On Monday, I had my first ultrasound appointment at a hospital to see how my baby is doing. I'm up to 11 weeks now.
"Your baby is doing fine," said Dr. Jackson. "Do you want to know the gender is?"
"Not yet," I said.
"You'll be seeing me every month until the week before your due date, which is November 18th," said Dr. Jackson.
"Okay," I said.
After that, his receptionist made an appointment for next month. I told her that my best time is after school.
"Does three-thirty pm sound good?" asked the receptionist.
"Perfect," I said.
"Here you go," said the receptionist as she gave me the reminder slip.
"Thanks," I said as I left for home.
At home, I was applying for Portland Public Library. I told Dad that I decided to do that instead.
"That's fine," said Dad.
"I might go for work permit to be prepared in case the manager calls me or should I wait?" I asked.
"I think doing it now is a better idea," said Dad.
"I'll do that tomorrow after school," I said.
That's what I did the following day after I got papers for the co-op jobs and it wasn't crowded by that time. That evening, my back was bothering me.
"Is that normal during pregnancy?" I asked.
"Yes, your mom had that when she was expecting you," said Grandma Verna. "But she had only that twice, so it wasn't too bad."
"You can sit in the recliner," said Dad.
That's what I did.
"You and I can go shopping for maternity clothes tomorrow. Walmart sells clothes like that," said Grandma Verna.
"Okay. I don't know if that's accepted during shop," I said. "I'll have to find out first."
"No problem," said my grandmother.
"I don't have shop until about Thursday, but I can ask ahead of time. I'll go see him after school on my way out," I said.
The following day, I went to ask my shop teacher and gave me a list on what maternity clothes I can wear during shop.
"I wasn't sure, which is why I figured I'd ask you now instead of waiting for shop," I said.
"Asking me ahead of time was a smart idea," said the teacher.
Then, I went to pick my grandmother and went to Walmart. We picked out a few maternity clothes for the start. Then, my cell rang as I picked up.
"Hello," I said.
"Hello. Is this Mary Anne I'm speaking to?" asked a man.
"Yes," I replied.
"This is Portland Public Library. I would like to set up an interview with you. I'm Stan Andrews," said Stan.
"Okay. When?" I asked.
"Is tomorrow fine with you?" asked Stan.
"Sure. What time? May I come after school?" I asked.
"That's fine," said Stan.
"I'll see you then," I said.
After we talked, I told my grandmother and she was thrilled.
"I'm glad I did work permit ahead of time," I said.
"You were smart to do it early," said Grandma Verna.
"I'm thinking about my new maternity dress for the interview?" I asked.
"That sounds perfect," said Grandma Verna.
After we did that, we went back home as I put my new maternity clothes away. Later, I told my dad and Sharon the news (Dawn was at work).
"That's great," said Sharon.
"That was fast," said Dad.
"I know," I said.
I know where it is. It's near the hospital. The next day, I had my interview and it went well. I gave him my work permit for him and the co-op to sign them. After that, I went to drop off my signed work permit. I'll give my teacher the co-op papers tomorrow when I see him. The following day, I dropped off the paperwork first thing I got there. I asked him how that works during shop when I'm off and he says I don't have to attend school unless I choose to do so once I get hired depending when I start. That was all set after that. After school, I was just getting into my car (it was drizzling that day) when I had a phone call from Stan saying I got the job. Gosh, that was fast.
"Can you come now to do paperwork?" asked Stan.
"Sure," I replied.
"I'll give you the hours while you're here and you can start Monday," said Stan.
"Okay. I'll take any hours while I do co-op," I said. "I just gave my teacher the co-op paper earlier."
"Do you mind if I give you a tour while you're here tomorrow?" asked Stan.
"That's fine by me," I said.
"I figured I'd wait until I hire you first," said Stan.
"I also have ultrasound once a month, but it's at three-thirty pm. I can always come after that," I said.
"Let me know," said Stan.
"I usually got my reminder slip with me," I said.
"And, I can give you a day off if you're in class. And, if you're in shop, you can do ten am to three pm," said Stan.
"Sounds good," I said.
"We're open almost every day until five and we only open until six on Mondays. We also open until three on Saturdays," said Stan.
After we finished talking, I took off to the library after calling Dad to tell him where I'll be.
"Okay," said Dad.
"I don't know what time I'll be home because Stan's giving me a tour," I said.
"Don't worry about it," said Dad.
When I got there, I signed the paperwork including taxes where my dad will be going after the new year. I gave him my reminder slip.
"I'll make a copy so I can save it in my book," said Stan.
He did that along with my ID and social security.
"When you're in class, you're welcome to do homework here during break," said Stan.
"Thanks, I might wait to do it at night in case we're busy," I said.
"I have no problem with that," said Stan.
"But I'll still bring it with me," I said.
That was when he gave me my hours starting Monday as I wrote them down.
"When do you post hours for the following week?" I asked.
"On Fridays at around noon, so you can stop by to get them. It'll be different every week," said Stan.
"Okay," I said.
"What I'll do is that you'll have days off when you're in class since there's no point of doing that after school since we open until six on Mondays and five on the other day, but you still can work on Saturdays from ten am to three pm during class," said Stan. "Does that sound good?"
"Deal," I said. "And, I'll still come by Fridays to get my hours for Saturdays."
"That's fine. And, I'll give you more hours during school vacation," said Stan.
"Okay. That works," I said.
"And, if I need you on your day off during shop, can you work overtime?" asked Stan.
"Sure," I said.
"You'll be working at the front desk to check items in and out," said Stan. "My worker can train you on your first day. I'll introduce you to her now."
He brought me to the front desk.
"Linda, this is Mary Anne," said Stan.
"Nice to meet you, dear," said Linda.
"Same," I said.
"She'll be starting here on Monday," said Stan.
"Okay, good," said Linda.
"She'll be working over here with you. Do you mind train her on what you do on her first day?" asked Stan.
"Sure," said Linda. "If you have any questions in between, feel free to ask me."
"Okay," I said.
"Her hours are one to six on Monday, noon to five Tuesday and Wednesday. I'll wait to give her the Saturday hours until she starts class," said Stan.
After all that, I went home. At dinner, I said, "I'll be starting Monday. Stan is giving me days off and work on Saturdays during class since they close at six Mondays and five Tuesday through Friday."
"That sounds fair enough," said Dawn.
"I know," I said. "My shop said I don't have to attend school during shop until I choose to do so."
"That's a good thing," said Dad.
"I'll only use Mrs. Willis when I work during shop, while I'm in class, and during school vacations," I said. "I waited to tell Kaylee until I hear from Stan. I'll go see her after dinner."
After dinner, I went next door to tell Kaylee the news.
"That's wonderful," said Kaylee.
"We can still hang out when I'm off," I said. "The only I'll have a Saturday is when I'm in class. I don't need your mom too much until I work during shop, while I'm in class, and during school vacations."
I went to tell Mrs. Willis and she had no problem with that. "If I do get called in on my day off, can I still use you unless the baby's sick?"
"Sure," replied Mrs. Willis.
I stayed for an hour until I went back home. I told Dad and my grandmother everything is all set.
"I'll still take over if the baby is sick," said Grandma Verna.
"Okay," I said. "That's my plan. Mrs. Willis already knows."