Her Journey Begins (32 page)



  Chris thought she was nervous about taking the test yesterday but today she feels twice the anxiety and excitement as she walks into the photography studio just a few minutes before 10 a.m. Steve smiles as he brushes past her, heading out the door.

  
“
Hi Chris. Bye Chris. Catch ya later.
”
Chris smiles and nods at him before walking up to the counter.

   
“
Hi Charlie. Am I too early?
”

  
“
Good morning Chris. How are you today?
”

Flashing him a big grin Chris exclaims.
“
Nervous
”

Charlie chuckles.
“
You
’
ll do okay. We are kind of quiet this morning, so I thought I could just go over some things with you.
”

  
“
Sure, I am all ears and here to learn.
”

   Charlie walks her through all the rooms and shows her where everything is kept while explaining some of the equipment that she
’
s not familiar with.

  
“
Now Chris, I think I am going to keep your hours and days flexible.
”
Charlie sees Chris
’
shoulders slump.
“
No, it
’
s not what you think. I
’
m not reneging on my job offer. I want you to do the in home portrait sittings, working with kids and animals. You
‘
re quiet and shy and yet you have this enthusiasm that they can relate to.
”

The phone rings and Charlie excuses himself and goes into his office to answer it. Chris is wiping down the counter when he comes back.

  
“
Chris, I didn
’
t hire you to clean.
”

  
“
I don
’
t mind.
”

  
“
Well I have good news for you. I am sending you out Saturday to do a photo sitting for a young lady that is turning 18.
”

  
“
By myself? No Charlie I
’
m not ready. Why can
‘
t you send Steve?
”

   
“
See this is what I was talking about. Sending Steve to do a photo shoot with a young girl might make her feel uncomfortable. Now with you, she
’
d probably be more relaxed and the photos would come out more natural.
”

  
“
I don
’
t know Charlie.
”

  
“
You
’
ll do fine. Now instead of you coming in on Thursday, I
’
ll pick you up on my way to work on Saturday. You do know how to drive, don
’
t you?
”

  
“
Yes
”

  
“
Okay, then after I pick you up, you can take my car and go do the photo shoot.
”

  
“
Are you sure?
”

Charlie puts his arm around her.
“
Yep
”

   Steve is sitting at the front counter when Chris walks in.
“
Hi Steve
”

  
“
Hi Chris, what are you doing here, you aren
’
t supposed to be working today.
”

  
“
I know, but I was getting stir crazy sitting at the apartment and it looks like we might get rain, so the park was out of the question, so here I am.
”
Chris smiles.
“
Where
’
s Charlie?
”

  
“
He went to pick up some supplies. Do you want a soda?
”

  
“
Sure. Thanks
”

   Steve comes back with her soda and pulls out the chair next to him.
“
You can come sit down back here.
”
Chris walks around the counter and sits down.
“
So Chris, how long have you been a photographer?
“

   Chris looks at him.
“
What
’
s today?
”

  
“
Wednesday, why?
”

Chris looks down at her fingers.
“
Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Wednesday.
”
Chris grins at him.
“
Five days.
”

  
“
What? No way. I saw the photos you did for my mom and they were professional
”

  
“
No, it
’
s just a hobby.
”

  
“
What did you do before?
”

  
“
I was a cashier for a convenience store and then I worked for a department store.
”

  
“
So did you just move out here from somewhere else?
”

Chris looks down at her fidgety hands.
“
No California born. I
’
ve been living here all my life.
”

He sees that she seems uncomfortable talking about her past, so he changes the subject.
“
Looks like it
‘
s going to pour.
”

  
“
Yeah, it was trying to sprinkle when I was walking over here. How long have you been a photographer Steve?
”

  
“
I
’
ve been doing this since I graduated high school, so seven years now.
”

  
“
Do you like it?
”

He smiles,
“
It
’
s a job.
”

Charlie comes in as they are sitting there.
“
Hi Chris, what are you doing here today?
”

  
“
Hi Charlie, I just came to visit. I was bored.
”

  
“
Well, I can put you to work if you want to help me bring in the supplies and put them away.
”

  
“
Sure, I can do that.
”
Chris follows Charlie out to the car, helps him carry in the few boxes he has and puts them away.
“
Well I should be going, Sue will be coming home soon.
”
Chris smiles at Steve.
“
Thanks for letting me visit.
”

Steve smiles.
“
You are welcome, come back anytime.
”
Chris walks out into the soft rain that is starting to fall. Running the last block, all the memories of Brandon and her running home from school, come flooding back, washing over her with a sadness that makes her start to cry. She unlocks the door and goes in. Grabbing her portfolio Chris sits down on the couch, wanting to see his face. She misses him so much.

   Friday finally gets here and Chris is waiting impatiently for a phone call from the district office when the phone rings.

  
“
Hello
”

  
“
Hi Chris, it
’
s Linda.
”

  
“
Hi Linda, I wasn
’
t expecting you to call.
”

  
“
Can you come in to the district office today at 11 a.m. for an interview?
”

Chris is exuberant when she asks,
“
I passed?
”

Linda laughs,
“
Yes you did. You scored a 96 %.
”

  
“
Oh, I can
’
t believe it! Thank you.
”

  
“
So that means we will see you at 11 a.m.?
”

  
“
Yes, I
’
ll be there.
”
Hanging up, Chris presses her hands against her eyes to stop the tears and grins.

   The interview goes okay, well at least Chris thinks it did. They tell her thank you and Linda walks her out.
“
We have two more interviews. We will make our decision, and then call everyone this afternoon.
”
Chris smiles, thanks her, and leaves.

   Getting back to the apartment Chris paces back and forth waiting for the phone to ring. She knows she needs this job because the few hours a week at the portrait studio isn
’
t enough to support her.



   Sue is putting the key in the door when she hears Chris scream. Quickly unlocking it Sue walks in.
“
What
’
s wrong? Are you okay?
”

Chris says
“
Thank You
”
and hangs up the phone before answering her.
“
I got the job!
”

Sue gives her a hug.
“
That
’
s awesome! Now we get to go out and celebrate!
”

  
“
What? What do you mean celebrate? How? Where?
”

Smiling, Sue is as excited as Chris.
“
There is a club that has a new band playing tonight. We are going dancing.
”

  
“
But, I don
’
t know how to dance.
”

Sue grins.
“
Neither does half the people there. You
’
ll fit right in.
”



   Making their way through the crowd, a nice looking guy walks over and puts his arm around Sue
’
s waist,
“
Hey gorgeous, do you come here often?
”

Sue laughs,
“
Only as often as you.
”
Looking at Chris, Sue introduces them.
“
Chris this is Phil, he
’
s a fourth grade teacher at the school where I work. Phil, meet Chris, King Elementary
’
s new health clerk.
”
Phil shakes her hand and then leads Sue up towards the dance floor, leaving Chris standing by herself, not knowing anyone. Looking towards the stage she sees a D.J. but no band. Someone puts their hand on her shoulder.

  
“
You want to dance?
”
Looking towards where the voice comes from, she sees Steve, Charlie
’
s nephew.

  
“
Hi Steve what are you doing here?
”

  
“
I was bored sitting at home, so I thought I
’
d drop by and check out the new band tonight.
”

  
“
But there
’
s no band up there.
”
Chris says nodding towards the stage.

  
“
They won
’
t play until 10 p.m. What are you doing here?
”
He asks smiling down at her.

  
“
Thanks to your mom, I got hired by the school district today and Sue suggested we celebrate.
”

  
“
Congratulations, now would you like to dance?
”

  
“
I have to warn you, I
’
m not very good at it.
”