Yeah, but like....I’m pretty sure running your own business has to be hard in it’s own way....even when it is an MLM.

Thank you, uh… what’d you say your name was again?

Oh! Rebecca. I usually go by Becca though.

I’ve checked there, but I’ll keep looking! I’m not giving up just yet. 

I believe in you!

I want to be a first responder, but I can’t meet any of the physical requirements so I’m trying to find a job as a 911 operator. So far, I haven’t found anything open in the area. 

Try Rosewood--it’s a hell of a lot more likely they need first responders over there. Their service covers there and the next two towns over.

You’re kidding! That’s horrible. Right? Or do you, like, seriously love your job and don’t mind?

I seriously love my job, but I’d still love Christmas off. It’s just kinda the way it is.

Eh, I’ll live. I’m just being dramatic. [laughs] I’ve been working in the restaurant business too long.

Well, what else would you wanna do, if you could do anything?

Do you work through holidays too?

Uh huh! I work every day but public holidays and when I take time off. So like, I work Christmas Eve, but I get Christmas Day off.

No! And it drives me nuts!

[laughs] I’m so sorry. I feel bad for you.

Amen to that! You’d think that’d be a minimum standard, but that hasn’t stopped some people.

Does anything?

[chuckles] Yeah. They don’t really need me at work ever, and, uh, I’m only part-time anyway. Plus, you work at a day-care…right? I’d imagine it’s impossible to get days off there.

Sometimes it is.. but we try and make sure everybody gets when they need. Holidays are tough sometimes though.

Huh, I didn’t know that. You’d know more than I would though, so I trust you!

[smiles] I try my best. No good doing a job you know nothing about.