A thunderclap awoke me from my sleep.
I soon became aware of the rain pounding on the roof and beating against the windows. This wasn't anything unusual for May on the plains.
I turned over and watched it come down against the blue light of the morning, letting my arm hang off the side of the bed.
It was quite peaceful to listen to the rain patter against the window, to watch the drops cause the bright green leaves to dance up and down. I felt a swath of cold air hit my exposed skin, causing a refreshing band of goosebumps to spindle their way down my arms.
I couldn't believe I was already done with school. I was already done with childhood, with my teenage years. You would think it would be easy to wrap my head around it all, but it was so surreal.
And it all happened too quickly.
"Millicent!" I heard my dad call from outside my bedroom door. "Time for breakfast! Rise and shine!"
I shoved my face down into my pillow, stretching out and contemplating whether or not to act like I'd heard him.
Nevertheless, I sat up and grabbed my sweater, wrapping it around myself and my silky gray nightgown. Then I slipped into some socks and headed downstairs to the smell of eggs and sausage cooking.
"Good morning, miss adult." My sister smirked, sitting down at the dining table with her plate.
"Good morning, miss small child." I retorted, lightheartedly. "I've only been eighteen for a day. I don't know if that counts as an adult just yet."
"No, I think it does." My dad chimed in.
I gave him a look. "Don't remind me."
"Get some breakfast." He laughed. "I think you've got to get to work today, don't you?"
"Oh, you're right!" I gasped. I'd completely forgotten that the Library had accepted my job application and today was my first day. "How did I even forget that?"
"Oh, I know. Being an adult is so hard." My mom said, her tone filled with nonchalant sarcasm.
"Oh, my gosh, people." I rolled my eyes. "Let. It. Go."
"Not for a while." My dad joined my sister at the dining table. "Probably not 'til you move out."
"But on a serious note, you do need to get a move on if you plan on getting to the Library on time." My mom stated, looking out the window. "And the weather isn't looking too great either. Might be wise to give yourself a few extra minutes."
I nodded, shoveling in my eggs and sausage. I honestly don't think I've ever eaten that fast in my life.
"That was great, dad. Thank you." I put my plate in the sink and hurried up the stairs.
I closed the door behind me and glanced at the alarm clock's red numbers. 7:24.
I had to be at the library by eight-fifteen and it took ten minutes to get over there with no traffic. And in this weather, it'd probably be more like twenty-five minutes.
I thrust open my closet doors and searched for the outfit I'd put together about a week ago. It was a white, long-sleeved button-up with ruffled cuffs and shoulders and then a plaid pencil skirt.
"Ugh, where is it?" I muttered to myself, getting frustrated.
I paused and combed my brain for where it was. Turning around, I quickly said a silent prayer of thanks, as it was hanging up on the back of my bedroom door. Quickly, I put it on and grabbed my black leather flats from under my bed and went to the bathroom to fix my hair.
I tousled my curls so they would loosen a little bit, and then put a small, red headband on to keep them out of my face. Next, I put on some eye-shadow, mascara, and pink lipstick.
Taking a deep breath, I ran back to my room and grabbed my bag, throwing in my wallet and some other miscellaneous things.
"Milli?" My dad called up. "You almost done up there?"
"Yeah, I'm coming!" I checked my look in the mirror one last time before I bounded down the stairs. "How do I look?"
"Great." My dad winked. "Now you better get going. Looks like the rain's slacked up a little bit."
"Okay! Bye!" I bid my family farewell and grabbed my car keys from where they sat in the little porcelain tray by the back door.
The smell of rain hit me almost immediately as the garage door opened to reveal my baby blue Austin mini. If someone could be in love with a vehicle, then I was absolutely head over heels for my car. It'd been my sixteenth birthday present and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I pulled out and turned the corner out of my neighborhood of big houses and perfectly manicured lawns.
It didn't bother me where I lived or who I was friends with, it bothered me that we were judged for our every move and out every word. Soc and greaser alike.
It was pointless, the whole Greaser and Soc feud, but there wasn't much anybody could do but keep to themselves or move out of town.
I pulled into the library with windshield wipers whirring and put it in park with a long, exasperated sigh.
The rain was coming down in pelting sheets now, and I knew almost immediately that my curls were not going to withstand this weather. This was the kind of rain that would drench you even if you were underneath an umbrella.
But still, I had to get to work. And I knew I would get in trouble if my parents knew I showed up late on my first day.
So, with not much of a choice left, I open my car door as quickly as possible and open my parasol. I get wet the moment I step out, and my leather flats are pretty much underwater in the puddles formed in the uneven dips of the parking lot as I ran to get under the awning.
"Millicent Decour?" A woman's voice called from behind me, muffled slightly by the rain pounding on the tin roof.
I turned, flustered. "Yes?"
I felt the droplets from my parasol land on my kneecaps as I shook out the plasticky material.
"I'm Mrs. Mercer!" She yelled, beckoning for me to come and meet her. "Hurry in before you get even more wet!"
I laughed cynically to myself, walking towards her in a frantic frenzy of trying to fix my hair and smooth out my skirt that was sticking to my skin.
"Good morning!" Mrs. Mercer said. "Millicent? Am I saying it correctly?"
I smiled, setting my wet parasol by the door. "Yes, that's right."
"Beautiful name." She led me to a round table towards the back of the library. "I'm Mrs. Mercer, and I'll be your supervisor, I guess. In other words, if there's a problem just come to me."
I nodded. She was an aging woman, with some grey streaks in her chestnut hair.
"I think what I'm going to start you on is checking the returned books and putting them back on their correct shelves." She began straightening all the loose papers on the table and stacking the books that were strewn across the wood.
"You think you can do that?" She looked at me abruptly.
"Um, yes." I stammered, slightly. "Yes, I think I can manage."
"Well, let me give you a little tour so you have an idea where everything is." She sauntered quickly to the back left corner of the library, and I did my best to follow her, but my shoes were squeaking louder than the twelve 'o clock train.
I listened to them echo throughout the quiet of the library as she toured me around, a slight heat of embarrassment heating my cheeks.
"That's it." She stopped right back at the round table. "The returned books are on a cart over there," she pointed to the back corner. "And if you need anything else I'll be at the front desk."
I nodded, watching her as she returned to her desk and began writing something down.
I slipped my flats off, disgusted with the way they were sticking to my skin. I could already feel the chill biting at my skin as the air conditioning cut on, and I felt the edge of a bad attitude begin to creep up on me.
"No, Millicent..." I whispered, straightening my posture and taking a deep breath.
"Not today."