Disclaimer: I don't own anyone or anything from Joan of Arcadia. Just me having fun and passing the time.
Summary: Two jobs, summer vacation and a new boyfriend… How can one girl cope?
Author's Note: This is another installment to Long Week. Although they don't really connect, aside from small references to the previous story, they are pretty much stand-alone. I hope you enjoy it. Joan/Adam, Grace/Luke, and whoever I decide to pair together, although the story isn't strictly 'romance' fluff. . Hope you enjoy. Please Read and Review. You know I love it.
Old Fashioned Memories
The sun's warm rays penetrated to the slightly rustling leaves on the old tree in the backyard, beaming down at an upturned face. It caressed the delicate flesh, turning the skin a faint pink. Dark brown eyes peered up, squinting at the bright light trying to make out a few shapes in the sparse clouds of the morning sky. The young girl inhaled deeply, taking in a refreshing burst of summer air. She held her breathe a moment before expelling it on a sigh of contentment, flexing her hands against the rope that held the wooden swing beneath her in suspension. She was happy to sit still within the somewhat quiet morning, soaking it all in.
It was the first day of summer vacation, and although most of Arcadia High students were still fast asleep in their beds, Joan Girardi opted to get up before her own family to enjoy the day. She knew her family would think it strange that she'd intentionally get up early on her vacation, when they had to fight to get her up for school, but they wouldn't understand. Today was a turning point for her. The previous summers were spent with friends and families, but never did she have a boyfriend to enjoy the leisure hours with. A soft smile graced her lips as she thought about the quiet, misunderstood boy who captured her heart oh so long ago. She couldn't believe it had been barely two weeks since the dreadful Pageant week, when she and Adam had come together as more than friends.
Thinking about that day in the music room had her chuckling to herself at how they must have seemed – two extremely nervous kids both wanting the same thing and unsure of the other's feelings. Ever since that day, when they took the risk, it was like a cloud being lifted off her, letting the sun in. Like the same sun that was on her now, lightening her day further. Today she would see Adam, and they would begin planning their time together. Although she was glad for the more hours given to her at the bookstore, because she could use the money for the many activities she wanted to do with Adam, it really cut into her free time. She had to fight tooth and nail to get the weekends off, so they would be strictly Adam and Joan time. The rest of the week would be her working until 6 that night and hoping that they could get together for a few hours before she had to get some sleep for work the next day.
"Beautiful day, isn't it?"
Joan turned at the voice that disrupted her thoughts, glaring at the familiar visage of the hobo that she had seen the first time pawing through her garbage. She sighed, sifting on her seat to face him fully, annoyance clearly written in her expression. It was the first day of vacation, and she had been really hoping that she would spend the entire time mission free… But it wasn't to be, apparently.
"Don't you go on vacation? Or let others enjoy theirs?"
"Now Joan… is that anyway to greet a person? Especially on a day like today?"
"Normally, no… But when it comes to you, I know that I won't be able to enjoy a day like today, because you're going to suggest I do something, and I'm going to get it wrong… and end up hating a day like today. So can we get this over with. That way I can spend the rest of my day sulking until Adam comes over…"
"I want you to sign up at the Mercy's Aid as a activities partner."
"A what? Activities partner? What's an activities partner?"
"Why don't you go there and find out?"
"In case you've forgotten, Oh Wise One… I've got a job. Remember? The very first thing you 'suggested' to me. Why do I need another one? Besides, I barely have enough free time now as it is."
"You'll find the address in the newspaper on the kitchen table. Have a good day, Joan." With a wave, the grungy man walked over to the trash bins and pulled out a week old flyer to the local department store, absently flipping through it as he walked away. Although his back was turned, he didn't miss the frustrated glare that he received from the disgruntled young woman. He gave Helen Girardi a big smile, walking a way from her confused look at having caught him picking through her garbage.
"Joan… who was that man?" Helen turned from looking at the retreating back of the bum to her daughter, arching a brow at her murderous look. "What's wrong, honey?"
"Oh… Just my vacation being ruined." With those cryptic – and now expected – answer, Joan stormed through the backdoor leading into her kitchen, spotting the offending newspaper splayed open to the classified ads. She easily located the big advertisement for an Activities Coordinator at the local nursing home. She groaned as she read the requirements – must work weekends. She grabbed the sheet up in a killing grip, storming over to her purse and car keys, scrawling out a quick note to let her mom know where she was heading. She slammed the driver door and jammed the key into the ignition, wincing at the grinding noise the car gave as it sputtered to life. Consciously containing her anger, she slowly backed out of her drive way and headed towards the nursing home, kissing any time that she could spend with her boyfriend goodbye. She silently fumed to herself, wishing she had slept in late like her brother. Some vacation!
The modern, brick building with a lot of big, evenly-spaced windows surprised Joan at first. She had driven past this building countless times on her way into town, and never once did she picture it as a nursing home. She assumed that it housed over-priced lawyers, an accounting firm, or something equally prestigious if a bit stuffy. The place had no decorative adornments… Nothing truly inviting a person to want to live within. It was bland in design, very boxy and uniform; along with the building, the lawn was immaculately kept, but nothing extravagant was planted. Boring shrubs to go along with boring trees to match the boring tile that traveled from the sidewalk towards the glass, front doors. Joan parked her vehicle in an available spot and slid out to stare in disbelief. He wanted her to work in this building rife without imagination. With some misgivings, she walked inside to the reception area, waiting for the receptionist to look up from her typing and phone conversation to acknowledge her presence. As she waited, she looked around the small room. What she saw surprised her even more than the outside.
Where the outside was bland, the inside was anything but. Everywhere she looked, it burst with color from potted plants to artistic displays of one of the resident's paintings. There was a cream sofa and two arm chairs seated in a semi-circle to face a television. Antique-looking end tables and coffee table held more potted flowers and magazines.
Joan looked over to the Miss Watson when she called out to her, abandoning her inspection of the place. She pasted on a false smile, inquiring about the activities coordinator.
"Ah yes… Here's an application and a pen. If you'd like, you can take a seat over there on the sofa and fill this out. I'll call the H.R. department about an interview." Miss Samantha Watson returned her smile with a genuine one of her own, handing over the stated material. As soon as Joan took the papers over to the sofa, she lifted up the receiver and began dialing the Human Resource department.
"Hi, Betsy, this is Sam. I've got a young woman here about the position posted in the paper. Yes… Okay? Sure thing. Bye-bye." She called out to the young woman, waiting for her to lift her head from studying the application before her, before speaking. "As soon as you're finished, just go through the doorway behind you and take a right down the hallway. Go to the third door on the left and ask for Betsy Johanon, and she'll help you out."
"Um… thanks." Joan gave her a small smile before going back to filling out her form. Ten minutes later, a frazzled Joan stood up and gathered her purse before heading towards the direction pointed out to her. She knocked on the door and stood for a moment, battling an urge to make a run for it. It was within her rights to enact on her free will… 'And then deal with the consequences afterwards? No thanks.' She stifled a sigh, knowing she was stuck. She forced another smile to her lips, as the door opened to reveal an elderly woman with her snow-white hair pulled back into a bun, spectacles hanging about her neck by a chain, and a stern look on her face. Joan blinked in surprise, taking a step back in defense to the woman's look.
"So… You want the job, eh? What makes you think you're qualified?" She never budged from the doorway, watching the younger woman squirm under her gaze. She waited for the answer, frowning further in impatience.
"I-I'm not sure.. It's like a calling. I feel I'm meant to…."
"Calling, eh? Aren't you a little young to have a 'calling'?" She arched a scraggly brow, her blue eyes mocking her.
"That didn't stop Joan of Arc, who was my age…" Joan blurted out before she could stop herself, watching the woman's reaction. She was surprised when the woman burst into laughter, stepping back to allow entrance to the tidy office. She slinked by the woman, expecting at any moment to be struck down with the ice of the woman's stare. She sat down on the edge of the seat opposite of the desk, her back ramrod straight. She waited for Betsy to compose herself and take a seat. She barely glanced at the application turning once more to asking her questions.
"You do know that this is a weekend job? A lot is required of the few hours you are to be present at this facility. You will get a total of six hours for the whole weekend – three hours each day. The day starts at noon, right after the residents have finished their lunch. An activities director will explain the day's agenda, and you will be on hand to help out as needed, be it helping with transport, assisting the resident with activities, etc. Think you can handle it? If not, just say so. I don't have time to waste on slackers."
"I can do it…"
"Great. You start this weekend. Come in around 11:30 that day to fill out some paperwork. Dismissed." With that order, she tossed Joan's application to the side and began shuffling papers on her desk. Joan wasted no time in the office, giving a hasty thanks before exiting the office, not wanting to prolong the intense scrutiny. She walked slowly to her car, her shoulders slumped. How would she explain this all to Adam? She was sure he'd understand… in his own special way, but he would be disappointed just as she was. She climbed into her car and headed on home, not looking forward to that evening when Adam was due to arrive.