12 A Job: Part 1

The second half of the day passed uneventfully. I still felt uneasy about the way Jennifer and Miley were talking earlier, but they hadn't acted on it yet. I tried not to be so self-absorbed. And I wasn't sure if my mom would really let me go to Ashley's to stay the night, but maybe since she had plenty of notice she would allow it. I used to go to Cheyanne's a lot. Maybe it would be ok.

After the last bell, I went to my locker. I didn't want to take too long because I had to catch the bus today. I had just closed my locker door and started toward the loading zone when Finnegan trotted up next to me holding the straps of his backpack.

"Hey, Elise. Do you want a ride home today?"

"Hi, Finnegan," I smiled at him, but I kept walking. He kept pace with me. "I can't today. I'm going with my mom to pick up job applications. She said since she's buying me a car, I have to get a job to pay for gas and stuff. Thanks though. And you know, you don't have to give me a ride everyday. Especially since I can't pay you for gas or anything. I feel like you go out of your way."

"Oh," he looked a little sad. " I really don't mind. My parents give me a pretty generous allowance. Besides, you're pretty good company."

"I enjoy your company as well, but I still feel a little guilty. Besides, I'll get my official license soon, so I can just drive."

"Does your mom mind me driving you home?" he asked.

"She hasn't mentioned it, but..." he cut me off before I could finish.

"Well, how about I drive you home until she says something? You'll probably get there faster if I drive anyway, since the bus has to make a bunch of stops." He looked at me hopefully.

I stopped, and he stopped with me. " Ok," I said.

He chirped up at that. "Great! Let's go."

When we pulled out of the school parking lot, he asked me, "So, what did your mom say about you coming over to finish our other project? Everything should be dry by tomorrow."

"Oh, um, she said 'maybe.'" But I'll ask her again. I can't do it Friday, but maybe tomorrow or Thursday."

"Ok, and you can stay for dinner too again, if you want to. I'm going to feed Dolores today, so we can take her out Thursday since you didn't really get to see her yesterday."

"Ok."

He was silent for a little while. "Hey, so I never asked you what your religious outlook was." He glanced over at me.

"Oh, I, uh...," I thought for a minute, "my mom is Catholic, but she's not really serious. I haven't really gone to church or anything. I don't know if there's a word for it or not."

"Hmm," he reflected on my answer, "well I guess that depends on whether or not you believe in God, or Gods, or nothing."

I sat silently thinking about this. He glanced at me again, but seeing that I wasn't quite ready to answer, he just kept driving and let the silence be.

It wasn't until we turned off on my road, that I had an answer. "I guess," the suddenly broken silence made him jerk a little, but he kept the wheel steady, "I don't really know. I never had to seriously think about it before. In Science we can observe so many natural phenomenon that, at first glance would seem like some cosmic punishment, but at the same time there is new life that comes out of it and evolves to be stronger. Who's to say that isn't just the nature of the Universe? Why should it only be explained as 'God's Plan?' I have to admit that the Bible stories I have heard of seem a little far-fetched. Not to mention the fact that most of the Christians I know are either really...conservative or really promiscuous." Finnegan let out a snort. We had already pulled into my driveway, and by the looks of it, my mom hadn't made it home yet.

"I think I know what you mean. It's a lot to consider. I've been Pagan my whole life, so it's hard for me to imagine believing anything else. But I think that's the way it is for most of the Christians around here. Even so, it seems like with all the 'morals' Christians claim, they either don't hold themselves accountable, or they take things so seriously that they won't let themselves enjoy anything. Either way, it's just two extremes, which is unhealthy in my book. Pagans are pretty open-minded about stuff, which helps us keep better balanced, I think. We see ourselves as part of the Universe, rather than subordinates of it. But anyway, I don't want to keep you. I'll just talk to you tomorrow. Happy job-hunting!"

While he was talking, I had gathered up my bag and sat it on my lap with my hand on the door handle.

"Ok," I said. "I hadn't really heard of pagans before you said you were. But I like the way you explain stuff. I might ask you about it again, ok? Thanks for the ride, and thanks. I hope I can find a job soon. I want to save up and get my mom something nice for Christmas since she's buying me a car for my birthday." I smiled and closed the door.

He rolled the window down. "I didn't know the car was a birthday present. When is your birthday?"

"Oh, didn't I mention it at lunch? I guess not. I got distracted by Kimber and Ashley. Well, my birthday is September 12th. I think it falls on a Sunday this year. I'm not having a party though, so don't make a big deal out of it, ok?"

"Ok," he said, "bye." He rolled up the window and backed up to pull out of the driveway. Before he could shift to Drive, my mom pulled into the driveway, so he had to wait for her to pull past him. My mom slowed down the closer she got to his car, and I clutched my bag tightly to my chest reflexively.

He waved at my mom as she passed and she waved back with a confused expression. He drove away, and my mom parked her car. I waited for her to get out.

"Elise, what was that boy doing here?" My mom opened the back seat door and grabbed her purse out before walking around the car to me. I waited for her to get closer to me before answering.

"Finnegan offered to drive me home from school today. I told him we were going job-hunting, and he said that it would be faster than riding the bus. Besides, he just wanted to talk about the project. He said the twigs would be dry enough by tomorrow to glue the other stuff to them."

"Oh, well, don't make a habit of letting him drive you home." She unlocked the door and we went in. "I just want to change and then we can go."

"Ok," I answered, walking back to my room to put my backpack down. "Hey, Mom!" The house was small enough that you could hear everything no matter where you were.

"Hmm?" was her reply.

"I got invited to a sleepover this weekend by my new friend, Ashley. Kimber will be there too. Can I go?" I waited.

"What? Who?" She walked into the kitchen where I was standing, waiting for her to finish changing.

"Ashley, and Kimber. Didn't I mention that I made some new friends?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. Well, I want to talk to this girl, Ashley's, mom before I say yes. I'm not letting you go stay at some girl's house if I don't know what kind of parents she has. Where does she live?"

"Mom, I don't know where she lives. I do have her number. I'll text her and ask if I can call later so you can talk to her mom, ok. Anyway, never mind. Are you ready to go?" I walked past her to the door and held it open for her.

"Ok. Do you want to drive?"

"Do you even have to ask," I said plucking the keys out of her raised hand.