Chapter two: Changing Tactics

It's truly amazing just how many tears you can cry. I've cried so much this year that I'm honestly surprised I don't resemble a raisin. Or at least a soggy, snotty, crumpled up tissue.

It took me over a week to keep driving after my crying jag in Hoquiam. The lady, whose name was Jamie, in the office where I was staying started getting worried after the second night of me not leaving my room. She forced me to have breakfast, lunch and dinner with her on the third day, and the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth days too. She was very lovely. I couldn't figure out why she cared about me so much, so I asked her.

"Well to be honest, my youngest moved out last month. I can get pretty lonely here by myself," she didn't seem to mind my asking.

I found it so easy to talk to her. She didn't pressure me to tell her anything. Or expect me to confide all my fears to her. I just found myself opening up to her. And I think that she helped me. Not to get over my parents deaths exactly, but to help me move a few feet in the right direction. I finally felt like I was ready to stop somewhere for longer than a week at a time. I just wasn't sure where I wanted to stop. I knew I couldn't go back to L.A.

An ad in a newspaper left behind by one of the other tenants seemed to be the perfect answer to my problem.

Qualified car mechanic wanted.

Part time position with flexible hours and negotiable pay.

Applications to be sent to: Jack All Mechanics, Attn: , Johnson Road, Forks, WA 98331.

"I've found it Jamie!" I called out as I came into the office. I had been cleaning out the recently vacated room as a repayment for her generosity.

"Found what hun?" she asked looking up from her crossword.

"The answer!" my voice rose in excitement. She was giving me a confused look so I explained. "I know what to do! I'm gonna apply for this job," I showed her the ad.

She read it quickly and then looked at the front page, "Ah, this paper is two weeks old sweetie."

My bubble burst as suddenly as it had come. Of course it was an old paper. Those people had been in that room longer than I'd been here.

Jamie saw my defeated expression, "Hey, don't worry about it. Why don't you ring them and see if they've hired anyone. It can't hurt to try."

So I did.

The phone rang a few times before a blast of music issued from the phone's speaker. I heard someone yelling to turn it down then someone talking, "Jack all. What can I do for you today?"

"Ah, hi. I was just ringing about the ad you had in the paper a few weeks back. Have you hired anyone yet?" I wasn't feeling very optimistic.

"Oh, nah we haven't yet. We're still interviewing at the moment. Are you qualified?" I could hear the scepticism in the guy's voice.

"Yeah I am. So should I send in my c.v? Or am I wasting my time?"

"Hmm. Why don't you just come by and bring it in. We can do the interview at the same time, if that suits you."

"Yeah that's perfect. I can bring it round tomorrow. Thanks," yay! I might still be in with a chance.

"Sounds good. How about you come by about 11."

"Yeah, sure. Thanks. See you tomorrow," I hang up and do a spazzy little dance. Yay!

It suddenly occurs to me I don't have my c.v. I left it with the rest of the stuff I didn't want to get rid of at Jacks. One phone call later and I'm sitting at Jamie's fax collecting up the pages spewing out of it. Jack was nice enough to race home and dig it out for me.