Backlashed
By: CNJ
PG-13
5
Lucille:
So far I hadn't had any luck in my job hunt or securing a loan for a class. I spent most of a warm, sunny Saturday in April running errands, then once I got home, after putting my stuff away, the afternoon felt bleak and I felt myself sinking into the depression that had so often plagued me lately.
I picked up a book and started to read on the couch in the living room, but after a few minutes, slowly put my book down and just sat, despair washing over me.
A black hopelessness rose within me and I wasn't sure I was strong enough to fight it off. I tried, but it seemed to seep through me relentlessly. I doubled over and curled inward, it felt like, struggling with this awful feeling.
I never knew life can be this awful for so long, I thought. Even the room seemed darker, the bright blue light outside feeling unreal. I was afraid to move as if something would shatter. Maybe something inside of me.
I don't know how long I sat like that. It could have been a few minutes; it could have been two hours. All I knew about that time is that I felt as if the weight of my current situation was threatening to crush me.
I heard a high ringing and looked around. What...? I slowly put a hand to my ear, then the ring sounded again.
At first I thought it was the phone, then I realized that it was the doorbell. I got up in slow motion, figuring maybe it was Daniel.
I felt like I was moving through water as I headed to the door and looked out the viewhole. Alicia?! I opened the door and sure enough, it was my friend Alicia McKeller.
"Helloooo, Lucille!" She wrapped me in a huge hug.
"Hi, Alicia," I hugged me back, then motioned her inside. "How...you're here; it's so hard to believe."
The sight of my dear friend from back east lifted my spirits some.
"It's good to see you too, Lucy," Alicia kept an arm around me for a few minutes after we sat.
For some reason, I wondered if she sensed how troubled I was. I offered her tea and we had some in the kitchen and talked. She told me that it was getting warm in New York and that she had a week off work.
"Speaking of work..." Alicia continued and looked at me questioningly. "Have you had any...?"
I shook my head. Alicia put her hand on mine.
"To tell you the truth, Lucy, I can tell that you're really troubled. I can hear the strain in your voice even now." Her dark eyes begged me to tell her all.
So I did, bit by bit, including Gary stealing my idea and about some of the women being fired. Then I told her about my so far unsuccessful job hunt and my attempt to get a loan for classes.
By then, the tears had come and I couldn't fight them back. Alicia put her arms around me and just held me, letting me cry into her shoulder. She held me like that until my tears slowed. I then sat up and wiped my eyes.
"I'm just a wreck over this thing," I told her. "My son sees it and it upsets him too."
"God, I'm so sorry about this," Alicia told me. "That asshole just got away with it..." We were quiet a minute, then Alicia told me, "Why don't we head down to the bank right now before it closes. I know just the thing you need..."
She stood and I slowly stood.
"Alicia?" I was a bit puzzled.
"Come on..."she told me and we headed to the car she was renting and headed down to the bank.
Good thing the bank's open until two-thirty on Saturdays. She parked, then led me in. It was a bit crowded, so we had to sign our names in the registrar and wait a while.
Finally, once we were called, Alicia told the lady, "We'd like a loan..." and told her about the class. I don't know if the teller had my name on record or remembered it, since it wasn't the same teller, but thanks to Alicia's income, we got the loan.
"Thank you, Alicia," I hugged her once we got back to the car.
"You're welcome," Alicia grinned. "As for the old cliche...that's what friends are for. Now the next step is finding a good computer school to teach the skills you'll need."
"That's right," I nodded as we headed back to my apartment.
A big step as far as I'm concerned. I wanted to make sure that it was a good class.
We went out to eat that night and I told Alicia that I wanted to go into computer programming and she promised that once I finished the class, she'd keep on the lookout for any jobs in the field that opened.
"Your son is wonderful," she told me as we finished eating. "He really was concerned about you, you know."
"So..." It then dawned on me. "Daniel called you?" Alicia nodded. "What a dear..." I was so touched. No wonder she'd some sooner than I'd thought. "So was it his idea on the co-signature on the loan?"
"Actually, it was mine," Alicia smiled softly.
"I'm lucky to have you both in my life," I told her. I was feeling better than I had in a long, long time. Just having wonderful people in my life like a great friend in Alicia and a swell son like Daniel was keeping me going.
And coming soon...the second part of Lucille's battle...actually getting through the class without her superiors knowing it and helping her female co-workers stay afloat as well. It's going to be a lot tougher than any karate tournament!