Laura's New Job

Laura misses Madison

Laura woke up Friday morning at 2:30, a half-hour earlier than usual. She went to get her work shirt and a pair of pants.

            “I hope this day goes by slowly,” Laura said to herself.

However, she was happy that Katie was staying the night with her. She loves working at the Madison Speedway, but realized taking over a different store was going to be a challenge. Laura was thinking about asking Katie if she wanted to go to Golden Corral.

            “I have to think of what to tell David if he asks me out again.”

Laura took a shower. She wrapped her cast in plastic wrap.

            “I’ll tell David that I am not feeling well,” Laura said to herself as she was showering.

She couldn’t forget the argument her and Randall got into after her date with David. Laura felt dirty in a way that a shower couldn’t take care of.

Laura finished her shower and went back to her bedroom and got dressed for work. She took the plastic wrap from her cast. Laura had breakfast. After she finished eating, she watched TV as she had an hour before leaving for work.

Although Thanksgiving was more than two months away, Laura was nervous about Joan accepting her and Katie.

            “I know Joan will invite Dad and me to her house. I just wonder if she will accept Katie or David.”

Laura knew she would be off on Thanksgiving. She always liked watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She liked just being with family. She also was excited about listening to Christmas music that usually started the day after Thanksgiving.

            “It’s almost time to leave.”

Laura decided to let her father sleep as it was only about 4:30 A.M. She also got her phone and put it in her purse. She made sure her keys were in her purse. She got in her car and pushed the start button. The headlights came on. She then put the gearshift in reverse and backed out of the driveway.

            “I feel like I am still half asleep,” She said to herself.

Laura was sad that after today, she would no longer be working at the Madison store. She set her cruise control at fifty. Laura also wondered how well her wrist was healing.

            “It should be healing pretty well. I really do not want to see my arm after the cast is removed,” Laura laughed.

Laura arrived at Speedway shortly before 5 AM. Tyler wasn’t there yet. Her phone rang. It was Dreama.

            “Hello, Dreama,” Laura said.

            “Hi, Laura. Tyler just called me. He said he wasn’t feeling well and asked me to open.”

            “I should be there shortly,” she said.

Laura just sat in her car and listened to her radio. She likes erotic songs. She waited a few minutes for Dreama to get there.

She saw a car pull into the parking lot that looked like Dreama’s. Laura got out and met Dreama at the door.

            “Sometime today, Dreama,” Laura joked.

Dreama then walked slowly to the door.

            “Is Tyler okay?” Dreama asked.

            “He didn’t say what was wrong. He told me he was going to the doctor.”

            “I hope he comes in and says goodbye to me.”

Dreama unlocked the door. Laura went in. Dreama looked at the store. It appeared that Chris, the closer, done a good job.

            “I am impressed how he done at closing last night.”

Laura put food on the grill and made tea and coffee. She was getting a feeling that something was going to happen today, but she didn’t know what it was. She looked at the schedule and started to cry. Her name wasn’t on it. Dreama went to the office and read the email. There was an email from Robyn.

            “Hello Tyler and Dreama. Don’t tell Laura this, but I am ordering pizza for your store from the local Papa John’s as a going away party for her. I will order it and it should be at your store at about 11 o’clock. Let your closers know also.”

Laura happened to see that email from Robyn with the subject line “Laura,” but she couldn’t tell what the body of the email said.

            “Is Robyn planning something for me?” Laura asked Dreama.

            “I don’t know,” Dreama lied.

            “I have an appointment to have my wrist x-rayed next Friday at 4 o’clock. I really do not want to see my arm after they remove the cast. I will have to shave my arm, I know.” Laura told Dreama.

            “Ugh, that is disgusting,” Dreama told Laura.

            “It’s my arm,” Laura laughed.

Laura said that her wrist should be close to halfway healed.

Laura cleaned the counters.

            “Dreama, did I tell you that six years ago I tried to commit suicide?”

            “No, you didn’t. How come?” Dreama asked with concern.

            “It was because I am a lesbian and my parents thought they would be better off without me.”

            “Laura, don’t say that,” Dreama told her.

Laura told Dreama about the time she was in a psychiatric hospital for three months.

            “I remember waking up in the hospital with a bandage on my wrist. My hands and feet were restrained. I was twenty-four years old and fighting to stay alive. I have flashbacks of that a lot.”

            “We are all glad you didn’t,” Dreama told her.

Laura had a few customers to wait in. There were several construction workers that got food items. Some of them didn’t understand English. Laura tried to tell them their totals, but she had to show the display to them.

            “I love it when people have a small order but use a hundred-dollar bill to pay. Do these people not know about banks?” Laura asked herself.

            “Hi, Christie,” Laura said.

            “What happened to your arm?”

            “I was on a ladder and slipped.”

            “I wanted to get $40.00 on pump one,” Christie said.

Christie had other items she also wanted. Laura gave her the total.

            “Well, Christie. Today is my last day at this store.”

            “Oh, where are you going?”

            “I will be the general manager at the Clarksville Speedway. I’ll be out in a minute to talk to you,” Laura told Christie.

There was no one else in line. Laura asked if she could go talk to Christie. Dreama said that is was okay.

            “I am going to miss everyone here. Did you see my new car?” Laura asked Christie.

            “Which one?”

            “The Equinox.”

            “Oh, that is beautiful,” Christie said.

Laura also told Christie that she liked the push button start.

            “I make my first payment next week. I am so excited.”

Laura then talked about David.

            “I told you about my boyfriend. His name is David.

            “Yeah, he sounds like he’s hot,” Christie said.

Laura was afraid to tell Christie that she also had a girlfriend.

            “He is hot and he’s mine. Our first date we went to Wendy’s, which is where we met. We went to his apartment. I wore a sweater and a little black skirt,” Laura said.

            “Keep going,” Christie said.

            “There’s nothing else,” Laura lied.

Christie then finished pumping her gas. Laura then hugged Christie.

            “I will see you later,” Laura told her.

            “I may not see you again for awhile,” Christie said.

            “I know. I will miss you.”

Christie got in her car and left. Laura went back in.

            “Tyler’s coming in about 11:00. He wants to see you before you take over the other store,” Dreama told her.

David then walked in the door.

            “Is Laura here?” David asked Dreama.

            “Hey, Sweetie,” David said to her.

David was getting ready to go into work. Dreama looked at Laura with surprise.

            “Would you like to go out again tonight?” David asked his girlfriend.

            “I have something else I have to do. Maybe tomorrow night? I have something sexy to get your attention,” Laura told him.

            “Okay. I can’t wait,” David said.

David then went to work.

            “What was that?” Dreama asked.

            “I know. I am seeing him and my girlfriend at the same time.”

            “Laura, are you going to tell either one of them?”

            “I don’t know,” she said.

Laura and Dreama had customers to wait on. Catherine came in at 7 AM.

Laura then helped Catherine ring up customers. Laura saw her friend Jackie from the health department come in with a laptop.

            “Jackie is here to do our inspection,” Laura said to herself.

Laura was nervous about the store failing on her last day at that store.

Laura asked where Dreama and Catherine lived. Catherine said she lived about ten minutes from the store. Dreama said she also lived in Madison.

            “I was born in Louisville,” Dreama said.

Laura said she was born in Kokomo. She decided to get a hot chocolate.

            “Catherine, can you wait on customers?” Dreama asked her. Dreama called Laura to the office.

            “What’s going on?” Laura asked.

“We have a conference call on Fridays,” Laura said.

Laura went in after Dreama and closed the door. Dreama picked up the phone and called. Robyn was conducting the meeting. All the other general managers were on the call.

            “Hi, Robyn,” Dreama and Laura said in unison.

            “Hi, Dreama and Laura,” Robyn said.

Robyn asked where Tyler was.

            “He told me he wasn’t feeling well today.”

            “Okay, let’s get started. For those of you don’t know, we have a manager in training at Madison. Next week she transfers to Clarksville.”

            “That is a position I will be happy to take. Over the last three weeks, I have made friends with the people at the Madison store. I am going to miss them. But, this will be a new adventure for me,” Laura said excitedly.

            “We look forward to seeing you, Laura.

            “Who was that?” Laura asked Robyn.

            “That is Latoya. She is your shift leader.

            “Nice meeting you, Latoya.”

Laura needed some ibuprofen.

            “Laura, how’s your wrist doing?” Robyn asked.

            “It still hurts, but, I have appointment at King’s Daughter’s next Friday at 4 o’clock. It should be at least halfway healed. Oh, Robyn, Is there a manager at Clarksville now?”

            “He is no longer there.”

            “What happened to him,” Laura inquired.

            “I can’t say.”

Laura said that she may go in and introduce herself to the people at that store. After the meeting, Laura and Dreama took the deposit to the bank.

            “Dreama, can I listen to the radio?” Laura asked nicely.

            “I don’t know, Tyler warned me about that,” Dreama laughed.

            “Warned you about what?” Laura asked.

            “He told me you like songs that are not exactly G-rated.”

            “I wonder what made him think that,” Laura said.

Dreama and Laura went inside. Dreama handed the teller the money bag.  

“Today is my last day at this Speedway. Monday, I take over the Clarksville Speedway.”

“I am sure you are excited,” the female teller said.

“Excited and nervous.” Laura said.

The teller then gave Dreama a receipt. The two women left the bank and went back to the store.

Laura tried to get her mind off leaving the Madison store. She decided to sweep the parking lot and check trash.

            “It’s harder than hell sweeping with a broken wrist,” Laura said to herself.

            “Laura, do you need some help?” Catherine asked.

            “Oh, thank you,” Laura told Catherine.

Laura went around the side of the building to smoke. She then saw Tyler pulling in.

            “I thought he was sick,” Laura said to herself.

            “How are you feeling, Tyler?”

            “I should be back to work Monday. Oh, I need to talk to you inside.”

            “Okay,” Laura said as she almost had a heart attack.

Laura finished her cigarette.

            “What’s…going on?” Laura asked as she went in.

            “Laura, Robyn ordered pizza and breadsticks for everyone. This is your farewell party,” Tyler said.

            “I don’t know what to say. I am flattered.”

            “Robyn sent me an email saying she was ordering pizza and breadsticks for all of us,” Dreama said.

Dreama then called Chris and Lois in so they could join in.

            “Hey, Sarah. How are you?” Dreama asked.

Dreama and Sarah are best friends.

            “I am doing fine,” Sarah said.

Sarah came in wearing a red miniskirt. Dreama introduced Sarah and Laura.

            “It’s nice meeting you Sarah,” Laura said to her.

            “Laura is training here to be a*****e manager at Clarksville. Today is her last day.”

Sarah went to the cooler to get some bottled water and potato chips. Laura went to get a couple pieces of pizza and breadsticks.

            “Laura, we all chipped in and got you this,” Tyler said.

He handed her an envelope.

            “You didn’t have to do this,” Laura told him.

There was a card and a $50.00 gift card for Laura.

            “Thank you, all,” Laura said as she cried.

Laura then told everyone that this moment wouldn’t be happening if her mother would have taken her phone with her.

Chris and Lois came in and had some pizza. There was a line of customers. Dreama and Catherine rang them up. A customer asked if someone could clean the bathrooms. Laura decided to do it.

She had trouble spraying and wiping with only one hand. Laura had a song in her mind.

            “Secret lovers, that’s what we are,” Laura sang to herself.

Laura googled that song on her phone.

            “This song came out in 1985. I wasn’t even around then.”

She finished cleaning the bathrooms. Laura joined everyone else.

            “Can I get a receipt on pump five? I took to long to print,” a middle age man asked Dreama.

Dreama asked how much it was he pumped.

            “I think it was $47.25,” he said.

Dreama found his receipt and printed another receipt for him. She told him to have a nice day. When everyone finished the pizza, they went back to work. Dreama wanted to fill her car with gas. She used her fuel card.

            “Laura, I want to get $35.00 on here and put that on pump four.”

Dreama also used her reward card.

            “Have a good day,” Laura told her.

            “Are you serious? Do you know where I work?” Dreama laughed.

Laura filled the cappuccino machine although she had to have help.

She struggled to stay until 2:30. There was little to do. Laura asked Catherine to stock the shelves. Laura tried to mop the floor, but with a cast, she struggled. Dreama went to stock the cooler. Laura decided to help also.

Laura saw the items that were out and stocked them. Dreama was stocking the soft drinks. Laura also noticed the grill items were needing to be replaced. She went to load the grill. Laura started cry as her time at that store was winding down. She covered her face like she wanted to cry.

            “Laura, are you okay?” Dreama asked with concern.

            “I’m fine. I am just going to miss everyone here.”

            “You can always come back and visit,” Dreama consoled.

            “I know,” Laura said.

Dreama and Laura spent the next half-hour stocking the cooler. After that was done, they went outside and smoked. Laura was upset with everything going on in her life.

            “How long have you and your husband been together?”

            “We’ve been together for twelve years but married ten.”

            “I’ve been with my girlfriend for about three weeks, and with David about two weeks. What really hurts me is my own dad called me a slut. I was dressed nicely, in a sweater and little black skirt and black pantyhose. I cried myself to sleep that night.”

            “I know, that can really hurt.”

Dreama went back in and Laura asked if she could fill her car.

            “Okay, we’re not busy now.”

Laura then pulled her car to a gas pump. She went inside to pay. She asked Catherine to set the $50.00 gift card she just got on pump three. When she was finished, she was pleasantly surprised that she only needed $22.00 to fill up.

Laura went back inside, after pulling her car back to a parking space, and tried to find other things to do. There were a few customers in the store. Laura helped them. Jerry, the man that Laura went to school with, came in in his police uniform. He bought some soft drinks and coffee.

            “She did it,” Dreama laughed.

            “Hey, Jerry, I’m being really bad. Can you arrest me and hold me in contempt?” Laura asked him.

            “What did you do?” Jerry asked.

            “I’m just being a bad girl. Please tase me and put me in handcuffs,” Laura said flirtatiously.

Laura stayed inside and rang up Jerry. Dreama and Catherine done outside chores.

            “I went on a date with a man that is the son of one of my dad’s friends,” Laura told Jerry.

            “Do I know him?” Jerry asked Laura.

            “I don’t think so. He is 24.”

            “He’s younger than you?” Jerry asked.

            “Yeah, we went to the place we met, Wendy’s. We also went back to his apartment after our date.”

Jerry left after he got his items.

At 2:30, Laura said goodbye to everyone and started crying.

            “Good luck, Laura,” Chris said to her.

            “Bye, Laura,” Dreama said to her.

Catherine wished her Laura good luck. Laura then got her purse. She cried so hard she couldn’t see where she was going. She used a tissue to dry her eyes. As Laura got in her car, she had to stop crying so she could see to drive.

            “Maybe the air conditioning can help dry my eyes.”

Laura thought that she could clear her mind when she goes out with Katie. She also thought about how sexy Katie was in a short dress. Laura went straight home as she was too upset to do any shopping.

            “I really want to have s*x with Katie,” Laura said to herself.

She then saw flashing lights behind her.

            “What the hell?” Laura asked herself.

Laura pulled into the Sherwin Williams parking lot.

            “Ma’am. May I see your license and registration?” the police officer asked.

            “Yeah, I just bought this car about three weeks ago,” Laura said as she unbuttoned her shirt.

“Keep your shirt buttoned. Ma’am.”

Laura then looked in the glove compartment and got the sale papers. She also got her driver’s license.

            “You were going a little fast back there. I clocked you at 48 in a 35.”

            “I am so sorry,” Laura told the officer.

The officer said he would be back.

            “He was rude as hell. No flirting with him,” Laura said to herself.

He then gave Laura her paperwork back. He just decided to give her a warning.

            “I do know Jerry. Just to let you know.”

            “Have a nice day, Ma’am. I will let him know I stopped you,” the officer said.

Laura was glad she only got a warning. She used her cruise control the rest of the way home.

            “I should have told him I wasn’t wearing panties. He would have been friendlier. Maybe he doesn’t like blondes with big boobs.”

Laura had several thing going on so she had trouble concentrating. She wants to have Katie stay the night with her but knows her father will not like it.

            “I am not sure if some night I will invite David over or not,” Laura pondered.

Laura also wondered if she should be on birth control if she continues seeing David. She was afraid of Katie finding out if she gets pregnant.

            “I really don’t know what to do. If I get pregnant, Katie will know I am sleeping with someone else,” Laura said to herself.

She got home about twenty-five minutes later.

            “Hi, Dad. My time at the Madison store is over. I am really going to miss them,” she said as she cried.

Laura then sat Randall down and told him something.

            “What’s wrong sweetie?” Randall asked her.

            “Dad, you had every right to call me a slut. I am a slut. What I wanted to say is if I continue seeing David, I am going to the doctor to get on birth control.”

            “I am not liking this,” Randall said.

Randall lectured his daughter about s*x.

            “Dad, I’m not seventeen anymore, I’m thirty. I wish I could figure out what to do.”

            “Eventually, they will find out about each other,” Randall informed her.

            “Dad, this is not an easy conversation for me to have.”

Laura knew that if Katie or David finds out about the other person, she may lose both.

            “I can’t make your decisions for you. You’re a grown woman.”

            “I know that, Dad.”

Laura then looked for clothes to wear on her date with Katie. After she found what she wanted to wear, she went to sit outside to enjoy the weather.

            “I am really nervous about managing the Clarksville Speedway. I have never even been in that store,” Laura told Randall.

            “That’ll be a new adventure for you,” he said.

Laura said that she could handle it. Randall told her she got mail. He told her she may not want to open it.

            “It’s a letter from where I financed my Equinox,” Laura said.

She opened it. It was a payment book for her Equinox. The payments are $292.41. They were what she agreed to.

            “You’re right, I didn’t want to open it,” Laura laughed.

She got her mail and put it in her room. She sat outside and enjoyed the weather with her father. He talked about when he was younger.

            “I remember when there was no Clifty Drive,” Randall told Laura.

            “That would have been way before I was born,” Laura laughed.

            “I never dreamed I would have been married and have a daughter that would be a*****e manager,” Randall told her.

Laura told Randall that he should be proud of her.

            “I am proud of you,” Randall told Laura.

Laura the hugged her father. At 4 o’clock, Laura went to her bedroom, took her clothes off, and went to the bathroom in her bra and panties. When she turned on the shower, she made sure the water was the right temperature. She then took off her bra and panties and got in.

            “That makes me feel better that dad says he is proud of me,” Laura said as she was showering.

Laura finished after a few minutes. She wrapped up in a towel and went to her bedroom.

            “I need to shave my p***y,” Laura said to herself.

Laura then went back to the bathroom and shaved herself.

            “Laura, sweetie. What are you doing in there?” Randall asked.

            “I’m drying off,” Laura lied.

Now Laura’s crotch was burning from razor rash. She used shave lotion.

            “That’s better. I don’t want to start scratching myself if front of Katie. That would not be good.”

Laura then went back in the bedroom and put on a different bra and panties. She found a sexy little dress she would wear. She decided not to put on pantyhose.

            “You look really beautiful,” Randall said.

            “Thank you,” Laura said.

Laura and Randall sat at the kitchen table for a few minutes.

            “I thought I heard your phone ring.”

Laura went to her purse to look at her phone.

            “It was David,” Laura said.

Laura called him back.

            “Hey, Sexy,” David said.

            “Hey, David,” Laura said to him.

            “I was wondering what you are doing tonight,” David asked as Laura went outside away from Randall.

            “I am so sorry, David. This medicine I am on is making me sleepy. Did I tell you that I fell at work at broke my wrist? I broke it in three places.”

            “No, if you did, I don’t remember it.”

            “It was about two weeks ago. I have to go back to the hospital next week and have it x-rayed again.”

            “Oh, I hope we can go out maybe tomorrow.”

            “We can go out tomorrow night. I should feel better tomorrow,” Laura told David.

David told Laura that he can’t wait.

            “I will talk to you later,” Laura said.

            “Bye, sweetie,” David said.

Laura hung up.

            “That’s how I can keep David and Katie,” Laura said to herself.

            “What did you tell David?” Randall asked his daughter.

            “He asked me out tonight. I told him that I wasn’t feeling well. I told him that I could go out with him tomorrow night.”

Randall rolled his eyes at Laura. Laura was upset about this. At 5:30, Laura left for her date with Katie. She got her purse and her phone.

            “I am getting a feeling Dad and I will have a bad conversation tonight,” Laura said to herself.

She the listened to her favorite radio station.

            “These songs make me want to take all my clothes off,” Laura said to herself.

Laura showed up at Katie’s apartment just before 6 o’clock.

            “Hi, Katie,” Laura said flirtatiously.

Katie said she loved Laura’s car.

            “I got my payment book today. That’s one thing I didn’t want.” Laura laughed.

            “You’re right. That’s one thing I wouldn’t want to get.”

Laura also liked Katie’s dress. They decided to go to Pizza Hut for dinner. Laura pulled into the parking lot. They went inside. They waited to be seated. Laura and Katie held hands.

They could hear people whispering.

            “What, have you never seen two people hold hands before?” Laura said to a man and his wife.

There were some teenagers at a booth looking at them and taking pictures of Katie and Laura holding hands.

            “Perverts,” Katie said to her girlfriend.

            “We get this every time we go out on a date,” Laura said.

Laura then pinched Katie’s ass.

            “Would you like a table or a booth?” their waiter asked.

Laura said she wanted a booth. Katie agreed.

            “My time at the Madison store is over. I start at the Clarksville store next week.”

            “I put in for a different position today at my job,” Katie told Laura.

Laura asked what she applied for.

            “I applied for an inspector’s position. The pay is about 75 cents more per hour.”

            “That’s good,” Laura said.

Laura told Katie that Robyn was happy to have her fill in for Tyler and Casey if necessary.

            “I had no idea Lisa was your sister,” Laura told Katie.

Laura was nervous about working at the Scottsburg store. She didn’t want Lisa to find out about David.

            “Katie, would you ever date someone else?”

The waiter, Joseph, came to get their order. Katie and Laura decided to order a medium supreme pizza and breadsticks. They both ordered soft drinks.

After the waiter took their order, Katie answered her.

            “No, I couldn’t do that,” Katie said with hesitation.

Laura also said she couldn’t date anyone else. Katie also said she had to go home and pack her bag to stay the night.

            “I am so nervous about my dad meeting you.”

            “Why is that?”

            “My dad is old fashioned. He thinks relationships should be a man and woman. I feel it should be two people who love and care for each other.”

            “Laura, you are absolutely right.”

Katie noticed several people giving them strange looks. Laura crossed her legs.

            “I am going next week to look for another car.”

            “How come?” Laura asked.

            “It’s getting old and has over 200,000 miles on it. I am wanting to trade before having any major problems with it.”

Laura asked what Katie was getting.

            “I am wanting a SUV.”

Katie wasn’t sure of what make she wanted.

Laura and Katie’s order arrived. Laura decided to play a song on the jukebox.

            “I am dedicating this song to you, sweetie.” Laura said to her.

This song is Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.

            “I love this song,” Katie said as the introduction played.

 Laura smiled at her girlfriend as she ate her pizza. A customer went to ask for the manager.

            “Sir,” the man said, “those two women are making my family and me sick. That behavior is disgusting. Do you see what they are doing?”

            “Yeah, they are eating and not bothering anyone,” the manager said.

            “I’m not f*****g coming back here,” the man said.

Katie asked what his problem was.

            “I don’t know,” Laura said.

Laura and Katie then finished their pizza. Laura asked for the check. She also left a $3.00 tip.

            “I’ll pay it,” Laura told her girlfriend.

They went to pay. As soon as Laura and Katie left, the people were clapping that they were leaving.

            “I have struggled with being a lesbian my whole life. Mom and Dad always wondered why Lisa had boyfriends and I never did. I just couldn’t tell them why. Mom and Dad are happy that Lisa will get married eventually. They don’t think I ever will.” Katie told Laura.

            “Gay couples have been allowed to get married for several years,” Laura told Katie.

            “I know,” Katie said.

Laura and Katie got in the car. Laura started the car and left and went to Katie’s apartment, which is on the other side of Interstate 65.

            “You know what would be so relaxing? Just sitting here at night and watching the traffic go by at seventy miles an hour,” Laura told Katie.

            “We would have to find a place to do so without arousing suspicion.”

            “Certainly, not at Pizza Hut.” Laura laughed.

Laura and Katie went to Katie’s apartment. They went in and Katie packed a few clothes. Katie also brought her laptop.

            “You’re not in a hurry, are you?” Laura asked flirtatiously.

            “Not really,” Katie flirted.

Laura took off her dress. Katie took off her clothes. Katie and Laura had s*x.

            “Should we go back to Pizza Hut and do this?” Katie flirted.

            “No, they seen enough,” Laura said with her legs spread.

Laura then wrapped her legs around Katie.

            “Katie, don’t tell Lisa this, but, I’m not wearing any panties.”

            “My sister doesn’t know what we are doing. She’s probably on a date with Robert.”

Her phone rang. It was David.

            “Hi, sweetie. It’s David. I know you said you were sick. I hope you get to feeling better,” David said on the voicemail.

Laura looked at her phone. She decided to call David back later.

            “Who was that?” Katie asked.

            “I have no idea. Probably a wrong number,” Laura lied.

            “Please, David, don’t come over to check on me tonight,” Laura said to herself.

Laura then told Katie that Randall didn’t like the fact that his daughter is dating another woman.

            “Well, are you a teenager?” Katie asked.

            “I’m way past being a teenager,” Laura flirted.

            “Are you sucking on my n*****s?” Katie asked

            “Only one at a time,” Laura whispered.

Laura and Katie got dressed. Katie got her suitcase and they went back to the car.

            “I am so nervous about meeting your dad,” Katie said.

            “When I meet your parents, I will be nervous,” Laura confided.

As they drove past Speedway, Katie didn’t see Lisa’s car there.

            “You have got to see me in a negligee. The one I have is so sexy,” Laura said.

Laura wasn’t sure if she was more nervous Randall won’t accept Katie or taking over a*****e she has never been to.

After thirty minutes, Katie and Laura were at Laura’s house. They went in.

            “Dad,” Laura said nervously, “this is Katie, the woman I’ve told you about.”

            “Hi,” Katie said nervously.

Katie took her bag to Laura’s room. Randall sat in his recliner. Laura and Katie sat together.

            “Katie, you can sit over here, in Laura’s mother’s chair.”

            “Dad, she can sit with me on the couch.”

Randall decided to go outside and smoke.

            “I don’t think he likes me,” Katie said.

            “I’ll be right back,” Laura said.

            “Dad, do you like Katie?”

            “Yeah, why?”

            “As soon as she sat with me on the couch you came out here. Joan stayed the night before. I don’t think you like Katie at all,” Laura said.

Katie listened from inside.

            “She can stay. I’m sure she will want to go home tonight. She is not staying,” Randall said.

            “Dad, that is not fair. If your girlfriend can stay overnight, why can’t mine? Katie is staying the night.”

            “She sleeps on the couch.”

            “No, she stays in my room.”

            “Laura, does your father want me to leave?”

            “I want you to stay the night. His girlfriend has stayed the night.”

            “Okay,” Katie said.

Katie then got her night robe out and showed it to Laura.

            “That is so sexy.”

Laura showed her night robe and showed it to Katie.

            “I love that.” Katie told Laura.

Laura kissed Katie.

            “My dad is so old fashioned,” Laura said.

Randall still doesn’t like the fact that Laura has a girlfriend. Randall decided to go to bed at 8:30. Laura and Katie stayed up until later.

Katie found a show that she liked. Katie and Laura took off their shoes.

            “What did you want to do tomorrow?” Laura asked Katie.

            “I actually thought we could go to Green Tree Mall and look around. I haven’t been there for a while,” Katie told Laura.

            “I would love to. I may go into Speedway and introduce myself.” Laura told Katie.

            “They should be interviewing for the inspector’s position sometime next week. I hope I have a good chance,” Katie told Laura.

            “I think you will get it,” Laura said.

Katie then kissed Laura. Laura then put on her negligee. Katie went and put on her negligee also.

            “You look so hot,” Laura said to her girlfriend.

            “So, do you,” Katie returned.

            “Katie, you should see me naked,” Laura said.

            “I would love to,” Katie said.

Laura then went outside to smoke. Katie joined her.

            “My dad has always hated me for being a lesbian,” Laura told Katie.

            “My parents have always treated me like I was inferior to Lisa,” Katie confided.

Laura then told Katie that she was an only child.

            “It brought me closer to my parents, until I was about 16 or 17,” Laura told Katie.

            “Why’s that?” Katie inquired.

            “They started noticing I wasn’t interested in boys. I just could not tell them. I mean, what would they do with their only daughter?” Laura pondered.

            “I had that problem in my family. Mom almost wanted me out of the house as soon as I turned 18. It really hurts that they couldn’t accept me for who I am.” Katie told Laura.

            “It’s okay,” Laura hugged Katie as she started to cry.

Laura smoked another cigarette. She offered Katie one. Katie accepted it. Laura and Katie finished their cigarettes and went back inside. They were tired and turned off the TV and went to bed. Katie and Laura then went to Laura’s room. They turned off the lights and went to bed. Katie cuddled up with Laura and they both fell asleep.

Laura woke up at 8 AM the next morning. She got dressed and went to the kitchen to have breakfast. Laura looked back and saw her girlfriend still asleep.

            “I haven’t been to Green Tree Mall for a while,” Laura said to herself.

            “Good Morning, Dad,” Laura said.

He got his breakfast without saying anything to his daughter.

            “Katie and I are thinking about going to Green Tree Mall later. Would you like to go with us?”

            “Not really. I’ve been there before,” Randall said.

            “Okay,” Laura said.

Katie then came in the kitchen in her negligee. Katie said good morning and kissed Laura.

            “Are you going to get dressed?” Randall asked Katie.

            “Yes, after breakfast,” Katie told Randall.

            “Here we go again,” Laura said to herself.

Laura then called Randall outside and talked to him.

            “Dad, Katie is being so nice to you. You don’t have to treat her like this.”

            “Why the hell don’t you dump Katie and go out with David?”

            “Dad, let’s not start this again.”

Katie overheard them. As Laura and Randall went back in the house, Katie went back to finish eating. Katie pretended she didn’t hear the argument between Laura and Randall.

            “I am so sorry for that, Katie,” Laura said.

            “It’s okay, who’s David?” Katie inquired.

            “Go ahead, Laura. Tell her,” Randall said.

Laura then said that David is Randall’s former co-worker’s son. Katie was not wanting to hear that.

            “Did you go out with him? Did you have s*x with him?” Katie yelled.

            “Katie, I went out with him one time. Katie, I love you and I want to be with you.”

            “I don’t know. I need time to think about this,” Katie said as she walked away.

            “Did you still want to go to Green Tree Mall? I only dated him once. I am sorry. Please don’t tell Lisa this.”

            “Why would Lisa care who I date?” Katie asked.

Katie decided to accept Laura’s apology. Katie kissed Laura. Randall rolled his eyes at Laura.

            “Yeah, we can go to Green Tree Mall,” Katie smiled.

            “Now all I have to think of what to tell David if he calls. I should tell him in person.”

            “I agree,” Katie said.

Katie then went to get dressed. She didn’t want to stay in her negligee all day.

            “I like that,” Laura said to Katie about her outfit.

Laura was wearing a tan blouse and little black skirt. Katie was wearing a tank top, flannel shirt buttoned halfway and denim skirt.

Katie and Laura left shortly after they got dressed. Both got their purses. Katie decided to pack her stuff and put it in the car for after their trip.

            “I really enjoyed having you stay the night,” Laura said as she started the car.

            “I have a feeling your father didn’t like me,” Katie confided.

            “He’s going to have to get used to it,” Laura said.

Laura then apologized for the way Randall treated Katie. Laura and Katie talked about what stores they would shop at.

            “I have always loved coming down here when I was a little girl. My parents usually brought me on Saturday or Sunday,” Laura said.

            “My parents took Lisa and I to River Falls Mall. We usually also went to Green Tree Mall also. Dad would take Lisa and Mom would take me.”

            “I really miss my mother. She died in 2012. My Dad has a girlfriend who lives in Vevay.

            “How did she die?” Katie asked.

            “She had a stroke,” Laura cried.

Katie started to cry even though she didn’t know Laura’s mother. Laura and Katie arrived in Clarksville after about forty minutes. Laura took Lewis and Clark Parkway.

Katie was getting hungry as it was about lunchtime. Laura wanted to eat also. They decided to go to Golden Corral. Laura parked and they went in holding hands.

            “If people look at us, just ignore them,” Laura said to Katie.

There was a line as it was just past noon. Katie decided to pay. Both ordered drinks and the buffet. They sat down and a waitress greeted them.

            “I’m Debbie,” she told Laura and Katie.

Laura told Debbie that they both wanted the buffet. Debbie let them get their plates. Laura went to the buffet first. After Laura got her food, Katie went to the buffet.

            “Did you want to stay another night?” Laura asked her girlfriend.

Katie said she wasn’t sure. Katie said next week she wanted to introduce Laura to her family. Laura was going to tell James she just wanted to be friends with him.

            “Did you want to go over to Speedway and get anything?” Laura asked Katie.

Katie said she probably will.

Laura and Katie were at Golden Corral for twenty-five minutes. They left after they were done eating. They went to Speedway, which about a five-minute drive from the restaurant. They went in holding hands.

            “How are you today?” a young black woman asked.

            “I am good,” Laura said.

Katie said she was good also. Laura also had some pain in her broken arm.

            “I cannot wait to get this cast off,” Laura whispered to her girlfriend.

Laura and Katie went to the cooler and got some water and soft drinks. Laura also added money to her Speedway Gift card. She also used her gift card to pay for her items. Katie bought a Gift card. Laura and Katie kissed each other. The black woman rang up Laura first. She gave Laura a dirty look.

            “Are you Latoya?” Laura asked as she looked at her name tag.

            “Yeah, is there something I can help with?” she asked with concern.

Laura introduced herself. She also introduced Katie.

            “Oh, you’re our new store manager? Well, Laura it’s nice meeting you.”

            “I just finished my training at the Madison store. I take over this store Monday.”

Latoya went to get Charlie, another employee, from the cooler.

            “Hi, I’m Laura. I will be your new manager on Monday,” Laura said to Charlie.

            “Well, Laura. It is so nice to get to meet you.”

Laura asked Latoya what she needed to do Monday morning.

            “You will have a lot to do,” Latoya said.

Laura said she was ready to take over the store. Laura and Katie went out to the car.

            “Did you see the way she looked at us?” Katie asked Laura.

            “No, I didn’t,” Laura lied.

“This parking lot looks like s**t. My first order of business will be talking to the crew about cleaning when they are not busy,” Laura said to herself.

Katie asked if they could go to the post office to get some stamps. Laura needed to get stamps also. They went over to the post office, which was viewing distance from Speedway. It only took about three minutes to go to the post office. They both went and found the kiosk. Laura wanted to get two books of twenty stamps each. Katie looked around at the post office boxes.

            “Hey, Sweetie. Did you notice something about these box numbers?” Katie asked her girlfriend.

            “No, what about them?”

            “There are no low box numbers. The numbers start at 2001. The numbers end at about 3600.”

            “Really, I wonder why.”

Katie then got her stamps. Laura looked at the post office boxes.

            “I would get a post office box here only if I lived down here to get my mail. It’s 35 miles one way,” Laura said.

            “Oh, s**t, we can’t have s*x here. There are cameras in the lobby,” Katie told her girlfriend.

            “We could be p**n stars, or we could end up in federal prison,” Laura laughed.

Laura and Katie looked at a security camera and they kissed each other then pinched each other’s asses.

            “Ugh, I can’t wait to get this cast off. It should be about fifty percent healed. My appointment is at King’s Daughters Hospital at 4 o’clock on Friday. I will need to leave about 2:30 on Friday to get there on time.” Laura said to Katie.

            “I would be ready to get rid of it,” Katie told Laura.

Laura told Katie she would come back Monday and get a copy of the security tape. Katie just busted out laughing.

            “I wonder what will happen if they review that tape,” Laura asked Katie.

            “One of two things, either they will make copies and sell them, or postal inspectors will be beating on our doors,” Katie flirted to her girlfriend.

Katie and Laura left the post office and went to Green Tree Mall.

            “You have such sexy legs,” Katie said to Laura.

            “You do too,” Laura returned.

They pulled into the parking lot at the main entrance. They went in holding hands. Laura saw children playing. Laura asked Katie if wanted to have children.

            “I would like to have a family,” Katie said.

Katie and Laura sat on a bench and discussed having children.

            “I do know someone who is willing to participate. It’s the guy I went out with that one time,” Laura   said.

            “Are you talking about sleeping with a man?” Katie asked with concern.

            “Yeah,” Laura said nervously.

Katie said she would have to think about it. Laura suggested going to Shoe Sensation because she wanted to get some new shoes. Katie also went to get herself some shoes.

            “Hi, I’m Daniel. How are you ladies doing today?”

            “I am good. My partner and I are looking for shoes,” Laura said.

Daniel said he can help them. He measured Laura’s foot first.

            “Measure my foot, but do not look up my skirt,” Laura said to herself.

Daniel asked what style Laura liked. Laura wanted a pair of heels and a pair of tennis shoes. Daniel had some new shoes that just came in. Katie looked at them also and decided to get some shoes that are similar.

            “Did I tell you that my district manager wants me to fill in for the store manager at the Madison Speedway next month when he goes on vacation?” Laura asked Katie.

            “If you did, I don’t remember,” Katie told her girlfriend.

Laura and Katie found shoes they liked and paid for their shoes. Katie then decided to go to Books A Million to find books to read.

            “I like the romance books,” Laura said.

            “I like crime novels. But, I also like romance,” Katie said.

Laura decided to get a couple of romance novels. Katie bought a romance novel and a crime novel. Laura and Katie then walked around Green Tree mall for the next three hours.

            “It’s almost 5 o’clock,” Katie said.

Laura asked if Katie wanted to stay the night again.

            “I was going to visit my parents.”

            “Okay, I can call you later.”

Katie already had her bags packed. Laura went ahead and took Katie back to Scottsburg. Laura and Katie left Clarksville and headed toward Scottsburg.

            “I like seeing all those billboards. It makes me feel I am on an interstate.”

            “Laura, we are on an interstate,” Katie told her girlfriend.

They were on the section between downtown Clarksville and Veterans Parkway. They stopped at the Veterans Parkway stoplight. Laura kissed Katie.

            “I love you,” Laura said to Katie.

Laura looked at her odometer.

            “I’ve already put 1,000 miles on my car. It had 25,401 miles when I bought it. It says 26,401 now. I make my first payment next week.”

The light then turned green. Laura then went through the intersection.

            “I get so nervous driving on the interstate,” Laura said.

            “Laura, were you really serious about sleeping with a man to have a baby?”

            “Yeah, but you could watch to make sure nothing comes of it,” she said as her digital speedometer showed eighty.

            “Laura, you should slow down. Look at your speedometer,” Katie said nervously.

            “Oh,” she said as she let off the gas.

Laura then saw a semi tailgating her.

            “That really scares me,” Katie told her girlfriend.

Laura could not see the front bumper of the semi. She was going seventy miles per hour.

            “I’m not sure if I told you this, but, my district manager said that the store manager at Scottsburg wants me to take over that store if Casey goes on vacation. I’m surprised because Casey hardly knows me.”

            “I hope I hear about the inspector’s position. I’ve been there for three years. I have better attendance than some of the younger people,” Katie said.

            “I am hoping you get it,” Laura said.

After another thirty minutes, Laura was at the Scottsburg exit. Katie looked over toward Speedway and didn’t see Lisa’s or Casey’s cars. Katie didn’t recognize the cars that were in the lot. Laura and Katie needed cigarettes. They stopped at Speedway. Each of them got three packs. Katie asked the man at the register where Lisa was.

            “She left for the day,” he said.

Laura paid for her cigarettes. She used her rewards card. After she paid for her cigarettes, Katie paid for hers. They both smoked before getting in the car as Laura does not like smoking in her car. After they were finished, they got back in the car and Laura took Katie home.

            “Would you like to come in?” Katie offered.

            “Yeah,” Laura said.

Katie pinched Laura’s ass. Laura did the same.

            “I’m glad you didn’t lock up your brakes when that semi was tailgating us.”

            “I would never do that. I would call the police if I felt it was necessary,” Laura said flirtatiously.

Katie got her suitcase out of Laura’s car. Katie and Laura went inside.

            “Katie, I enjoyed our trip to Clarksville.”

            “I did too,” Laura smiled.

Katie invited Laura in. Laura called Randall. She let him know that she was at Katie’s apartment.

            “Okay, I will see you when you get home,” Randall said.

Laura hung up.

            “He’s probably talking bad about me to his girlfriend. Sweetie, did I tell you that my dad called me a slut?”

            “No, what happened?” Katie asked.

            “It was that night I went out with David. I only went out with him once,” Laura confided.

Laura told Katie that she had trouble sleeping that night. Laura cried herself to sleep that night. Randall tried talking to Laura at breakfast, but she ignored him.

            “I know my dad hates me for being gay. I noticed how he treated you,” Laura said to Katie.

            “I know. It really upset me,” Katie said.

Laura was nervous about being a manager at her new store. She knew that if someone missed without calling in, she would have to handle it.

            “I am wondering if my store will have any job applications from people,” Laura told Katie.

            “It probably will. Want to go to the bedroom? Katie asked flirtatiously.

            “I have time,” Laura said.

Laura got undressed. Katie also got undressed. They lay on the bed and had s*x. Katie wanted to be on top.

            “Katie, sweetie. I’m not wearing any panties.”

            “I’m not either,” Katie whispered.

            “This may be the last time I have s*x before becoming a*****e manager,” Laura said flirtatiously.

            “I’ve never had s*x with a*****e manager before. I have had s*x with a*****e manager trainee before.”

            “Who is that b***h you’re having s*x with?” Laura asked jokingly.

            “You, silly,” Katie said.

            “Oh, I was going to find her and beat her,” Laura said as she had her legs spread.

Laura and Katie got dressed and sat on the couch and cuddled. After about an hour, Laura went home.

            “I will see you later, sweetie,” Laura said to Katie.

            “Bye, Laura,” Katie flirted.

Laura left Katie’s apartment and headed home. She looked at her receipts from the day before starting the car.

            “I spent about $80.00 total,” she said to herself.

She used her debit card as she never carried cash with her. Laura pushed the start button on her car and put it in gear. She pulled out of the parking lot.

            “I am nervous about going home. I just hope Dad doesn’t talk to me like he did after my date with David,” she said to herself nervously.

After thirty more minutes, Laura was home. She went in.

            “Hi Dad.”

            “How was everything?” Randall asked his daughter.

            “I enjoyed myself.”

            “I talked to Joan,” He told Laura.

            “Here we go again,” she said to herself.

            “Joan thinks it’s time for you to move out. I agree with her.”

            “What the hell for?”

            “Laura, you’re 30 years old and you need to take care of yourself.”

            “Dad, I am taking care of myself. I pay all my bills. My credit score is over seven hundred. I never ask for much. Is it because you hate Katie? You treated her like f*****g s**t when she was here. She was so nice to you.”

            “Well, it’s my house.”

            “Maybe if you would try to like Katie, we wouldn’t have this problem.”

            “People like you and her make me sick.”

            “You mean people like your own daughter?”

Laura went to her room, lay on the bed and cried. She hugged her pillow.

            “He hates people like me. Why can’t he just accept me for who I am?” Laura cried.

She called Katie.

            “Hi, Laura. How are you? You sound like you were crying.”

            “Not good. My Dad said he wants me out of the house. He said people like you and I make him sick. His girlfriend said that I should move out.”

            “Did you want to move in with me?” Katie asked.

Laura said she would have to think about it.

            “Clarksville would be just a straight shot down the interstate. I could also take Highway 31. Maybe Dad wants me to be single my whole life” Laura said.

            “Laura, you can’t talk like that,” Katie said.

            “I’m sorry,” Laura said.

Laura dried her eyes. She told Katie she would consider moving in with her.

            “That’s if you want to.”

            “Thank you,”

Laura said goodbye and hung up. She went to get what she bought that day.

            “I’m just getting what I bought,” Laura said sarcastically.

Laura sat at the kitchen table. Randall came in and sat down too. She looked away from him.

            “Who were you talking to on the phone?”

            “Oh, just someone that makes you sick,” she said sarcastically.

            “Who, Katie?”

            “Oh, wow, you called her by her name. Why do you hate her?”

            “Because that lifestyle is disgusting.”

            “Katie said I can move in with her.” Laura said.

            “Whatever you want to do,” Randall said.

            “I sure as hell don’t want to be out on the street.”

Laura went back to her room and laid in the dark on her bed.

            “Mom, why did you come back to get your phone? If you would have taken it, I wouldn’t be here for Dad to scream at me. I should have pulled out my catheter. I’m sure Katie’s parents are more accepting of her being gay,” Laura said to herself.

Laura then texted Katie if her parents made her move out.

            “No, I wanted to be on my own. We both moved out because we wanted to,” she told Laura.

Laura could hear Randall talking to Joan.

            “She’s 30 years old. Her girlfriend stayed the night last night. Laura needs to move out.”

Laura then got undressed and put on her negligee.

            “I feel completely naked right now. Dad really hates me,” She said to herself.

She lay on the bed and cried hard. She went to the living room to talk to Randall.

            “Dad, we really need to talk.”

            “Okay,” Randall said.

“Please be a little easier on me. I am going to be taking over as a*****e manager on Monday. I may need to hire more people. I have a lot to worry about. You are not helping me at all. So what I am a lesbian? I am your damn daughter.”

“Well, why don’t you date David? He really seemed to like you.”

“Dad, I like David. He is a nice person. I really don’t know what to do. I am so nervous that one will find out about the other.”

“I’m sure Katie will understand,” Randall told Laura.

            “Maybe I’m not a lesbian. Maybe I am bisexual.” Laura told Randall.

Laura sat on the couch in her negligee. Randall sat and watched TV.

            “Did you want something to eat?” Randall asked Laura.

            “If I wanted something, I could get it myself,” Laura said sarcastically.

She and her father watched TV without talking to each other.

            “It’s only 9 o’clock and I already want to go to bed. It’s Saturday night,” Laura said to herself.

Laura stayed up for another hour.