A Little Change

Chapter 2

I sat down in the folding chair that I had in my apartment. For furniture I literally only have a folding chair and a folding card table... And for my bed.... An air mattress. When it comes to a fridge... I don't have one of those either. They're wicked expensive. Instead I use a cooler with some ice that I make in the freezer at the diner. I looked over at the counter where I had tons of rat traps just sitting there waiting to be set off.

Letting out a long sigh I pulled my laptop for school into my lap and began to type an email to my professor asking about when I had my shadowing opportunity. I looked around. I can't wait until I graduate and actually make something for a living.

I silently closed my laptop and headed over to my counter where the coffee cake was sitting from the night before. I cut myself a small piece and walked slowly ate little bits of it. I reached down into the Styrofoam cooler on the ground pulling out a cold cup of coffee that I had gotten from the diner.

I looked down at my watch and saw that I had about 10 minutes before I had to get to work. "Fuck," I mumbled to myself and grabbed the Styrofoam cup before rushing out the door with my bag that held my only homework for the day; reading my book on Muscles and testing the functions.

Once I was out the door I basically ran all the way to the diner. When I got there I was just about out of breath and I rushed into the kitchen before tying my apron around my waist. I hate working 40 plus hours a week. It's all really hard to juggle on top of school. Sue and Tony are the only people that I've actually talked to on a regular basis outside of work.

Looking around the diner I realized that it wasn't even fully opened yet. Yes! I have some time to get some reading done.

"Hey, Jessie! How are you this morning," Sue mumbled as she came and sat next to me with a fresh cup of coffee in her hand.

"Eh. I really need to read this stuff for school. It's that time of the school year, gotta buckle down on like everything," I mumbled not even looking up from my book.

"Ah, yes! I remember those days! I want you to succeed. It's really important to be because you're like the daughter that I never had. I just wanted you to know that," She informed and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Thank you Sue. I appreciate you letting me put in so many hours," I told her as I quickly glanced up at her with a smile on my face. She knows I'm in a tough spot... But she doesn't necessarily know how bad the predicament really is.

She smiled back and stood up going to turn on the opened sign. I just kept on reading and eventually the bell to the door dinged. I quickly jumped up and walked around to the other side of the counter.

"Hello, Marvin! What can I get you today," I asked as the old man sat down at the front counter.

Marvin is a regular who likes to come here on Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings to get breakfast and some coffee. "Hi Jessie! I'll have a cup of coffee and a nice big slice of Tony's homemade apple pie please!"

"Sure thing," I exclaimed and slid a mug onto the counter. I quickly came over and poured him his coffee.

"How're you today Jessie! Close to graduating, yet," He asked before he took a sip of his black coffee. He's such a sweet old man.

"This is my last semester," I started, "And Then I'll be doing an internship. I really hope to be able to dive right into a job. It'd be great to hit the ground running." I cut Marvin his apple pie and happily slid it on the counter in front of him.

"Ah, yes! I remember those day. When I was in the service Martha was always struggling making money. I remember when she got her first stable job! It was great! She was the happiest person ever. I'm glad she could be so successful," Marvin informed with a small smile playing on his face.

"Haha yeah! I can't wait to be in a better place financial wise," I informed with a smile and sat down behind the counter picking up my book.

"In come tests, muscles furnish fixation. The muscles that furnish Fixation do not cross the same joint or joints as the mucs-," My reading in my head was cut off by someone coughing loudly in front of me.

I sighed and looked up at the person. Jonathan Toews. What was he doing here? "Uh, hello Mr. Toews! What can I get you today," I asked and I quickly put my book mark in my book and closed it, placing it on the counter.

"Uh, I'll have a glass of water and the everything omelet. Thank you Jessie," He informed with a small smile. Well, he's in a much better mood today.

"So, Mr. Toews, what brings you here today," I asked as I slid him his glass of water and gave Tony Toew's order.

"I, uh wanted to apologize for not being the nicest person yesterday. I wasn't in the best mood," He informed and gave me a little look with the tips of his lips pointed down and his eye brows furrowed.

"It's perfectly fine Mr. Toews. I've had people give me a lot more attitude than what you did yesterday," I told him with a long sigh. And sat down opening my book up.

"So uh, you're in school... And studying muscles and stuff," His voice piped up. I brought the book down so my eyes popped over the top, studying his face. Toews' head was turned to the side reading the title of the book.

"Yeah. I am," I mumbled, "I'm going to school to be a physical therapist. Meanwhile, I am working here in my free time. Gotta pay for school some way!"

He let out a dry laugh and then replied, "haha yeah. Physical therapy seems really cool. I always like to watch the trainers working with the guys. It's interesting how they can know something by the angle of their join. It honestly blows my mind!"

"Yeah. I remember when I was little I popped my knee on the farm and the doctor made me go to PT for like 2 months. It was really cool and I wanted to learn more," I told him with small smile.

"Hey! Jessie! Order up," Tony called from the kitchen. I smiled and hopped up grabbing the plate that hand Toews' omelet on in.

I placed it down on the counter and mumbled, "Here you go Mr. Toews!"

"You know you can call me Jonathan or Jonny, right," Jonathan insisted with a little smile as he picked up his fork.

I think I might take back the bad things that I said about him.

~~~

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