I want to darken in the skies
Open the floodgates up
I want to change my mind
I want to be enough
I want the water in my eyes
I want to cry until the end of time
I want to let the rain come down
Make a brand new ground
Let the rain come down
-Let the Rain by Sara Bareilles
"You ready to get back into the swing of things with training?" Gladys asked as they walked out of the dressing rooms.
"Training?" Betty said, checking her front pockets for her gloves. "Not sure that ship is ready to set sail, yet."
Betty had been back for a month and she was still hiding away in the line. She and Kate had successfully avoided each other so far as they both kept their distance. Kate made it easier by taking up a new spot on down the line while Betty kept to herself and barely spoke to anyone. Even Gladys had a hard time getting her to come out of her shell.
"Come on, Betty. You can't hide away forever. I bet it'll make you feel better to give 'em heck on their first day," She handed Betty the clip board with the new workers names on it, hoping to inspire her friend into action. "Give 'em the old, if you can pour tea, you can pour amatol spiel. Rally the troops and bust their chops. It'll feel good."
"Mmm, tempting, but I think I'll take a pass. Besides, haven't you heard, my murky reputation doesn't exactly make me the best candidate for representing VicMu's standards these days."
"Why, they're all newbies," Gladys waved off. "They don't know about your recent stint in the big house…. Not yet, at least. You probably have a good half a day before that piece of news gets to them."
"Jeez, Princess," Betty scoffed, looking over at her with a smirk. "Thanks for the subtlety there."
"Hey, McRae!" A booming voice called out from behind, causing Betty's head to snap up in recognition "How'd you ever get such a peachy job?"
Betty turned to see a tall girl with jet-black hair standing there with her arms crossed and head titled with a smirk placed firmly across her face. Her eyes were almost as dark as her hair, but there seemed to be a twinkle in them as she stared down at Betty with a crooked smile.
"What in the…." Betty looked down at the call sheet in her hands.
"I take it you two know each other?" Gladys asked as she looked between the two.
"Yeah, we go WAY back," The mysterious girl said, slapping Betty in the shoulder as she walked up to them. "Isn't that right, McRae? Saskatchewan … right?"
"Uh, yeah," Betty said, looking at the girl in front of her in wonder before looking back down at her clipboard. "…Ms. Kilpatrick."
"Oh, well, it's lovely to meet someone who knew our Bets way back when," Gladys said, smiling widely as she held her hand out to the new girl. "I'm Gladys Witham, it's a real pleasure to meet you, Ms. Kilpatrick."
"Mmm," the other girl slowly grinned, looking down at Gladys' extended hand before taking it into her own. "Pleasures, all mine, Hun. But I'll only answer to Arlene."
Gladys nodded and then suggested the new girls all follow her as she explained the riggings of the bomb lifters. Betty pulled Arlene to the side.
"What in the world are you doing here?" She demanded.
"Jeepers, Bets," Arlene said, mimicking Gladys earlier moniker. "Is that any greeting for a dear old friend?"
"Oh, you are neither dear nor old," Betty countered with a small smile. "What I mean is, how the hell did you get here?"
"Took a street car. Boy, for someone who handles bombs all day, you sure ask some peculiar questions."
"You know what I mean."
"Lets just say you're not the only one who knows a guy who can forge a good security clearance."
"You remember that story?" Betty asked, amazed.
"Of course, many great memories were shared in that cell," she said, leaning in to whisper, "I remember them all."
Betty cleared her throat as she felt her cheeks redden. She took a step back and looked around to see if anyone else was looking on. She was glad to see that Gladys seem to have the other newbies' enthralled on the importance of safety on the line. She heard Vera's name being used and she knew that would scare up their attention.
She turned back to Arlene who was still staring at her with a smile like she had stolen the last piece of pie of out of a plate without anyone noticing.
"So you decided to don a fake last name and come stir up trouble?" Betty asked, half joking, half serious.
"I came to get the Betty and Arlene duo back together. You can't fly straight without your wingman."
Betty gave her an unsure look.
"Betty McRae," She slyly smiled. "You just wait, we're going to blow this town wide open."
Betty wasn't sure if that statement made her happy or terrified her. All she knew was that it was the first time she actually felt something since she got back. And now she just wanted to lean into that feeling.
She just wanted to feel anything again.