“It’s the same for me this season,” I admit. “I’ve been working with Robin for a year, and it’s not improving. And I’m struggling to keep up with the younger guys. Beauchamp is running circles around me.”
He gives me a sympathetic look. I know he knows how it feels. “What’s the second thing?”
I smooth a hand through my hair. “Uh, do you have any job openings?” Davis laughs, and my stomach sinks, but I’mquick to try to sell myself. “I mean, I know I don’t have a lot of experience in the hauling business, but I feel like I could pick it up pretty quickly. I’d like to stay in North Bay, and you know how limited the job market is here.”
He holds up a hand. “Dude. Stop. Of course I have a job for you, whenever you want one. But the idea of being your boss is a little bizarre.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Fair.”
“I’ve gotta tell you, though, if you’re leaving the game because the physical stuff is too hard, getting into the moving business isn’t going to help. It won’t be any easier on that elbow.” He makes a good point. “I could try you in the office after this season wraps. How are you with computers? Wanna learn bookkeeping?”
I nod, grateful for the offer. “Thanks, man. That might work. I’m up for anything.”
“Cool. I’ll be in touch. And make sure to get that rash checked out,” he kids and punches me lightly on the arm.
I roll my eyes as he leaves, but after talking with Robin earlier and now knowing I could have a job lined up, the heaviness I’ve been feeling is starting to lighten up a little.
Chapter 16
Shelley
Istand motionless in front of the communal mailboxes, staring at the pink paper in my hand. The one I found crumpled and stuffed into the back of the slot for my apartment. It’s a letter from the housing department, dated two weeks ago. Apparently, I’ve been forgetting to check my mail for a while.
My eyes scan over the words again, as if they will have magically changed sometime within the last thirty seconds. Unfortunately, even upon further inspection, it’s still the same letter I read the first, second, and third times.
Dear Graduate Residents,
As per the email sent on the eighth of April, our graduate housing will be closed for the summer months so that the buildings can be mitigated for mold and inspected for any further water and structural damages caused by last month’s storm. Graduate apartments will reopen the last week of August. Room and board fees will not be charged for the dates the space remains unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to seeing everyone upon the start of the fall semester. Thank you.
Dean Winters
The thunderstorms did get nasty in our area, but who knew the tropical storm that passed through caused so much damage on campus? Why didn’t anyone mention this in class? Iknow a lot of people leave campus over the summer, but I can't possibly be the only one who was planning to stay.
I don’t remember seeing a message, but sure enough, when I open my email on my phone, there it is, mocking me. I’m sure they probably called about this, too, but I usually delete the robocalls from the school without bothering to listen because the fundraising requests and parking issues don’t apply to me.
Welp.
This is a disaster.
I was hoping to get a summer job or an internship, but now missing out on those opportunities is the least of my worries. I need a place to live.
Since I won’t be charged for my apartment, I’ll still have the money from my student loans, but that was meant to cover cheap student housing. I don’t know if I can afford to stay, or even find something available, anywhere else in this city over the summer.
Think, Shelley.
But no good options spring to mind.
Going all the way back to Idaho doesn’t make much sense when I have other family nearby. I think I need to swallow my pride and call my brother. I wince at the thought of having to beg to move in with him.
Before I start to hyperventilate, I pull out my phone. He’s going to love this, though. If there’s one thing my brother does better than anyone else I know, it’s play the hero. He lives for solving other people’s problems. This time I’m going to have to let him.
How did I let myself get into this situation?
Mike answers on the third ring. “Hey, Shelley, what’s up? You’re on speaker. I’m in the car with Danielle and Alice.”
There’s no point in dragging this out with pleasantries, so I jump right to the reason for my call. “How would you allfeel about taking in a displaced law student for the summer? Namely, me. Your sister. Who you love and respect and would not want to see left unhoused in a big city for two months while her school rewires the building and repairs a bunch of mold or whatever other storm damage they’re talking about in the notice I’ve been given.”
Danielle screeches. “Ew, have you been living with mold?! Of course you can stay with us. It might get a little tight adding another roomie, but we’ll manage. But please know, I take no responsibility whatsoever for Honey’s actions during your stay.”
