Marin
A month later, I’m looking over my bank statement listening to all my savings evaporate into thin air (which is really noisy, if you must know) and the confidence I felt on New Year’s Eve has waned, replaced by nerves and foolish pride.
I can’t go back to Mr. Farrugia and the idea of finding another bookkeeping job is wholly unappealing. It is completely anti-risk taking. If it’s one thing I still have the conviction on, it’s that I will make my resolution come hell or high water.
I haven’t accepted defeat just yet, even with the very creative options my friends have thrown out for me thus far.
“Become a stripper!” Stacy encouraged.
“How about a window washer. That’s risky here in Manhattan.” Dolly joked.
“Come up to Maine and become a lobsterman with me.” That from my brother, Stuart. Not a chance.
As I scroll through my daily feed of potential jobs online, my phone lights up next to me with a text from my friend Dolly.
Dolly: Call me ASAP. Got something for you.
I sigh and take a fortifying sip of my coffee. Dolly has been an amazing friend to me through all of this and is always looking out for my best interests. But we have very different views of the world and I’ve had to shoot down at least ten of her suggestions already.
With nothing left to lose, I hug my robe tight to my chest and dial her up.
“Hey, what’s up?” I say when she answers on the second ring.
“My cousin, Nathaniel. His mom and my mom are cousins, I think. I don’t really know how we’re related exactly, but that’s beside the point. I heard my mom talking that she saw him over the holidays and he’s this bigtime scientific researcher. Snooze-fest. But anyway, he’s looking for someone to be his research coordinator, or something, to catalog his notes and findings and shit like that.”
I purse my lips. “Um, okay. That’s great, and I really appreciate you bringing this up, but it doesn’t exactly sound like that’s in my wheelhouse. Plus, you know I’m looking for something a bit more exciting.”
She laughs into the phone. “See, that’s the kicker. He needs someone to go with him on some research road trip. To do some sort of field study. I don’t have all the details, but it’s certainly not your typical office environment.”
Oh. Oh my. That is kind of different.
“Wow. A road trip job, huh?”
“Right? You’d be perfect for it. You’re organized and detailed. And it would be a bold thing for you to try.”
A lump forms in the back of my throat as I consider the potential and timing of this opportunity. My palms begin to sweat, and my heart begins beating wildly from my nerves.
My silence must clue her into my apprehension when Dolly pipes in again.
“I’ve already called Nathaniel and scheduled an interview for you today at noon. You’re meeting him for lunch at Consuela’s on Fifth.”
“What? Oh my God, I can’t meet him today. I….I…”
She tsks. “You can, and you will, no if’s, and’s, or but’s. This is exactly the thing that will get you out of your little hamster wheel and give you the opportunity of a lifetime. You can thank me later.”
I notice my hand now shakes, as coffee spills over the edge of my cup. Placing it on the table, I reach for a napkin to wipe up the mess. That’s when reality hits me full force.
“Today?” My voice trembles and cracks.
“Yes! Now hurry up. Go get showered, dressed and ready to meet him for your interview.”
I think I mutter something that sounds like a response.
“Oh, and there’s one last thing.”
Great, there’s a catch. Her cousin is probably a creepy old man like Carmine Farrugia. I shiver at the thought.
“Yes? What’s that?”
She clears her throat. “I seem to recall the last time I saw Nathaniel, he isn’t your typical Brainiac, boring scientist.”
Her statement confuses me. “Um, okay. Would you like to expound on that? Does he lack social skills or something?”
Dolly chuckles darkly. “Oh, no, Nathaniel has social skills alright. Perhaps too many, if you know what I mean.”
I give her an exasperated grunt. “No, I don’t know what you mean, Dolly. Spit. It. Out.”
Apparently, I haven’t had enough coffee this morning to deal with Dolly’s evasiveness. She does this all the time. She’s very dramatic and coy.
“The dude is gorgeous. And is somewhat notorious for being a playboy. So, don’t let him charm your panties off you.”
And with that, she laughs into the phone and then hangs up, leaving me trying to envision what a playboy research scientist looks like.
Guess I’ll find out at lunch.