"Roger, I want to do something."

He looked up at me from the couch where he was thinking of new notes for a song. "Like what?" he asked.

"I don't know. I'm just sick of staying in this freezing building not doing anything." I sat down next to him. "I want to work again."

He stared at me. "Not as a dancer at the Cat Scratch Club again!" he told me. "I'm not going to let you work there! Absolutely not!"

I hated when he acted like that. "You're not my father!" I yelled back at him. And then I whispered, "But you're right. Not there again."

He started tuning his guitar, which was a nervous habit of his. "Well what do you want to do, then? There's nothing!" He kept tuning, but then gave up. "This fucking thing won't tune!" He got up and retreated into the bedroom.

Maybe Mark would know if somewhere was hiring. I knocked on his door. "Mark? Are you there?"

He slowly opened the door and knew something was going on. "Hey, Mimi. What's the matter?" he asked.

"I want to work. Do you know of any place where I can get a job?"

He blinked. "A job? Another one? Now? Mimi, you almost died a few months ago, and now you're thinking of working again? Don't you think you should take it easy for a while longer?"

"I'm fine! So do you know somewhere or not? I can't stand this place anymore, and we need money."

He appeared as if he was thinking. "I don't know off the top of my head, but I'm sure I can ask around at the store. Or go ask Maureen." Then he added sarcastically, "She seems to know everything."

That was a really great idea! "Thanks, Mark! I think I'm going to go do that." I hurriedly left his room and yelled to Roger's closed door, "I'm heading over to Maureen's! I'll be back later!"

I grabbed my coat and purse and left the loft. It was around 3:00, yet it was absolutely freezing. I saw my breath in front of me in the cold air. March shouldn't be this bitter.

I quickly walked to Maureen's apartment, which was only two blocks away, and knocked on the door. "Maureen!" I called. "It's Mimi!"

Noisy footsteps echoed behind the door, and she smiling greeted me. She was in a tight striped shirt and even tighter jeans. "Hey, Mimi! How's life?"

"Boring," I replied. "And that's why I'm here."

"You're here because I'm never boring?" she joked.

I laughed. "No- I'm here because Mark says you might know where I can find a job. I want to work again."

Her face lit up! "Well, I was actually out and about today, and I saw a sign at the Life Café! They're looking for a waitress! Now, I was going to take it, but I've been too busy auditioning for clubs and such. You should go!"

The Life Café? That was our favorite place to eat! It was cheap, the food was good, and a lot of the people knew us already. That would be the perfect place to go!

"Thanks so much, Maureen! I'll head over there soon!" I started to leave and happily made my way back to the loft.

I inserted the key into the door and burst into the room, but no one was there. "Mark? Roger? Anyone home?" I called.

Roger emerged from his room. "Oh. Hi," he said flatly.

He looked like a mess. He's been looking like that a lot lately. I wish he'd stop being like that. "Guess where I might be working?"

"I don't see why you want to get a fucking job, Mimi. You should stay here and not tire yourself out."

He's never cared about that before! "Fuck you! I'll do whatever I want! And it just so happens there's a job opening at the Life Café! And guess where I'm going soon? Over there to get a job!"

I tore past him and into his room and sorted through my clothes that were thrown in a pile on a chair. There was a short black skirt and a clean white t-shirt that I thought would be 'presentable' for a job interview. Now, if I was back at the Cat Scratch Club, I'd be wearing something totally different…

I unchanged and threw those on, then did my hair into a bun. My curls fell neatly over my forehead, just the way I liked it. I then found a pair of black pumps and slipped them on.

"Roger, I'm leaving. I'll be home later."