7
She was glad the week was over. It had started off leaving her feeling as though everything she touched just fell apart. But Seth made sure she didn’t have to face it alone. He was always there. She wasn’t foolish enough to believe he was there just out of the goodness of his heart. Charlene hadn’t forgotten what she’d overheard Seth and Charles arguing about. It was her. But after all the time they’d spent together, she believed Seth no longer held such doubts in her ability. Or at least he now had some faith in it. It was a start.
As she left the office building, she looked back one last time, hoping to spot Seth. It was Friday night and everyone was hustling to get off work, and get home to relax. But not one of them was Seth. He obviously had been busy, because he didn’t call or stop in to check on her, not even once. That should’ve boosted her confidence, but she actually missed it.
Turning and walking away, she left the building and waved down a taxi. One thing about leaving Lawson Steel, taxis practically fought to give you a ride. It was so expensive, but so was taking her car to work. Paying for a parking spot each day would cost more than her salary. Charlene was used to watching her spending. She might have a better job now, but old habits die hard. Besides, she had no idea how long she’d be at Lawson Steel. She appreciated Charles giving her a chance, but she didn’t need to be there for years to know it wasn’t the place for her.
Charlene missed working with the public. God, so many people would consider her crazy, but she met so many unique individuals that way. Granted some were losers, and others, well, probably should be locked up behind bars, but for the most part, they were regular people. At Lawson Steel, it was like everyone was cut from the same cloth. Or at least pretending to be. That wasn’t her style at all.
When she entered the taxi, it was the first time all day she felt at ease. The woman driving looked like she could be a truck driver. She asked Charlene for the address and pulled out into the road, as though there wasn’t another car to be seen for miles.
“Have you lived in the city long?” Charlene asked.
“Do I look like I live in Manhattan?” she answered. Her voice matched her appearance.
“I just relocated a couple of weeks ago. It takes some time to get used to I guess.”
“You either like it or you don’t.”
Charlene wasn’t sure yet. Then again, she lived on the outskirts so it was a bit different. “There are things I like, and of course a lot of things I miss from home too. Like this restaurant that was close by. It’s called Mama’s Place. You could just walk in and you felt like you were family. Well I kind of am. Not that I’m actually related or anything, but their daughter is my best friend. So it’s like being related in a way.”
“Why don’t you call her now?” the driver suggested.
“I would but the baby usually sleeps at this time and I’d hate to wake her. She had a newborn. Well actually she’s a few months now. I don’t have any kids, but who knows what the future holds right? I mean I’m in New York City. If you can’t get lucky in love here, where can you?”
“Ah huh.”
“How about yourself? Married?”
“Nope.”
“Kids?” she asked.
“Nope.”
“Are you looking, because I’m thinking of opening my own business and I really think I could…”
“Listen lady. I’m not interested,” she stated.
“In dating?” Charlene asked.
“In anything you’ve been saying. Why don’t you play on your phone or read a book. It will make this ride”
“Sorry. I’ll be quiet,” she said and did just that. This isn’t going to make me like the city very much if people keep biting my head off.
It wasn’t like this was the first person to basically tell her to shut the hell up. Sadly it happened more times than Charlene would like to think. But when you’re stuck in an office looking at the same four walls all day, you want to chat up a storm when you finally see life. Obviously, Charlene had picked the wrong taxi to take home when she was bored. And that is exactly what she was.
It was Friday night and her big plans were look out the window on her ride home. Granted, Charlene had wanted to make some changes in her life, tone things down a bit, but this was too much. Before she knew it she’d be playing pinochle or canasta at the senior center for excitement.
Maybe something on the way home would catch her eye. She was after all, in the city that never sleeps. People travelled from all over the world to visit Manhattan and it wasn’t to look at it through the window of a taxi either.
“Pull over please,” Charlene said quickly.
The drive got over to the curb and said, “I hope you’re not going to get sick in my taxi.”
Gee, thanks for caring.
“No. I don’t need your services any longer.” Charlene saw the amount on the meter, and pulled out the exact amount handing it over to the driver. Then she grabbed her purse and got out without giving her a tip or saying goodbye. She was tired of being treated rudely and still being the bigger person by being polite.