Wednesday, March 15, 2023

My heart is still there



 "What's going on now?" Weren't they supposed to be at a pub or something? Had St. Patrick's day already past? Really, Zoey could never remember. Somehow, she always thought it was the seventeenth. She winced, oh her new job was driving her mind crazy. At least, there were no troubles with Dan. She was afraid if she saw him, he might really know how she was.

"What?" Alfie looked at her as if he didn't know how to use her remote. Naturally, he was making himself so comfortable at her place. Occasionally, they did fall asleep on the couch together. "You're the one who looks worried."

She dropped to the couch and put the channel on something she knew he would watch. An old sitcom.

"Oh, you know it's been trying with my job at the CITY. I can't do nothing right," she winced hard.

"But you... are so adorable, they'd let it slide." He smirked. He put his arm around her as if it was a natural thing to do. It was kind of strange how what was once rather fake seemed to slowly be real.

"I should have just stuck with teaching." Of course, that was in a hick town at a Catholic school. She'd never been so religious in her life. She knew all the saints now, but that didn't stop her from falling off the deep end, ever so often.

"Why didn't you?" He looked at her blankly as if she could tell him her life story if she wanted to.

"Oh, it's so hard finding a public school in this state and even if you do, it doesn't mean it's worth it." She'd had enough of fifth graders to last her a lifetime and she'd only taught three years in the Catholic schools. True, she'd meant to teach at that urban school in Lincoln, but when she found out they needed someone to be a secretary for the Senior Bus drivers... well, she took it. Although, keeping on top of all that scheduling was horrible, maybe even horrifying at times. Some bus drivers weren't supposed to go too far into Omaha because of problems they'd had at certain medical places. Oh, the list was just ridiculous. She didn't really know any of them.

"Did you move in because Dan lives right across the hall?" It sounded like a burning question. It was like he hadn't read any of the text she'd written about the Dan subject.

"No." Zoey practically wailed and backhanded him across the chest. "You know, what I said. If you have a crush on someone, you are always there for them. You might never be actually with them, but to be there by their side in case they might need you."

"That's just crazy," Alfie winced as if he didn't believe her for a second.

Zoey hadn't meant to talk about Dan. She felt like having a good cry as she did her best to hear the words from the silly old sitcom. Of course, it did nothing for her.

"I would never want him to know the real me," Zoey looked at her shelf of books. They were well covered, even in paper bags. She'd hate for him to see her very naughty list of books she hid away.

"Huh?" Alfie winced with a curious face.

"Let's go drinking." She pulled him up from the couch.

"I dunno." He shook his head no. "That..that.."

"Then..then you can watch me." She told him. 

"But it's a Wednesday." Alfie winced.

"It's gotta be ladies' night somewhere." Zoey shrugged back.

12 comments:

  1. i think drinking will not solve her problems

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  2. Drinking does solve anything, it only complicates matters.

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  3. It looks from Zoey's experience as a teacher, that teaching in school, any school is tough. I like Zoey's opinion that if you have a crush on someone you should be there for them in case you're needed.

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  4. Uy las cosas se complican y el las daña mas Te mando un beso.

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  5. Love that last line! And how he didn't know how to use her remote :)

    Alfie likes old sitcoms.

    I hope these two don't get in trouble at the pub :)

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  6. no, better not to drink and drunk....
    nice flow.....

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  7. There is no escape from life - it will always catch up with us.

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  8. Small-town teachings always confuse religion and education, ultimately molding people a certain way.
    Another very interesting chapter.
    💋 Kisses 💋

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  9. Zoey is a character! I loved learning more about her. It's interesting that she fell into secretarial work because she was burned out on Catholic school teaching (as anyone would be!) and because public school positions are hard to come by. I can understand her frustration with her current job too, though, especially with all that scheduling! Anyway, it's cute that she covers her steamier books with paper bags! And what she says about wanting to be there for Dan, even though they're not in a relationship, is sweet. I hope she and Alfie have fun at the bar. Although, given Alfie's history, not too much fun! 🚌📺🏫🚌📺🏫

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  10. Pobre Zoey, siento que está muy frustrada por toda la situación ♡♡

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