Page 3 of In the Middle of No(ah)where
It's the same answer I've given everyone this afternoon, and I'm mentally exhausted.
After another hour, people start saying their goodbyes. When it's just family left inside the house, I politely excuse myself and retreat to the sanctuary of my bedroom. The familiar device sitting on my bed offers a momentary reprieve. The island of Purin I'd been crafting for the past year on my Switch beckons me. On Purin, I am someone else entirely––an islander who peruses around, building bridges and collecting things to sell. It's peaceful decorating my cottage home and visiting with my animal neighbors. There, I'm in total control.
Hours melt away as I hug my Pompompurin stuffie and navigate through the daily quests and intricate landscapes I've built. The immersive world offers an antidote to the anxieties of reality. It's not just a game; it's a refuge, a place where I can escape the crushing weight of expectations.
As the night sky darkens, the day's exhaustion begins to set in, and sleep becomes the ultimate escape.
???
Using the money I received for graduation a week ago, I filled my car with gas and decided to spend the day looking for a job.It doesn't have to be a life-changing career, but something I can enjoy for the time being.
As the numbers on the pump increase, I think of different jobs that align with my interests. Looking across the street at the strip mall, I roll my eyes when I see the sign for GameStop. I enjoy escaping to my island or racing around a track, but that's where my interests in video games end. I never really got into the hardcore games with fantasy worlds or joining a team to shoot and kill people. Having to research manuals while playing a game seems more like work than enjoyment.
When the pump clicks off, I replace the nozzle, pull the hand sanitizer from my glove box, squirt a generous amount into my hands, and rub them together.
After driving around another fifteen minutes, I find a quiet street with shops lining both sides of the block. The mom-and-pop shops give this area a quaint feel. Comfortable. I park my car and decide to walk, getting some fresh air since the weather is in the low eighties.
In the middle of the street, on the opposite side, a coffee shop is tucked away, with a few bistro tables outside on the sidewalk. The painted sign over the shop reads'Steamed,' and in the window, there is a sign leaning against the ledge.Help Wanted. I don't have any experience working in a coffee shop, but it wouldn't hurt to inquire about the position. Right?
I look both ways and cross over.
Stepping up to the door, I smile when I see a rainbow sticker in the lower right corner. I love this place already. The chime on the door dings when I open it. A waft of something sweet soothes something inside me, and the tension I've been feeling over the past week eases. A few people in business casual attire are working on laptops, while others are chatting in small groups, and the entire place has a sense of calm.
I step up to the counter and look over the chalkboard menu.
"Welcome to Steamed," the red-headed barista greets me. "My name is Caleb. What can I get for you?"
"Nice to meet you, Caleb. I'm Noah, and not really a coffee drinker. What would you recommend?" My eyes keep scanning the board.
"I've only been here a few days, so it's hard for me to make suggestions." He says in a small voice. Crap. Perhaps they have already hired someone and forgot to take down the sign. That really sucks because I think I would have enjoyed working in a place like this. "If you like lemonade, ours is made fresh. It's really refreshing on a day like today." He tells me with a wavering smile.
"Yeah. That sounds good. I'll take a medium." My eyes scan the display case, taking in all the sweets. I really should be watching my funds until I get a job.
"Anything else?" Caleb asks.
"That's it," I tell him while pulling out my wallet from my back pocket. I tap my card and drop a couple dollars in the tip jar.
"Thanks." He tells me, a little too chipper over a couple bucks.
"Hey…I saw the sign in the window. Do you…do you know if they're still hiring?" I hesitantly ask, pointing over at the help-wanted sign.
Caleb's eyes widen, and his smile spreads across his face. "Yes! They're looking for someone to start immediately." He's practically vibrating with excitement. "Let me go get Carlie; she's the owner-manager. Do you have time to talk to her now?"
"Um, yeah. That would be great."
While waiting for Carlie to come out, I step over to the bulletin board, which houses all sorts of flyers announcing the latest events happening around town. One flier, in particular, catches my eye. It's a quarterly playdate event at the LGBTQ+center for those interested in age play. I didn't even know our town had an LGBTQ+ center. And…what is age play? I pull out my phone and take a picture of the flyer so I can research it later.
Driving home from Steamed, I still can't believe my luck. I was officially hired after a thirty-minute interview and a tour of the shop. I signed a bunch of paperwork. Tomorrow, I start my first job. I will be back in the morning watching a series of online videos and scenarios. Then, I will shadow someone on the floor for the remainder of the day to see how things operate.
I don't know how this will turn out, but one thing is sure: it should help keep my parents mollified while I try to figure out my life.
2
Noah
Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope, and nope. "This is definitely not for me," I tell the empty air in my bedroom with heated cheeks. What did I just read? Diapers. Sippy cups. Bottles. Onesies. I've seen reality TV shows about adult babies, but this takes it too far. I won't yuck anyone's yum, but I won't be nursing on a bottle while pretending some strange man is my daddy.
As new as all this is, something about age play must have grabbed my attention because I can't stop researching.
