AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 2
Brooklynn
––––––––
Savannah, GA April 10– Monday
I’m so not ready for today. Why is the beginning of the week the hardest one to start? Mondays are the worst. This day has to get better. I’ve had enough already. My day started off like crap. An ice-cold shower because the hot water heater decided to go out. Head out to my car to find that I have a flat tire. I didn’t even have time to deal with it because I was running behind. I had things I wanted to get taken care of before going in to work. It’s one of my co-workers’ birthday so I was supposed to pick up balloons and a cake for her. The first Lyft I ordered was cancelled so I had to wait for the second one. That meant my day was even further behind. By the time I picked up my breakfast sandwich and coffee order, I had ten minutes to get to work. I barely made it in on time.
The last thing that happens to make this one of the worst Mondays ever occurs just as I arrive. As I am heading inside the building of the Hope Foundation House or HFH, I nearly trip because my sneaker string gets snagged on one of the corners of the last step.
“Brilliant! That’s all I need.”
As I right myself and fix my clothing, I’m met by the one person I don’t need to see right now. I’m not in the mood for her energy.
“It is a brilliant day, and I am going to make the most of it.”
Today she’s wearing her reddish-brown hair with blonde highlights up in two partial puffs and some of the curls are falling out of them. They dance around her head as she bops. Yes, she’s one of those who has “pep in her step” every, single morning, afternoon, and evening.
“J, I might actually lay hands on you today if you don’t bring it down a notch.”
My voice is a little lower than normal. My allergies have been going haywire. The sudden season change has me downing allergy medicine every morning. Something else I forgot today. The other thing I forgot was to put on deodorant. I’m trying to get inside and to my locker so I can remedy the situation as soon as possible.
Journee smiles as she pretends to lock up her mouth. I shouldn’t take out my frustrations on her, but I haven’t had my morning coffee. I’m one of those people who perpetuates those signs and t-shirts that say things like, “First coffee then I do all the things”. I am not a nice person before I get caffeine in my system.
Once I’ve dropped off my packages and put away the cake, I grab my breakfast. As soon as I’m back in the reception area, Journee is making her way back around. If she did her normative route, then she’s set to head up to the third floor to check on the patients up there. Those are our residential patients. Journee is the head nurse and a part-time scheduler here. She’s also one of my closest friends.
The most energetic bunny and nurse to ever walk the face of the earth stops by the desk and gives me a look before she begins to circle the nurse’s station. I take a drink of my coffee and close my eyes while allowing the blissful warmth to move through my body. A shiver runs down my spine. I have a full body reaction to it. I take another sip before I open my eyes.
When I do, I have three sets of eyes staring at me. One belongs to one of our regular doctors. The second belongs to one of the patients who happens to be new to the foundation. Of course, the third set belongs to Journee. All three sets look as if they are questioning what’s just happened. Journee leans over the counter to stare at me. She suddenly rushes around the desk to squat down next to me. Making a show of unlocking her lips while she leans in closer as everyone else turns to pretend like they aren’t listening to what we’re saying, Journee begins to ask her question.
“Hey honey, did you just ... um ...?” She looks around to see if anyone is looking. I smile to myself because she doesn’t see all of the periphery looks we’re getting. “Orgasm from a cup ... nope a sip of coffee? If so, I need to know where the hell you get your coffee.”
“Better yet, can we find a way to get this one laid.”
Mrs. Sexton’s words sound as if they echo around the main floor. If I were anyone else, I’d be beet red with embarrassment. I’m not so easily humiliated. This would be difficult to accept if it weren’t a regular kind of thing coming from the fifty-five-year-old with electric blue hair.
“This is why I love you, Mrs. Sexton.”
Journee laughs and those curls of hers bounce as she does. I smile to myself as I take another sip of the precious, liquid amazingness in my cup.
“Sheisone of our favorite people. Even if she tends to make inappropriate comments. Can’t a woman enjoy a cup of coffee?”
“Um ... there’s enjoying a cup of coffee then there’s enjoying a cup of coffee,” Mrs. Sexton teases.
Journee stands up then crosses her arms as she gives me side-eye. When she nods her agreement with the statement, I work not to come up with another response.
“Mrs. Sexton, did you need to make a pit stop before your session?” I ask the question in hopes it will get her off the topic that is turning my skin a shade of red I don’t want it to be. “We’ll be ready to begin our session in just a few minutes.”
“Nice try, Girlie. I don’t need to make a ‘pit stop’ or take a piss before our session today. I took care of that before I came here. I’m all set to go.” The older woman signs in then pulls her handbag up higher on her shoulder. Once it’s where she wants it, she continues. “If you don’t want to discuss your sex life, then just say the word. I might question why that is. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Men talk about their conquests all the time. Why can’t women? Unless that’s the real reason you don’t want to talk about it. Is the garden not being tended?”
