Friday, May 9th, 2008

The clock hit 6 am sharp. Ahsoka, now 45, slowly sipped her coffee while looking at the time. "She starts at 7:30 am and she isn't up yet ? Guess I better "give her a hand"." As she walked over to the staircase, Aayla, their cat, was sleeping.

She held the cat in her arms. "Hey, kitty ! Say we go and wake up your "big sister", huh ?" She quietly stepped to the upper floor. Barely opening Mina's bedroom door, she could see that her daughter was completely covered in blankets, Garfield-style. She quietly tiptoed to the entrance. "Ok, kitty, we're gonna wake Mina in 3… 2… 1 !" She tossed Aayla onto the covers, causing Mina to wake with a start.

"Arrrrrgh ! MOM ! How many times do I have to tell you not to do that ?! I can wake on my own ! I'm not a kid anymore ! I'm 22, for Force's sake !" She grumbled.

Ahsoka pointed to her clock on the dresser and her work schedule on her personal billboard. "It's past 6 am now, Mina. You begin today's work shift at… 7:30 ! Factor in the time to shower, get dressed, have breakfast and drive through the morning traffic… You might JUST make it in time !"

Mina groaned as she gathered her clothes for the day and made a beeline to the bathroom. "Of ALL the places I could have a part-time job to do something productive between the university courses, it HAD to be Walmart…"

Ahsoka shook her head. "It could be a lot worse, Mina… There are thousands of people out there with no education or employment. You ought to consider yourself lucky."

Mina retorted through the door as the shower started to run. "Yeah, there's worse ! But having a clueless boss makes it all the less enticing to get up and go to work, you know ?"

As Ahsoka went through her second cup of coffee, Mina walked down the stairs. "Geez ! It's already 6:30 ! Guess I'll make due with a toast and fruits this morning !"

She proceeded to make her toast and go through her serving of fruits in record time. She ran back upstairs to brush her teeth. As Mina searched for her car keys, Ahsoka was already on her way towards Burt's garage.

Going quickly through the heavy traffic, Mina parked to the employee parking. She quickly made her way in, using her employee keys. As she arrived to her designated sales area, the Cosmetics department, her boss, Tom Jamieson, stopped her in her tracks. "Bonteri, you're cutting it too close ! We're opening in 5 minutes and that new display for the latest brand hasn't been done ! Don't just stand there, do something ! Chop, chop, chop !"

Mina suddenly noticed that there was a bunch of unopened boxes with the latest perfumes and nail polish products. "Wasn't Lydia on duty last night ? Why didn't she prepare the display knowing full well the promotion was starting this morning ?! Why must it always be up to me to get everything done ?! Gah !"

Tom shrugged his shoulders. "You're the senior employee of the department… you're supposed to be training these new kids. Have you been slacking off or what ?"

Mina felt quite insulted. "With all due respect, Mr. Jamieson, I also have university courses to attend in between all of this ! I've spent as much time… and patience with the new trainees as I could, sir !

If they can't "pick up the ball and get it rolling", the responsibility and overall performance of the department shouldn't fall entirely on me. I understand that they're high school students and not as interested in the job as an adult would be, but they need to learn responsibility. Isn't that the whole point of hiring high-school and university students on a part-time basis ?"

Mr. Jamieson couldn't argue her on that. "You've got a point. Lydia is scheduled to work later tonight at 5. Until then, try to get a semblance of a display up, please ?"

"I'll do my best, sir." She began to open the boxes. "L'Oréal beauty products ? Seriously ? They expect me to push those over the superior Avon brand ? Better set up a display before I catch flak from the boss." She placed the various products all around her work and sales area, carefully facing every item to make the display look appealing and eye-catching.

Throughout the day, Mina did her best to attempt to sell the new products, but her conscience told her to sell the superior product instead. A minute to 5 pm, the trainee named Lydia finally ran over to the sales area.

"Sorry that I came at the last moment. My boyfriend and I had an argument…" Lydia immediately started her cellphone and began texting her friends.

Mina raised an eye marking. "What are you doing ?"

Lydia felt a bit flustered all of a sudden, Mina's current tone told her she was in trouble. "Oh, just checking out on what's going on with everyone while we wait for customers to show up."

Mina cleared her throat. "And you can't do that… during your designated breaks or at home ? Tell me, Lydia. You worked last night… was it busy ?"

"Hardly. It was so slow, I could've fallen asleep…" The trainee answered.

Mina grabbed her by the shoulders a bit forcefully, and brought her over to the now empty boxes. "You see those boxes ? We received those TWO DAYS ago ! According to the sales plan of the week, you knew that we were setting up a decent L'Oréal display as the promotion of "Buy 2, save 20%" was starting today. Since last night wasn't busy… why didn't you unpack the boxes and prepare the display in advance ?"

Lydia simply shut off her phone and shrugged her shoulders. "I… didn't feel like it…"

Mina let out a shocked gasp. "You… didn't feel like it ?! Lydia… That… That's… unacceptable ! Completely unacceptable ! I'll be having a word with Mr. Jamieson next week. You better do your part over the weekend… or there will be trouble !"

"You're not my mom ! You can't tell me what to do !" Lydia shot back.

Mina crossed her arms, propping herself against the desk. "You're right. I'm not your mother. I'm your immediate superior, young lady. And if you can't learn to follow orders and get a work routine going, we're going to have to replace you ! How old are you again ?"

"I'm only 16, Mina. Give it a rest !"

"When I was your age, Lydia, I had a part-time job at a local pet shop. I maintained the animals and enclosures and that gave the owner a chance to focus on selling her animals. It was a lot of work, but I put in the extra effort because I cared about her success. This department wouldn't be standing if I didn't give so much sweat and blood into it ! And on top of that, I'm also majoring in Accounting at the university. My advice to you : You better start taking your work seriously. If you don't, you'll never be able to hold down a job. Regardless of whether you're 16 or over 50. Change your attitude."

Lydia gulped. "O… okay. Can I help with anything ?"

Mina handed her a pricing gun. "You can begin by checking the prices for all the new products. Make sure the prices and products correspond. If you find any anomalies, I want to know about it, ok ?"

Lydia nodded and went to work. Mina began to think her pep talk probably did the girl some good.

Friday, May 16th

A week had passed since Lydia changed her attitude for the better. Over the morning, Mr. Jamieson was going over current sales. "What the… ? L'Oréal sales not moving and Avon sales steadily going up ?! The heck is going on in that department ?"

As Mina had finished a sale with an elderly woman, she caught the sight of her boss storming towards her. "Oh, great ! Here he comes… Probably gonna whine about the low L'Oréal sales…"

"Close up shop for a bit, Bonteri. I want to have a word with you in the office, like pronto !"

Mina's lekku paled for a moment. "Yep, I'm in for an earful now ! So much for trying to push the superior brand…"

As she entered Mr. Jamieson's office, she took a chair and took a deep breath. "What's the problem ?"

"Close the door, will ya ?" Once the door was closed, Mr. Jamieson began his rant. "I've been looking over the sales numbers during the week. In the cosmetics department, where you're in charge of, have a decent promotion with L'Oréal products. However, very few sales have been done and Avon products keep going out the door. Can you… explain what's happening ?"

Mina took a deep breath. "Sir… with all due respect, I cannot push L'Oréal products in good conscience knowing Avon is a far superior brand…"

Mr. Jamieson face-palmed at the revelation. "I don't believe I'm hearing this… especially coming from you ! Listen, Sweetie, I don't give a rat's ass about what product is superior ! These companies are paying big money to have those displays… The least you could do is sell them… no matter if they're not the best… The regular client doesn't know or cares… If we don't make sales, we don't make money. If we don't make money… we don't… you know…"

Mina was utterly disgusted. "I'm afraid we have a problem here, Mr. Jamieson… I can't do it…"

He tapped his fingers on his desks, his anger rising. "Correction… We had a problem… You're fired ! Now, get outta here !"

Mina quickly rose up, a shocked expression on her face. "You're firing me for that ?! Really ? Wow… that's low… Good luck finding someone as knowledgeable as I was, sir. You'll need it !" She stormed out of his office and made her way towards the employee lockers, gathering all her personal items.

As Mina was about to step out, a familiar face stepped in front of her. "Aren't you heading out a bit early ? It's only 11:05 am…" It was Bob McClane, the boy who had once tried to take advantage of her. Since he changed his ways, he took a course in administration and quickly rose up the ranks to become Assistant Manager.

"Sorry, Bob. I'm afraid I've been "canned"."

He couldn't believe it. "What ? Sometimes I don't understand what's going on in Jamieson's head. Well… look on the "bright side", you'll no longer have to suffer through him. Take care of yourself. And say "Hi" to Travis for me !"

Mina let out a light smile. "He's only a couple of years away from retirement, Bob. I trust you'll do a much better job managing everyone here. No doubt you'll be fairer with everyone too ! Travis is gone with his folks for a couple of weeks, but I'll relay his greetings from you once I see him. You take care of yourself as well, huh ?"

As Mina returned home, Daniel was enjoying a day off from college. He was just lounging lazily while reading a novel. "Oh hey, sis. Gee, you're here early. Aren't you supposed to only get back at 6 ?"

Mina gave a sad look to her brother. "Normally, yeah, I'd end at 6. Alas, I got fired."

Daniel's eyes almost leapt out of their sockets. "You got canned ?! Wow ! That sucks !"

Mina plopped on the sofa, letting out a sigh. "Perhaps it was for the best, Dan. I wasn't intending on working there my whole life anyways. I was just there to kill time and make a bit of money on the side…"

"So, what are you gonna do now ?"

Mina went over to the family's extensive CD collection. "Right now… I need to unwind and release my frustrations. This CD here has a song that always lifts me up." She held the album "Don't Break the Oath" by Mercyful Fate. Inserting the disc into the stereo, she skipped to the 7th track, titled "Welcome Princess of Hell". She turned to her brother. "Do you mind if I blast this ?"

Daniel shrugged his shoulders. "I never understood what you and Mom see in this guy. His voice is so… squeaky and off-key. But yeah, blast away."

"It's not off-key nor squeaky, Dan. It's… unique. Especially in the heavy metal scene. You might want to cover your montrals, brother. Those guitars at the beginning are LOUD."

Daniel just rolled his eyes. "Just get on with it, geez !"

I turn off the lights, we like darkness

Now you call my name, you finally came

Even in the night I see the light shining bright

I'm alone with my friends

Now I see you clear, we raise our glasses

Welcome to my house Princess of Hell

Even in the night I see the light shining bright

I'm alone with my friends

I will bring in here my crystal ball

I will gaze, you will know what is to come

I'm amazed of what I've seen tonight

I won't tell a living soul they would not believe

Welcome Princess of Hell

Never will I break the oath I gave

I hail you again in Satan's name

Princess of Hell

Even in the night I see the light shining bright

I'm alone with my friends

We will be back, we will be back

Once the song finished playing, Mina felt much better. "Yep, that song always picks me up when I'm feeling down."

"Happy for you, sis. Can I read my book in peace and quiet now ?" Daniel managed to find the part he was at before Mina interrupted him.

At 3:30 pm, Ahsoka arrived from work. She saw her children just lounging lazily in the living room. "Hey Dan, hey Mina." Suddenly, she realized something was out of place. "Mina ? What are you doing here ? I thought you were working until 6."

Mina sighed loudly. "I got fired, Mom."

Ahsoka raised an eye marking. "What ? How did that happen ? You're probably the best cosmetics salesperson Walmart ever hired. I… I don't get it…"

"It's kind of my fault, Mom. We were forced to push sales for an inferior line of products. I couldn't bring myself to "betray" my faithful clients. Once Mr. Jamieson confronted me on the issue, he fired me on the spot. As I said with Dan earlier, perhaps it's for the best that I no longer work there, Mom."

Ahsoka sat to her. "I can see where you're coming from, Mina. I understand your reasoning."

"You do ?"

"Of course. Sometimes, manufacturers ask us to stock a particular piece for automobiles. If it doesn't get Burt's approval, guess what happens ? We don't sell it to our clients, simple as that."

Mina let out a nervous laugh. "That's the difference, Mom. Burt's garage is privately owned, so he can control his entry of inventory. Walmart is a major corporation that has stores nearly everywhere, so they are sent all sorts of products, whether the staff wants to sell them or not."

She hugged her daughter. "Well… they are announcing good weather for the weekend and next week. How about you and I… go on a road trip ? Could that help you to change your string of thoughts ?"

Mina welled up with excitement. "Really, Mom ? Just the two of us ? Sure, I'm up for that ! Where could we go ?"

"Take the time to think about it and pick a destination, ok ?" Ahsoka rose up and walked over to the fridge, reaching for a bottle of Coke.

Mina quickly joined her mother and helped herself with a bottle of her own. "Well, since Travis is out of town for a couple of weeks, there's nothing preventing the two of us from spending a bit of time together. How about we go south ?"

Ahsoka reached into the cupboard for a pair of plastic straws. "Any place in mind ?"

"Well… I've always wanted to visit the State of Louisiana." Mina decided.

Ahsoka's curiosity had to be sated. "Why Louisiana ?"

"Well… I've always wanted to try out authentic Cajun cuisine, visit an alligator farm… and practice my French since they do speak the language, quite surprisingly."

"Those all sound like good reasons, Mina. Very well. We'll do just that. How about we head out tomorrow morning ?" Ahsoka's experience with French had been not-so-good when she and Kayla had visited the Province of Québec in Canada, in '97. Perhaps Mina could give her some pointers concerning pronunciation on many words.

"I'll get everything ready, Mom ! Thanks again !" The coming week would soon become one of Mina's greatest memories as a young adult.

Woah ! I'm not even done yet with the Game of Thrones story and I've got another Modern story started. Don't you people love this new exploration of the modern cast ? It's going to be tricky doing two stories at the same time, but neither are going to be as long as their predecessors. I would expect by late spring or early summer to begin working on the Original Trilogy AU with Mina as the additional crew member of the Millennium Falcon. Anyways, over the next chapter, Ahsoka and Mina will be traveling down various highways towards Louisiana. There will be some humorous events taking place, such as Ahsoka being stopped by a highway patrolman for speeding and poor Mina getting hit on by various men at a bar. Feel free to leave a review.