Around nine, I curl up in bed with a glass of wine and scroll absently through Instagram. Fallon’s shared my post about her website promo on her story (along with about a hundred others) with the caption “We’ve got fans all over Canada!!!” Further along in her story is a photo of her and her husband outside their Toronto location. They both look really tan, like they’ve been on a trip down south, and their staff are gathered around them holding up bottles of juice. They all look really happy, and not just in a fake Instagram sort of way. They’ve got their arms wrapped aroundeach other and some of them look like they’ve been caught midlaugh.
I click onward to Martha’s story. She’s posted about fifty pictures of her and her kids visiting a zoo. They all look really happy too (even if I privately think their matching T-shirts are a little cheesy).
I put down my phone with a sigh. I was having a fun day plotting out all the ways I could improve the museum, but now it all feels sort of stupid. I probably shouldn’t be wasting my time on all this stuff. It’s not like it’s going to get me any closer to my dream job.
I sink down into the covers and take an unhappy sip of wine. I should spend my night looking for more jobs I can apply to, but that suddenly seems pointless too. Like I’m just flailing about, applying for anything under the sun, desperately trying to find something that will stick.
I’m scrolling through Netflix to find a sitcom to distract me from my sorrows when my phone dings with a text from an unknown number.
[9:07]Unknown:Hey, Emily – this is John’s friend George. He told me you’re planning some outdoor event up in Waldon and might want me to play?
I sit up a little straighter. I totally forgot about that. I’m surprised John’s already reached out to him.
[9:08]: Hey George! Yes, I’d love that, if you’re available?
[9:08]: I can’t pay anything, though, so totally understand if you can’t do it.
[9:09]Unknown:Sounds great!
[9:09]Unknown:Don’t worry about payment, I owe John like two grand lol
[9:10]: Awesome!! I’m still waiting on a few details
(Like, if Shelley will even let me do this thing.)
[9:10]: But I’ll get back to you ASAP to confirm
[9:11]Unknown:Sounds good. Thx!
I smile at the screen for a moment, then open a text to John Smith (Auto Shop).
[9:12]: Hey, your friend George just texted me! Thanks for reaching out to him.
[9:13]John:no worries
[9:13]John:he’s weirdly excited about it
[9:13]John:I guess he’s been trying to break into the barrel museum scene
I laugh.
[9:14]: Well, it is very competitive
[9:14]: I’ve already had a call from Beyoncé, begging me to let her perform
[9:15]John:lol
I chew on my lip, wondering if I should say something else. It still feels weird talking to John like a (sort-of) friend, but it’s not like I’m overwhelmed with options right now. I might as well ask his opinion. It can’t be any meaner than Doris’s.
[9:19]: Do you think this whole event idea is kind of stupid?
[9:19]John:no
[9:19]John:why?
[9:20]: I don’t know
[9:20]: It’s just like, a silly barrel museum, right?
