This is based on my current job and how I feel. Figured Helga would understand better than anyone ;)

Enjoy! :)

Polka

Being invisible at home was pretty hard. But I had grown used to it. It is what it is and life sucks.

However, I hadn't really imagined that it would follow me to my work.

I worked at a local department store, and every month we had that stupid "Employee of the Month" thing I always used to laugh at.

"Criminy. What a lame way to try and get you to work harder. It's just some lame title." I always used to say.

And then, I got moved up to sales associate instead of just being some folder of new clothes that smelled fresh like a cardboard box.

That was when I started working a hell of a lot harder. Which was when I realized that while I had been moved up, I was completely replaceable.

I thought to myself, "I'm not going to be walked all over. I'm Helga G. PATAKI and I am completely worthy to be some stupid title on a wall." It was a dumb title, sure, but I could get it easy.

I worked hard. So getting Employee of the Month should have been a piece of cake.

It should have been.

I folded clothes.

I put away clothes.

I helped customers with the biggest damn smile I could muster, and you know what I get the next month?

Diddly squat, that's what.

I was about as noticed as the wall behind them. I was about as important as a grain of sand.

Easily replaced. Easily forgotten.

It was like my broken house all over again.

I watched as month and month passed me by with every name besides mine posted on that damn wall. Every month I looked at it with a hopeful smile and found myself more pissed than the month before.

"I deserve it. It's a load of crap that they won't just give it to me already."

"If they just gave it to you," Arnold said one day in Environmental Science class while looking closely at some rock under a microscope, "then wouldn't you feel like you didn't work at all to get it?" he turned to look at me with an open-minded expression.

"No. Because I deserve it."

"I'm not saying you don't, Helga. You work very hard. I know you pretty well-"

"You don't know me, bucko. You know NOTHING about me."

He twisted on his chair and crossed his arms.

"I don't."

"No."

"I know that you work really hard, but try not to show it. I know that you do that because of the Olga issue. You don't want people to think that you're trying to live up to her because you and I BOTH know that you don't have to live up to her. You are just as smart as her, but you don't want to feel like you have to prove yourself."

"Lucky guess. Name another thing."

He smirked and returned his attention back to the microscope.

"You have a lot more feelings than just anger."

I swallowed hard for a moment.

"W-what?"

"You're not some bully. So don't even try to make me think you are. I've known for a long time now."

"Kn-kno-known? I... I don't know what you're talking about."

"Known that you care a lot more than you lead on. After all, that's why you want Employee of the Month so bad. You care a lot to get noticed and to be told you're doing well, because you feel that you are."

My eyes widened for a moment before I cleared my throat and began my usual protest that took place when Arnold was spot on about something I didn't want to admit being wrong about.

"Pfft. I could care LESS if I got it. I just think I desrve it, that's all. I don't need their dinky little printed paper saying all the things I do right to know I'm a great worker, Arnoldo, I KNOW I'm good. And I could write my own damn 'what I do right' page. Hell, I could write a NOVEL I'm so good. I've only worked there since freshman year."

Scribbling down some numbers on his packet, I watched as his smile widened slightly.

"Whatever you say, Helga."

But he was right.

My beloved, as always, was right. How was it that he could know me so well, and yet never know my true feelings for him and that perfectly oblong shaped head of his?

How proud I was to fight until the death when I was clearly wrong. How shameful I felt to lie through my teeth about every aspect of myself, when Arnold already knew.

"Okay..." I started, hesitantly, "let's say, HYPOTHETICALLY of course, that you were right, and I DID care. A... a lot. What would you do if you were me?"

Arnold reached for my packet and copied the numbers he wrote on his own down in the table.

"I would maybe change your attitude."

"Excuse me?"

He finished writing and put the packet down in front of me while turning to look at me once again.

"I would try to show that you really enjoy your job. Those who tend to get Employee of the Month, no matter the kind of job, are recognized more when they truly enjoy their job-"

"But my job SUCKS, Arnold."

"Act like it doesn't. Be happy, make jokes, be agreeable unlike how you typically act. Show them the best you have to offer. If you do that for a while, more than just a month too Helga, and you still don't get the recognition then maybe you should confront your Manager and ask what it is you could improve upon. Managers like that you will take initiative and showing that you want to do even better."

"You think that will work?"

He nodded his head and smiled a warm smile.

"You're a great girl, Helga. And if they saw the potential I see in you, then I'm sure they can't ignore you."

I felt the heat swim to my cheeks in my veins and I smiled, completely swooned.

"I... I..." I took a breath and swallowed. "Thank you, Arnold."

"Any time, Helga."

The bell rang and Arnold picked up my packet from me to turn both of our projects in. The day was nearly over, and I was actually excited about going to work.

Maybe Arnold was right and by showing that I LIKED my job, maybe they'd LIKE having me there.

It was worth a shot, anyway.