The time is now 10:52 pm when my phone chimes again. I got a response from Jacob and Becca's follows shortly after. "Ahh ahaha I told ya to stop by on your way home from work that day or you'd forget 😆
Don't laugh at me! 😭 I was super tired
You got off at 2 pm, I thought you didn't have to go in early?
No, but I was tired after I got off 😭
Ooooh noooo my poor baby 🥺❤️
Oh shut up 😠 I'm allowed to be lazy sometimes
More like every time you get off of work
I can't help it! This job is boring🙄
At least it isn't hard to do eve😕"
Sigh. He was right my job wasn't hard at all. I was a "door greeter". I stood in the entryway and would say hello to people that came inside. My job was to make them feel welcome. The place I worked at was one of those wholesale clubs with 3 entrances. One long entryway with ceiling To floor windows facing separating the entryway and the outside. Two automatic doors on both ends leading you inside this air conditioned area. It was always lined with some products as a way of enticing you to buy them. There was a large red garage door leading to the inner part of the store with more stacks of products littered everywhere.
I stood in the hallway watching and waiting patiently for guests to arrive. I was required to wear these tacky red vests. The material was that of a windbreaker jacket with bold white lettering on the back that read "Help is Here". It was provided by the company as a way of "congratulating" us for our hard work along with a cheaply made lunch bag containing a handful of assorted Halloween sized candy, a company brand lanyard, and a single business card that said "I love you to the moon and back" in random colors. It was super creepy and I ended up dumping the candy on the table in the break room and tossing everything else in the trash. In this day and age with the inflation rising higher than ever we could get a raise or bonus instead of this so called "thank you" bag. All we want is to be paid a living wage. Sigh. These jobs suck no wonder people don't want to work anymore.
We were later told these vests were now part of our uniform, which made the whole appreciation for our "hard work" feel hollow. I've jumped around a few different jobs before. Mostly because the company itself turned to shit or having a genuine team fall apart due to shitty managers. Sigh. It was always the same. I tried applying for the local bookstores, but sadly the lack of customers was few and far between. With the digital age booming they couldn't afford to hire more people or they wanted to keep it in the family for family members looking for a job.
I let his text message hang there for a bit and opened Becca's.
"What kinda chore is your dad making you do now (˵¯͒〰¯͒˵)?
...I was supposed to donate those books I left in the trunk, but got lazy after work so went home instead (*꒦ິ꒳꒦ີ)
Ahahah why didn't ya use the drop box they have? How's your dad doing btw??
The shop I wanted to donate to didn't have one (ง •̀_•́)ง and he's doing a lot better which makes me happy but..
Why do ya have to donate books to a different place? But what?
Because I want more people to be interested and give these books forever homes. Not everyone will go to other shops. He just told me that he's going out on another field trip tomorrow. His buddy is coming to pick him up for a flight in the morning (◡︵◡)
Oh..where to?
Luckily it's in New Mexico and not some place in the Amazon. His doctor did clear him but I'm still a bit worried (´-ι_-｀)
It's oki evie ヽ(´▽｀)/ I'm sure he'll be fine and like ya said it's within the states, nothing will happen.
I know I know. I still can't shake this feeling tho -`д´-
No worries some shop therapy will do you some good! Speaaaaking of! There's a new store that opened up and I'm dying to check it out (*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)"
Jacobs text pops down from the top of the screen and I press it.
"Are ya gona do it tomorrow? You're off aren't you? I'll come with to help.
Yea my dad is going out on a trip with his friend and I promised him I would do it tomorrow so that would be really great ty baby😍! I'll have a lot more books to add to what's in the trunk so it'll be heavy.
Sounds good We can take my car👍
That'd be great! Can ya drop me off downtown after??? the girls wana go shopping.
Oh really? Is he going to be ok? And sure no problem.
I think so, I won't lie I'm actually really worried about him going. But the doctor did clear him last month so I think he'll be fine. Do you wana hang out with us?
Don't get worked up and let this eat at you baby. Is he gona be back in time for your birthday? I actually planned to meet up with the boys at the arcade. I promise to go next time 🥺
I'll try not to. Ya he said he would so that's a relief to hear. Oh oki well tell them I said hi 👋
Will do. I love you eve I'll see you in the morning 😘
Love you too babe goodnight 🥰😚"
Switching back to Becca's text I ask what time are we all meeting up and she says around 1pm. Replying with that works for me, I tell her I'm about to head to bed and she tells me sweet dreams 🌙ʕ – ᴥ – ʔ.
My brows furrow over the uneasiness in my chest, but I will trust in everyone and let it go for now. The screen on my cellphone times out turning black. I set it on the bedside table and look at my laptop screen. Saving the document once more I move the cursor over to start and click on power then shut down. Setting it on the floor and sliding it under my bed I get comfortable under the blankets laying on my left side and close my eyes. I begin chanting in my head that everything is fine and I am just overthinking things. This chant continues until I drift off to sleep.