K…
After their three-course meal Reiner sat next to his sister on the couch and watched her thumb through the classified section of the newspaper with a confused look on his face. “Mom said you started a new job today, clearly it didn’t go well?”
Lyri just took a deep breath and brought her gaze to meet his as she lowered the paper. “I’ve told this story what seems like a million times today, but hey! What’s one more?” Reiner just sat there quietly, the confusion on his face deepened, taking a deep breath.
“You really carry all the bad luck, don’t you?” He said with sympathy in his voice.
“So, it seems.” She replied as she started circling potential jobs that she thought might work in the classifieds.
“Do you think you two can finish the dishes so your dear ole’ mom can relax? Since I made dinner ya know?”
“Nah! We’re good” both kids said in unison, shortly thereafter a wet towel knocked Reiner upside his head.
“Now!” Mom made her point clear, snapping the towel toward Lyri next.
Lyri laughed while dodging the wet towel.
J…
The first day out job hunting she entered a high-profile publishing company to turn in her resume, only to be chased out by security, apparently the boss of the last company’s son worked at this one. Word of what had happened only yesterday was already circulating through the publishing community like wildfire. Lyri knew this for a fact when the next two places she visited chased her out in much the same way.
Lyri pushed open the door to the house, Reiner sitting on the couch, watching a movie, when she opened the door, he turned to her with a silly grin “How did it go?”
Plopping down on the couch beside her brother, she groaned and grabbed his bowl of popcorn.
“That good, huh.” He turned back to the movie.
“They chased me out,” she grumbled around the popcorn she was shoving into her mouth.
Reiner looked at her shocked, “Like an old lady with a broom threatening you, or more like big burly guards picking you up under the arms and tossing you out.”
Lyri groaned again, “both,” she shoveled another handful of popcorn into her mouth, “Then there was the one where I handed the guy my resume and he squealed in fear, telling me to get away from him. I left on my own from that place, but after I got out of the building there were security guards blocking the doors.”
Reiner patted his sister's arm, a commendable downcast to his mouth, but Lyri could see he was having a hard time resisting a good laugh.
“So, what did I miss?” She asked, looking at the forgotten TV show, trying to change the topic.
“Nothing much,” Reiner looked at his sister, then returned his gaze to the screen, “Only Donovan’s leg was bitten by a crazed zombie, so he chopped it off at the thigh, shoved a broom handle into place of his missing limb and bandaged it, then expertly hobbled away from the incoming horde only to live another day.”
“So that's what is up with the peg leg.” She took another bite of the popcorn and finally offered her brother some of the stolen goods. He didn’t hesitate, taking a handful before they settled into watching their TV series.
“I’m home,” their mother called from the door, “Come help me with the groceries.”
That night at dinner Lyri had to recall the events from the day for her parents.
“Does that mean the publishing agencies won't take you in?” Her mother asked.
“None of the big ones I think,” Lyri groaned.
“Then try the smaller ones tomorrow.” Her mother interjected, “How many of them are there?”
“I don’t know, maybe 8 or 9 with credibility, there could be others that I haven’t heard of.” Lyri looked to the side worried, “But they probably heard what happened at Z Publishing Company just like the others have.”
“Then take Reiner with you,” her mother suggested, both Reiner and Lyri looked at her surprised.
“I can’t….”
“Just hear me out, even if they don’t hire you, having your brother there should keep things from escalating,” their mother interrupted, “and Reiner, you did come here to spend time with Lyri, this will kill two birds with one stone.”
“And if I don’t want to get dragged around the city all day,” Reiner added. Lyri now looking at him, an idea forming in the back of her mind, “Don’t you look at me like that, you’re worse than Mother.”
“Just think of it, with the two of us there it will be like I’m normal, no brooms, no guards and no squealing grown men.” She looked wistfully at the ceiling a moment, “Oh and you could carry my bag, and….”
“No way!” He pushed his sister's forehead back, “I’m not your pack mule, if I go with, you’re carrying everything,” he gave her and evil grin.
“Whatever you choose, you two can figure that out amongst yourself after you’re done with the dishes,” their mother stood from the table, carrying her own dish into the kitchen.
“I’ll dry.” Lyri shot out before Reiner could. Reiner looked at her with his dubious grin, she knew where this was going, “Fine I’ll wash, but only if we carry our own stuff tomorrow.”
“Deal.”
K…
Once the dishes were done, Lyri looked to her brother with worry. “Even if you can help me get in somewhere, how do I hold onto it? You can’t come to work with me every day.”
“There is something out there for you, have a little more faith in yourself and know that you can do it.” He put the last dish away in the cabinet as Lyri was making her way out of the kitchen to bed down for the night. “For now, just get a good night's sleep and tomorrow will take care of itself.” Reiner called after her.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
The next morning Lyri threw the covers off of her and sat up in her bed so that her legs were hanging over the side. An abrupt knock on her door caused her to jump a little, “Up and atom sleepy head! Breakfast is on the table!” Reiner hollered through her door.
She quickly got dressed and hustled to the table. Reiner was already chowing down on eggs and sausage and saw her enter the kitchen “Grab the orange juice out of the fridge, sis.” He said with a mouth full of food.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, you’re spraying egg everywhere!” Their mother said with disgust as she grabbed a napkin to wipe away pieces of egg from the table and her glass of coffee.
“Yuck! Reiner!” Lyri said with a giggle as she came to her seat with a glass jar of juice in her hand. She grabbed her glass on the table and then slowly set it back down as she picked up a black velvet case sitting next to her cup. “What’s this?” Lyri asked.
“Open it,” Reiner said.
Lyri looked up to see a warm smile on her mom’s face. She opened his case to see a silver and green four-leaf clover hanging from a silver chain with the inscription. ‘Never Give Up’ on the back. “Wow, it's beautiful! Who?”
“Your Brother.” Her mother said before she could finish her sentence.
“I thought you could use a little luck,” Reiner said, “Now eat up and let's get going,” Lyri fastened her new necklace around her neck and started shoveling food into her mouth.
“Thank you!” She said with a mouth full of eggs that she sprayed over the table when she spoke.
“DON’T TALK WITH FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH! Honestly, you two!” Mom yelled as she grabbed another napkin to wipe up more egg pieces from the table.
J…
The first two places that Lyri visited took her resume calmly, with no incidents, it wasn’t until the third one that something peculiar happened. She came out of the manager's office to find her brother being pampered by the older ladies in the office. Lyri Stood back and watched a moment at her brother's uncomfortable face as they pushed a mug of coffee toward him.
“Such a handsome young man,” one of them said as she directed him toward a chair.
Lyri tried not to laugh at her brother's discomfort.
The other was chittering something about her own son. When Reiner noticed her, he gave her a pleading look. Stifling a laugh, she approached the group. “Ladies,” Lyri nodded to the older women. “Reiner, I believe it is time to go.”
“Of course,” Reiner responded. It was several cakes, a few kisses, and in one case a very long hug, before they managed to leave the publishing house, she had just turned her resume into.
When they were outside Lyri tried her best not to laugh at her brother's discomfort, he pushed her playfully as they continued down the street.
“Where is our next stop?” Reiner asked. Lyri guided Reiner toward the bench at a bus stop. Several other people occupied the bench, leaving space for only one person to sit. Neither of them took the seat, choosing to lean against the bus stop cover instead.
“It's about a 15-minute bus ride from here, near the shopping district.” It was several minutes before the bus pulled up to the station. Everyone from the bench and the two siblings boarded the bus, again all the seats were taken except for one. Reiner indicated his sister take the seat, when she did the woman already sitting in the seat next to it gave her a harsh glare. Deciding it was better to stand, Reiner and Lyri positioned themselves near one of the doors instead. When their stop came up, the two exited the bus, it was another 10-minute walk from there before they arrived at a little building that looked as though it had seen better days.
“Are you sure this is a publishing house?” Reiner asked as he looked at the building with suspicion.
“That’s what the site says,” Lyri had her phone out, checking the location a second time. “It says this is the location of the Keen Publishing house, owned and operated by Coren Shinder.”
“You mean the billionaire?” Lyri shook her head, then shrugged, “I think the site is lying to you…” he paused a moment, “There is no way a billionaire works out of this dump.”
“That dump happens to be a very comfortable location,” said a male voice from behind them. Both turned to find a handsome young man, behind them, a carrier with six coffee mugs in one hand.
Lyri blushed as she quickly explained, “He didn’t mean any disrespect,” shifting, she continued, “He left his filter at home today.”
Reiner smiled, “Don’t tell me, you’re Coren Shinder?” He extended his hand to the young man, he looked to be only a few years older than them.
“That would be me,” he took Reiner’s hand and shook it, looking at Lyri he said, “And you must be Lyri Hushion, your reputation precedes you.”
Lyri blushed, crossing her arms she discretely pinched herself to keep from crying, “I guess we’ll be going then.”
“What for?” Coren said, “We still have an interview,” he guided the two toward the building, “And I can’t let that horrible opinion of my beautiful building stand.”
“But you already know of…” she paused when Coren raised a hand.
“I believe in not judging someone by others opinion of them.” He walked toward the entrance, pushing the two in front of him gently, careful not to spill the drink he still carried, “besides, you have to admit the report was hilarious, just think of the entertainment or even the story that could come from such events.”
Lyri blushed again as she let him lead her into the building. “You know I’m not here to interview.” Reiner said as he too let the young man guide him through the doors of his building.
“Yeah, the interview is just a formality, I have also heard good things from Professor Guren.” Inside the building on the ground floor, it looked much like the outside, a bit run down and outdated.
“You know Professor Guren?” Lyri looked at him, amazed.
“Yeah, and he speaks highly of your skills.” Coren guided them toward the stairs, “He also mentioned that things tend to go a bit….” He paused, “Sideways, when you’re around as well.” Lyri blushed again, “No worries, like I said it could be interesting.” He extended his hand out toward the second floor, there were little pods, a workout section, a small drink bar, as well as several places set up for stretching and even places for sleeping. “This is the relaxation and motivation space.”
Reiner whistled. “Now this is my kind of job.” He gravitated toward the work out space, “This area is actually pretty modern, you wouldn’t expect that from the outside.”
“Right.” Coren agreed, “Just wait until you see the offices.” He guided the two to the third floor where there were a scant six offices, each set up large enough to allow for movement and comfort without interrupting the others at work. The six offices each had a person in them in various stages of reading manuscripts and in one case writing one. “We encourage that the publisher also pursues what interests them, if that is writing their own novel, then the office pods are the perfect place to do so.”
Lyri couldn’t say anything, she was so impressed by what she was seeing, each office had its own walled off space, and a door to enter, there was a full couch in each as well as a kitchenette and fridge. Each person she met waved or greeted her and went back to what they were working on. One person even had music blaring in his space, to Lyri’s amazement, they couldn’t hear the music until the door was opened. Coren passed cups from the drinks he carried to each of the workers as they greeted them.
“Let’s go up to the fourth floor,” Coren guided the two to the stairs. When there, Lyri found another six offices set up much like the ones on the third floor. This area had only two occupied offices, again Coren introduced her to both of the workers before he stopped near another office pod. “This is my office,” he indicated another identical space but with black furnishing inside. Indicating toward the one across the hall, he motioned for Reiner and Lyri to take a look, “And this is where you’ll be working.”
Reiner smiled as Lyri looked toward him in shock, “Wait, what?”
“Like I said, Professor Guren gave you a good recommendation, and I trust him.” He turned on the light in the space, the furnishings were a calm beige.
“But you haven’t even looked at my….”
“No need,” Coren cut her off, “have a little trust my friend,” he leaned on Reiner shoulder, “Is she always this slow?”
“Worse,” Reiner responded with a straight face, nodding his head.
Lyri blushed and looked down, “But what if…” she paused. “Something goes sideways?”
“We’ll deal with that when or if it happens,” He shifted, “So when can you start?”
When she didn’t respond Reiner supplied, “Tomorrow.” Silent tears were forming in his sister’s eyes, “What time should she be here?”
“Let’s say 8am, and you’re welcome to join her, it might help her to feel more comfortable.”
“Coren! Coren!” Someone called out as she came barreling up the stairs, “I have it.”