The One Where Emma Gets A Job

Ben POV

The alarm went off at seven o'clock in the morning. It was Saturday, Emma's graduation. I was so proud of the little squirt she had really done well in school, and she had picked a hard career, pre-law. To think that my little sister was going to be a lawyer. I could not believe it.

I got up carefully to make sure that I did not wake Rose. I walk to the shower and slide out of my boxers. The hot water feels good, as I wash myself. I rinse off, and towel dry, wrapping the towel around my waist. I walk out of the steamy shower into the cold bathroom, and walk softly into the closet. I decided to wear a blue shirt, grey slacks, and a black tie. That should make Emma happy.

By the time I changed it was seven thirty. Alright, I have let her sleep as long as I can. "Hey, babe, you need to get up the graduation starts at nine."

She stayed sleeping.

"Rose, you need to get up," I said, nudging her foot gently.

"Why?"

"My sister is graduating college," I said. And it was a miracle based on how much she called me crying, threatening to drop out and come live with me.

"Sleepy," complained Rose.

"You're not sleepy. Your hungover. Now come on," I said, throwing the covers off.

She sighed and sat up on her elbows. "I really don't want to go to Ella's thing."

"Emma! And what do you mean you don't want to come. She is my sister."

"Well, she is your half sister and she is seven years younger than you. It's kind of weird."

What? "It's weird that I have a relationship with my sister and want to go to her graduation?"

"She is just kind of clingy to you."

"We are close. I was an only child. I was really lonely when I was a kid, when she came along and started talking it was a miracle. I practically worshiped her."

"She is not really your sister."

"Yeah she is. We have the same dad."

"Look I know your family is kind of different anyway, and I get it."

"What do you mean 'kind of different'?"

"Well, most people don't have two moms Ben."

"My mom's a lesbian, and she has a wife. Does that bother you?"

"Well, yeah it's weird. Doesn't it bother you?"

"No. I never has."

"Never?"

"Susan is just as part of my life as my father or my mother or Rachel. I love them all equally. I respect them all. If you don't get that, then I don't think we can do this."

"I don't get that."

"Then were done."

Emma POV

The restaurant that my mom picked was crowded, but we all got tables. The maitre'd slid three tables together to accommodate my six grandparents, dad's parents, my mom's parents, mimi and popi remarried to other people and were happy, my parents, my many aunts and uncle, and all my cousins.

Well, some of them were my cousins. Ben was my older brother, Jack and Erica were my cousins by blood, but Frank Jr Jr, Leslie, and Chandler were all so close that we just call them cousins. Anyway, we were all sitting at a long table for seven.

Erica was sitting beside me, and she leaned in to me and said, "I love your crown."

"Thanks. Mom is being so extra today," I said.

"No, today we celebrate you," she said, giving me a side hug.

The waiter came around, and got everyone's drink order. I looked at the menu, and thought carefully. Today is the moment of reckoning, and it is all going to go to shit I thought. Might as well get drunk. I ordered a Manhattan. I was screwed. I just finished graduate school at forty thousand dollars a year, and I have no job prospects. The waiter brought my Manhattan along with everyone else's drinks.

"Ladies and Gentleman," said my dad standing up.

"Everybody, Ross is gonna make a toast," said Grandpa.

Aunt Monica drowned her shot. Mom laughed.

"Yeah, anyway," continued my dad, "I would like to make a toast to my beautiful daughter, who studied and worked and now has her law degree, and god, I could not be more proud of her."

"Here, here," said my mom.

"To Emma!" said Uncle Chandler.

"Way to go kid!" said Uncle Joey.

I grabbed it and stood up. "Hey everyone," I said, nervously. "Thank you so much for coming. I am really appreciative of all of you guys being here. College is so stressful, and intense, and I barely made it. I got my GPA this morning and it was a 2.51. Um, I never failed any classes, but I did not do well in most of them. I do not know if I can get into any law firm because of my grades and I am sorry I let you guys down. With that ship sailed I have no plans for the future, and I don't really feel like celebrating."

I threw back my Manhattan, set the glass down, and ran to the bathroom, leaving everybody in shock. When I reached the bathroom, I sat on the toilet lid, and just started to bawl. I have no idea what my parents thought of me right now. I can't imagine what my mother thought of me, she was so god-damn perfect. She had been in fashion since I was born, and was a big executive. I mean, people kneel before the almighty Rachel Green. And then there was my father, who was a college professor for God sakes. He was so smart and studied how the world got here, and knew about creatures that were not in existence anymore. Ugh, I got a 2.51. I got F's for Christ sake. I don't think my dad has seen an F. They probably think I am lazy, or just plain stupid.

Then I thought of Uncle Chandler, being the head of his own advertising agency, and Uncle Joey being an agent. Then there was Aunt Monica, who was the head of a five star restaurant, and then Aunt Phoebe and Uncle Mike make their own music and have been on Ellen and Oprah. God they are all so smart.

They probably think I did not try. I tried so hard. I went to the tutoring, to the TAs, and asked friends to help. I was behind from day one, and nothing made sense. My advisor said to change my major. I changed my major three times, they said if I changed again, I would not graduate on time. I still almost failed. I sniffed.

"Emma?"

"Go away," I said.

"Baby, just tell me which stall you are in."

"The last one."

"Can you open the door?"

"Fine," I said.

I got up and opened the door, to reveal my mom in a beautiful spaghetti strap white dress and perfect make-up. That was Rachel Geller-Green, always perfect. She reached out my hand, and led me out of the stall and towards the sink and the mirror. Then she produced my black purse and laid it on the counter.

"First, always grab your purse when you run away," she said.

I cried and laughed at the same time.

She opened the purse, and rummaged through it.

"Huh," she said. Then she rummaged through her purse, and produced make-up remover towelette packet.

"Second, never leave home without these. Here," she said.

I took the packet, opened it, and I whipped my face. Most of the maskera, blush, and foundation came off.

"You know, your dad did not realize you were wearing makeup before you started crying. He said you were too beautiful to need make up. I agree. Only old hags like me need makeup."

I laughed, "You're not a hag yet, Mom."

"I'm not old at all," she said, lightly hitting me on the arm. "You know honey, I changed my major three times in college for stupid reasons, like parking, ended up in marketing because it was an easy A. But I did not do any work and I could not get a job anywhere because my GPA was not good. So I decided to get married. Worst decision ever. The day of the wedding I broke it off, and went to move in with Aunt Monica, and I learned who I was. I did not become a business executive overnight. I was a waitress, then an assistant, then a personal shopper, then just when I did not think life could get any worse, my dream job became available. You get there baby, slowly. One day at a time."

"With my GPA, I am just going to have to take any job I can find," I said, through my tears.

"Yep, and it's gonna suck. But then, a door is gonna open, and you are gonna find something better. You have to be patient, and consistent. Not everyone is good at college. That doesn't mean their life sucks."

"But you are all so successful," I cried.

"Honey, I was a waitress, and a horrible one at that. Your dad got placed on sabbatical because people thought he was crazy. Uncle Joey did horrible acting jobs for six years before he found an agent, and then he still did bad jobs. Your Uncle Chandler took an unpaid internship when he was thirty-four. Aunt Monica and Aunt Phoebe both got fired for misunderstandings and tried to start a business that fizzled out in two weeks. Shit happens. That's life. We are successful because we got back up, and so can you."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

I dried my eyes, and we hugged. Then we went back out.

"So what are your plans, baby," asked my dad.

"Um," I said. "Get a job and then get an apartment?"

"Hey, you can crash with me until you find a place," said Frank Jr Jr, reaching his hand out to me. "I got plenty of room. Seriously, what are friends for?"

"Absolutely NOT!" said my dad.

"Daddy, I need a place to crash."

"You don't want Frank as a roommate," said Leslie. "He is loud, messy, eats everything, and hits on everything with a pulse."

"Not true!" protested Frank.

I giggled. "Thanks Frank for the offer, but I think I will keep looking."

"What about me?" asked Erica. "I am living in our mom's old apartment. It's got two bedrooms, and we would share a bathroom. Rent is 2825 a month, so we would each have to pay 1400 and change."

"1412.50," said Ben.

I rolled my eyes. Of course he could do that in his head.

"Okay, so if I can get a minimum wage job and make 11.80 an hour, and work 40 hours a week, I would make, Ben?"

"Little under 1900."

"That would leave about 500 for utilities. I think I can do it!" I squealed, and hugged Erica. She wrapped her arms around me, and we swayed back and forth.

"Well I got some news too," said Ben.

We all looked at him expectantly.

"This morning I asked Rose to give me back her ring."

"Really?" asked my dad.

"Yes."

"Thank God," said Uncle Joey.

"Yeah," said my mom.

"Hate her," I said.

"Really?" asked Ben.

"I have met people from Italy who are worse," said my dad.

"And England," said my mom.

"But I love her," Ben said.

"Hey," said Uncle Chandler, "You almost had an Aunt Janice. She had a horrible, nasally voice, was selfish, and the most obnoxious person you ever met. But I was head over heels in love with her. Then, I realized there was more to life than that. You will get through it. Just keep going."

Emma POV

I was meeting with the firm representative of a Ashley Law Firm down on Broadway St just south of Battery Park. The firm usually handled accidents and claims between parties. I was meeting with a paralegal who worked for Mr Ashley, a Hayley Curry.

"I'm sorry Miss Geller, but given your academic performance, we can not have faith that you will do well here at The Ashley Law Firm."

"Please Ms. Curry, I made some bad mistakes in college, but I can prove myself if I am given the chance."

"I am sorry, no is the answer."

Ms. Curry turned back to her desk and began typing on her computer. I took it as my dismissal, and got up and left.

"Miss Geller, with those grades, I would not bother looking for a job in the legal profession."

The knife twisted in my heart. I will not cry in front of this woman. I walked outside into the street, and hailed a cab, and once I was inside, I just started crying.

"Um, where to ma'am?"

"495 Grove Street, Brooklyn," I said through my tears.

The cab moved forward into traffic, and I realized that I did not have any money to pay for this cab. I took out my phone and called Ben.

"Hello?"

"Ben," I choked out.

"What's wrong?

"Where are you?"

"I am at work. What are you doing?"

"Oh. Okay, I will call you back later," I said.

"Kid, what's wrong?"

"I don't have money to pay for a cab," I whispered.

"Just give them dad's credit card information. You have had those numbers memorized since you were sneaking out."

"Okay," I sniffed.

"You did not call me to ask me that. What's wrong?"

"My grades are too bad to get a job, and I don't know how I am going to pay my bills."

"Well, you can live with your mom and dad. I would panic over your student loans though."

I started just balling.

"I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Calm down. Okay. Listen where are you applying?"

"To- To be a-a clerk at-t-t law firms."

"That is your problem. Your grades are too low to be hired by a law firm, but your grades are fine for a regular job. Try looking at other places, like restaurants, being a receptionist. Aunt Monica is in the restaurant biz, your mom's in fashion, Dad works at a University where a bunch of students work, Uncle Joey could probably get you some gigs as an extra, Uncle Chandler knows a lot about advertising. The possibilities are endless."

"You think?"

"The world is your oyster, kid. I gotta go. Love ya."

Emma POV

At the end of the day on Friday, I walked into the apartment, exhausted from a day of job hunting.

"Any luck," said Erica.

"Nothing," I said, my voice breaking.

"Oh, don't cry," she said, coming over to give me a hug. "Come on let's go to Shambles. It's right down stairs, the guys are down there."

"Okay."

Shambles was a microbrewery, which was a restaurant and a bar where they make the beer all rolled into one. It had wooden floors and brick walls. It was huge, much larger than the little coffee shop my mother worked at when she was first in the city.

We found the guys all together at a large back table, and they scooched in so Erica and I could sit.

"Hey," said Jack. "How is the job hunting going?"

"Ugh, it sucks. My GPA is too low to be taken seriously my any law firm, and I can't find anywhere that is hiring."

"Uh, Emma," said Frank.

"What?"

"See that big sign that says 'hiring now' in the window?"

"I don't want to work here. I went to law school!"

"And flunked out," said Ben.

"Ugh, I will be right back," I said. I got up, and walked to the counter.

"Hey what can I get you?" said the waiter.

"I want to speak to the manger," I said.

"Uh, sure," he said, and disappeared.

A woman appeared wearing a blue vintage dress with lace that you get offline. "Hi my name is Sissy Tozer, and I am the manager. Is there a problem?"

"No ma'am. I would like to work here."

"What position are you interested in?"

"What is available?"

"Waitress, cook, Custodian, and accountant," she said.

"Waitress."

"Have you had any experience?"

"No, is that a problem."

"No. It just means that we will need to train you. Do you want to work 40 hours a week?"

"Yes."

"Okay we are open from four to ten Mondays through Thursdays, from four to midnight on Friday, noon to two on Saturday, and noon to seven on Sunday. If you are opening or closing you are expected to be here an two hours earlier or later that night. We set it up in sections of 6 hours shifts."

"Okay. I can work the 10:30 to 4:30 pm shift."

She laughed. "You will work every shift. I will make the schedule each week and give you the assigned time when you work the restaurant."

"Oh. Okay."

"Now for pay, You get $9.86 an hour."

"But that is below minimum wage?!"

"You get tips honey. If you are good at your job, you will get above minimum wage."

"Okay."

"The dress code for women is a black slide slit tuxedo skirt, a white button down shirt, a black bow tie, and a grey vest. I can send you an email where you can buy your uniform, and get a couple of them."

"Okay."

"Are you interested in the job?"

I was desperate. "Yes."

I went back to the table, and sat back down. I sighed.

"What happened?" asked Leslie.

"I got a job," I said.

"Did you ask about the employee discount?" asked Frank.

"Waitress," said Jack, "drinks all around. Now, we are celebrating."

When the waitress brought our drinks, toasted each other and drank our beers. I had no idea what tomorrow would bring, but this was my crew.