Short Story

“Nice, I have been looking for a job too.” I told him, hoping that he could possibly get me a job too.

At the end of our visit he said, "It was nice seeing you again. No matter what's going on, you are always so up." If

"Em..." he pants. "Em, what is up with you? Why did you leave?" I don't say anything and look down at my shoes, noting that I was crying. "Emilie Nielsen, answer me. This isn't like you, Kultaseni." He cups my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. Blue-gray eyes meet blue-green, and I break. "Because I didn't want you to hate me! I didn't want to ruin your career here in Boston by distracting you. I talked to Farrell and my contract ends Monday. Let me go, Rask. Its best for both of us." I try to push past him, but he holds me back. "Stop lying to me. You and I both know you can't possibly be a distraction because A: I love you and B: we're both always traveling. What's the real reason?" Sighing in defeat, I mumble"... Jag väntar." He sighs in exasperation. "You know I don't speak Swedish." "I'm expecting!" I blurt out. Tuukka's eyes widen. "Y-you don't mean expecting as in-" he stops when he sees the look on my face and takes a step back. "Voi hyvä jumala... You're... When?" I take a shaky breath and manage to wheeze out an answer. "Your birthday. I found out a couple days ago." Tuukka pulls me to his chest and laughs. "And you think I hate you for this?" I look up, extremely confused and look him in the eyes. "But-" "Never doubt my feelings for you. Rakastan sinua, Emilie and I always will." He then leans down and kisses me. I pull away first, placing my forehead against his. "Jag älskar dig." Tuukka kisses the top of my

DafuqDafuq! Medium eggplant fries, coleslaw on the side, got it. Back to 77, are you folk all set to order? Our specials?? Fantastic. Sat again. What? The kitchens needs what? were outta what? Ah My beer, the burger is overcooked? Of course it is. Refire!! Get Ice, need ice, hand wipes. WTF Where’s the ice scooper. Damn it, I need to scoop Sheena’s liter. I almost ran over that child. Damn I have great reflexes. That table keeps looking at me. Dammit the kitchen sucks! How long on their food? Why is it—AH I FORGOT TO RING IN THE ORDER!! Don’t panic! YES PANIC. Its so hot in here. Yes Sir, another. Fantastic. Side of Max Sauce. Medium. Fries. Dessert? Yes, Ill be right back with that. I cant read my own writing. What word is that! Runners? no time, need a drink. NO. I need to check on that refire. What the hell am I doing? WEEDS! WEEDS!!I need something…Right? Chocolate milk, 77 needs a check, Print! Why wont it print? FACK no paper! Got it. Ugh I’m hot. That damn kid keeps running around like he has no sense. Parents, where are the parents? I need to pee. No time. Check 77, Milk 75, dessert menu 74, Greet 45. Welcome to Max, how are you folks doing today? I’m CJ. Can I start you of with some

One of the first questions I asked him about was do you like working at Dunham’s? His responds was he liked working there because he came really close with the entire employee’s that work at other Dunham’s. Next I asked if you could, would you come back to Manistee to live? He said he wouldn’t want to come back to Manistee because he’s used to where he lives and he doesn’t like how slow it is here. Next I asked if he was glad to have me has a little sister? His responds was he loves having me has a sister because he wouldn’t have anyone to pick on. Next question was did you like going to college at Ferris State? His responds was I liked going to Ferris because it was a cool college and he was abled to make cool memories. Another question was you like how far you have came with your life? He said yes he is glad where he is with his life because he did it all on his own. My last question was do you like the person you are today? His responds was yes because I wouldn’t be who I am today without all the problems that happened during my

Is it a left or a right at the stairwell? I should just go home. Did you actually think you could pull this off? Moron. Whatever I’m almost there. I don’t know what dad was fussing about. Going to the cafeteria isn’t nearly as bad as he had said. I am lost though, but they acted as if there were lions and tigers and bears. Oh my God! That smells amazing! Is that Cheerios? Wait, there’s a chickeny smell. Maybe, a chicken biscuit? Whatever, anything is better than that crap at home. Do I turn here? These damn walls look the same. Oh, there’s a light. Can’t wait to taste-- Ouch! Why is that duct so freaking high up? It smells like chlorine in here. Where am I? It’s hella bright in here. Is this a classroom? Oh god! That means some student will see me and they’ll call the janitor and--

You know, I am sure being the owner and supervisor you already knew everything about me before I said anything. Plus, you obviously sent every gay guy in Lexington to that window…I also believe... AGAIN... you knew I’d land in your chair, curiosity killed the cat, you know I am a very curious cat. I can’t wait to hear YOUR story, but I’d rather see you first with a hug and kiss. Plus, you probably already placed it in front of me and I didn’t know it was about you. Regardless, I can’t wait to see you. I was a mess from day #1! But a hot crazy mess for you, Shittt. Plus waking up my first thought, “struggle builds charater” but its all worth it if you get to wake up next to Jeremy.

“Yes, it is my eleventh day here and I am still getting used to it.”, “I’m sorry you had to leave your family.” I felt bad for him. “It is ok, hopefully I will see my family again.” He answered. “I have to return home soon, I will pray you see your family again.” I say, seeing that it was about to rain and I needed to get the food and return home. “I wish you stay and talk longer, but I can see it is about to rain. It was nice meeting you… I am sorry, what is your name?”, he asked. “Olla”, I answered, “I am Ishmael, but most people call me Ish. It was nice meeting you Olla, you are the first person, other than my fellow soldiers I have talked to and actually enjoyed.” I laugh a little and before I can say thank you, I say, “Hopefully I will see you again.” “I would like to, I feel comfortable with you.”, he responds. “What does that mean?”, I wonder. “It means you are easy to talk to.”, he answered, apparently, I said that out loud. “Sorry, I don’t know much English. What I do know, I learned from listening to the radio”, I say embarrassed. “It is ok, I don’t know much Italian. Maybe you could teach me your language and I’ll teach you mine.”, he suggested. His eyes lit up when he said that, and I am sure mine did to. “Mi piacerebbe molto.”, I respond. His eyes squint as if trying to figure out what I said. His eyes relax and he smiles. “where can we meet?”, he asked. I am looking around and I spot a bench facing the coast. “There” I point.

“Mr. Chatman, you don’t have to answer, but I would like for you to see me after class.”, Mr. Armstrong said. All I wanted to do was go home and watch some tv after a long day, but I knew I wasn’t gonna be able to cause of some girl who should’ve kept her mouth closed. The bell rung, everyone packed their backpacks, people left the class happy and smiling, so full of life, then there was me, the guy who has to stay after. “You wanted to see me?”, I said. He took a while to say something, almost as if he was in deep thought, he didn’t even look at me, he just stared out his classroom windows, watching the kids get on the bus, walk, talk, hug and kiss. Then he said “ How do you feel about women?” It was so random and quick, as if he’d been waiting to ask me this for some time now. “Uhm, they’reir cool I guess, why?” “Cool?, You Guess?” “You seem lost, maybe even unbothered”, he said. “What does unbothered mean?” , I asked. “It means showing lack of concern or interest inof

Ah! Hello young boy, how are you? You may stay here it is calm and very comfortable. Come on in it as cold as ice out there. You sleep here its warm up here, and if you can, please come downstairs and sign the guest book. Good bye for now, Mr.Beaver! Oh its Weaver? I'm terribly sorry, Mr.Weaver.

I couldn’t believe that my summer vacation was coming to a close. I still hadn’t made any contact with Trevor. He didn’t leave a message the other night, so I had no idea where we stood relationship wise. I was still staying at Shay’s, but mom wanted me to go to her house and start dinner because she had to help Bessie with some yard work. Imani was home, but she wasn’t allowed to use the stove. My intentions were to go over, cook dinner, and get the hell out of there because I didn’t want to see Lester. I didn’t want the money that he was supposed to pay me because the entire situation made me sick to my stomach and I no longer wanted to hook up with him before I left to go back to Texas.

For whatever reason I had never thought about asking him about his job. I know, I know, normally that’s one of the first things you ask somebody. He didn’t work from home, didn’t even own a computer. The only thing I had seen him do was type out responses to incoming messages on his smart phone. About twice a week he would leave town for a day sometimes two or three days, so it made sense with his line of work.

After an hour long business meeting the boys and me parted ways expect for Cypruss. Surprisingly, he struck around as I filed all the paperwork we covered into their proper place. “You know Anna I am sorry for all this,” he apologized as he awkwardly walked along the edge of the table towards me. “It’s all right Cypruss, I know you can control Tibolt’s actions or his opinion of me,” I insured him. “No, that is not what I am apologizing for. I have been a bit of an ass lately. Sorry for the language but I do not know how else to describe it. I treated you horrible after Y’s death and after my release for your mind,” he explained, “I should not have done that to the woman that I loved. You are the one thing that can make me completely happy in this world and I

BEEP BEEP BEEP. Luke get up you're going to miss school. Dad can't I just take online classes. No Luke, it is time you made friends. Dad you have been saying that since… Since what ? Since Mom has gone. DING DONG. It must be Ms.Ms. Donatelli. Let me go get that Luke and we will talk about this later. Hello Ms. Donatelli. Hi Dr. Jamain I just wanted to say thanks for the prescriptions. No problem and just call me Henry. Luke your bus is here. OK Dad. Bye Luke. Good morning Steve. Good morning Luke. Hey Luke you didn't say hi to me. How can I forget about you Andrew. I don't know Luke maybe next time I will throw books at you to make you notice me. Okay I remember that Andrew. Good, now get off the bus you make me sick. Good to see you to Andrew.

Caught off guard by my statement and looking a little pale, he muttered apologetically, “I wasn’t flirting with Rina. We ran into each other on our way here and exchanged greetings. She is an old friend, Isabel. Nothing more.” “So you say. I saw you, Brian. I called you and I saw the look on your face when you noticed my name on your caller ID. I overheard what you said too. I can’t believe you. How can I be with someone who sees me as a burden or finds me irritating? Throughout this trip, you spent less time with me and more time with other women. Admitted. It always comes back to this.” “You are overreacting.” “No this time. I am sorry, but I can do us anymore.” I said desolately. “This is bullshit and you know it, Isabel. You created situations. You create distance between us. It is as if you don’t want us to work. I figured I give you some time to sort yourself, but I have given you plenty of time, Isabel and I am not a patient man. The emotional distance is making me irritable and when you called me