“Shit!” I cursed looking on the state’s employment website.
They’ll never hire me when they have damn G.I. Joe applying for the same
position. I scrolled through the job site, feeling worse and worse seeing each
position had been filled.

“RING…RING…RING…”

“Al? Can you get that?” I yelled, not really in the mood to
talk.

“RING…RING…”

“Damn it Alice!” I exclaimed, rushing over to answer before
the answering machine took the message.

“Hello?” I breathed into the phone.

“Hi, is Tina Kennard available?” the voice on the other end
asked.

“Speaking,” I answered, immediately straightening my posture
in an attempt to seem more professional, even though no one could even see me.

“ Good evening Ms. Kennard. I’m Sergeant Moore calling on
behalf of your recent interest of employing,” the man began.

“Oh yes, thank you so much for calling,” I said, beginning
to get a sense of hope.

“Well, the department would normally be sending out letters,
but because of budget cuts, I’m afraid I must inform you that while your
application was strong and you had a very impressive résumé, we did fill the
opening with another applicant,” the Sergeant explained.

“Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know,” I sighed.

“Of course, but Ms. Kennard, do continue to look online at
our other job opportunities, we have plenty opening right now for administrative
assistants.  Have a good day,” he
suggested.

“Thanks, have a nice day,” I replied, before hanging up the
phone.

I sat at my desk, trying to hold
back my tears. I didn’t understand. Nobody ever told me it would be this
difficult. I just want a fucking job, not a damn miracle.

 Later
that night, after informing Alice of my twelfth rejection, she somehow managed
to get me out of the house and drunk enough to forget about my problems. At
least for now. We came stumbling back into our apartment around three in the
morning, acting like a couple of kids. Alice immediately went to her bedroom
and fell right to sleep. I walked into the kitchen to get a bottle of water and
some medicine I was sure to need for the killer hangover I would be receiving
in the morning, when I saw the red light flashing on the answering machine.

“Good evening,” the female voice played through the machine.”
This is Lieutenant Porter calling on behalf of the Fairview County Police Department.
I have just recently reviewed your application for employment, and it seems as
though some of my colleagues may have over looked some very important aspects
in your application. I just wanted to let you know that after seeing your
application myself, I am pleased to offer you the position. New employee
orientation is tomorrow, eight AM sharp. Hope to see you then,” and with that
the message ended.

                Saturday?
They’re having an orientation on Saturday? It was then I checked to see what
time the message was left. 6:24 Thursday night.

“Oh my god,” I said to myself. That orientation isn’t  Saturday, it’s today, in less than five
hours!