Short Story Selection: Penny for Your Thoughts (II)
A continuation from the first episode, here’s the final chapter of Penny for Your Thoughts. Just how will Penny face Jake with all the mess that’s going on her life? Plus, our girl discovers something about her job. What’s going on?
By Johann S.
Short story contributor for Penny’s Daybook
“Drop the change from the register, drop the change…,” Penny willed silently, hoping to delay some time for Jake to identify her. “How long does this moron need before he remembers?” thought Penny.
With head hanging low, she tardily strolled to the exit, but just as the bright red halter top in the opposite store caught her eye, she felt two quick taps on her shoulder.
“Hi… Penny?” said Jake with a soft grin.
Summoning her best Meryl Streep impression, Penny furrowed her brow and replied, “Sorry?”
“It’s me, Jake. We were classmates at Grove View Secondary,” not the least bit dismayed that she was drawing a blank.
“Oh… Jake, hi. I had trouble placing you. It’s been so long, and I’ve been traveling and meeting so many people… faces get lost sometimes,” Penny chuckled awkwardly to mask her exaggerated claim of an outgoing life.
“I wasn’t sure if it was you myself,“ answered Jake honestly.
“Because my facial features have blossomed and you don’t recognise the beauty that stands before you,” thought Penny with a smirk.
“…but then I noticed your mole, and I was sure it was you.”
“You fucker,” Penny echoed in her head, still holding her smile.
“So, are you rushing off anywhere? I thought maybe we could catch up over coffee if you’re not doing anything,” said Jake candidly.
“Oh I was just…yea I’ve got time,” she replied in a mild tone that suppressed her excitement.
They picked the only café that served Soy Cappuccino, a weekly indulge for the lactose intolerant Jake.
“Thanks for accommodating my diet,” he uttered, while scanning the menu for more soy treats.
“No problem. Besides, who needs milk when chocolate soy ice cream tastes as good as the original,” another fabrication to impress Jake. In actual fact, soy gave Penny flatulence, so she stuck to a cup of peppermint tea. “Let’s sit over there.” She was a strong advocate of corner seats because their strategic, closed-off positioning minimised accidental eavesdropping.
“Sure. So, I take it you’re off today?” asked Jake.
“Yup, you too?”
“Actually I just left my job and I’m waiting for my new one to start,” Jake took his handkerchief out and stuffed it into his collar, a persistent routine that stemmed from his inability to hold down his apple purée as a baby.
“You still do that?” fascinated that Jake had not outgrown his childhood antics.
“You remembered my little hang-up but you don’t remember me?” Jake was more baffled than vexed.
“Cause your habit is cute and quaint. I always remember cute and quaint,” saving herself from an embarrassing faux pas.
“So, what have you been up to? Don’t think I saw you at last year’s reunion and I’m pretty sure you weren’t at Ming Han’s wedding. You remember him don’t you? He’s shed a few pounds since secondary school.”
“He got married? When? Wow… I should really call him. We sort of lost touch after school.”
“I’m shocked you didn’t know. You guys were close then, we thought you were a couple at one point.”
“What? Who else thinks that? That’s crazy, we were just friends,” forcing out a laugh that belied her annoyance at this trivial gossip from another time.
Penny recalled her friendship with Ming Han. He was often picked on for his portly frame, but soon endeared himself to everyone when he learnt to take their insults in stride by turning them into humour. Penny and Ming Han were paired up in Science lab one day and got along like bees to honey. Both were fans of ‘80s pop music and could recite the lyrics to all of Cyndi Lauper’s songs. This common interest also motivated them to organise regular karaoke outings for the class.
They remained friends right up till graduation. There was no big argument or blooming of any awkward romance. Their friendship had simply run its course.
“Yeah that’s what I thought. So, what kind of jet-setting job do you have?” asked Jake with a sincere curiosity.
“Huh?” Penny leaned forward, stalling for time as she formulated her reply.
“You mentioned touring a lot of places and meeting people…”
“Oh right right. I meant on my off days or whenever I get the chance. Just me and a map, you know, backpacking, exploring new cultures and expanding my horizon,“ deftly nipping the lie in the bud.
“Wow, that’s really adventurous. I’d love to do some sightseeing, but with this schedule of mine, I’d be grateful if I even have time for cycling.”
“Oh cool, you cycle? Maybe you can teach me to ride without training wheels.”
“Sure, anytime” replied an amused Jake.
As she was reaching for the sugar, Penny glimpsed the purple highlighter that Jake had also bought. She contemplated working the concept of fate into the conversation, but decided not to give him the wrong idea by coming off as a hopeless romantic.
“Hey, we bought the same coloured highlighter. Fan of purple?” Penny brandished hers.
“Haha, no, it’s actually for my new job. The boss told me to get a purple one, something about sticking to the office’s admin system.”
“Same here, some people can be real anal about their colour huh. So, what’s this exciting new job?”
“Well, you are looking at the new Assistant Editor of Pencil Ink Publishing,” Jake proclaimed with outstretched arms.
“You’re kidding, that’s where I work!
“No way! I’ll be taking over the children’s textbook department. But you’ll only see me next month, I think they haven’t told the person I’m replacing. So which department are you in?”
“Replacing?” Penny muttered. She was the only editor in that department. Feeling the blood drain from her body, a flustered Penny extricated herself from the table, “Excuse me… I have to go.”
Upon returning home, she plunked herself on the bed and flicked the TV on to drown out the noise in her now woozy head. She had a good mind to call Helen, her editor-in-chief, to get to the bottom of this debacle.
“There must have been some mistake, maybe Jake misheard, maybe they’re replacing the colouring book designer. All she does is trace doodles and she never has to work late. Her idea of crunch time is just a normal shift without tea breaks!” Penny tried reasoning with herself but was well aware of her precarious position. As the hours wound down, the incessant and muddled musings took its toll and she succumbed to an uneasy sleep.
The next day at the office, it was Helen who greeted Penny at the entrance. “Hey Penny, how was your day off?”
Penny paused for a moment and wondered if she should confront her boss outright, be patient and allow her to explain the termination, or just land a good hard sock to her chin. The latter was particularly appealing but would only offer fleeting comfort in a jail cell. Besides, other than this inexplicable betrayal, Helen was a relatively easy boss to get along with.
Without waiting for an answer, Helen continued, “Could you step into my office, I want to speak to you about something.” Penny dragged her feet into the sequestered room, passing by her desk that now seemed foreign and uninhabitable. “All right, I have something to confess. I saw your book manuscript on your desk last month… and started reading it. One thing led to another and… long story short, we want to publish it. Now before you say anything, I know I should have consulted you first, but I wanted to get it green-lighted before springing the surprise,” Helen knew her subterfuge could backfire but was confident that Penny would respond favourably.
“So I’ll be…”
“…freed from the drudgery of editing children’s books,” replied Helen with a wry grin. “If you agree, you’ll get an advance payment before it goes into print and subsequently, 10% per copy sold. Anyway, those are just the preliminary terms, we can finalise them later.”
“But I thought we only did Children and Self-Help?” Penny was still processing the unexpected turn of events.
“The recession has been hard on the company, so we’re searching for ways to expand our catalogue. I should also mention that regardless of whether you accept the book deal, we’re promoting you to Senior Editor where you’ll be spearheading the new branch, set up to work with promising writers like yourself.“
Penny broke into the most natural smile of her life.
“Oh by the way, I took the liberty of filling out your old position. He’ll be in next month and I’ll need you to show him the ropes.
I think you’ll like him… he’s kinda cute.”
——
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