Carly's Steps

Carly picked up her little black book and started to write - Dear Mother, Today I made it down to post office and I attempted to send my college application. I turned around and walked out cause the line was too long and I was on my lunch break. I’ll try again tomorrow after work when I have more time.

She closed her journel and took out her application from her pocket and tucked in inside the back of her little black journal. Carly could have had time but she didn’t want to risk being way from her journal. It was the part of the day that made her rest of her day seem at the BB’s Electrionic store bearable.

She also never told anyone, this was her way of feeling a connection with her mother. She felt as though she was writing to a person she hadn’t seen in two years instead of someone who died two years ago. It seemed less strange to her than talking out loud like her friend and coworker Jessica, said she did when she lost her brother.

Carly ran back the store. She only like working there because next door was the Inspired Publishing Company. When it was lunch time she took her meals, and gazed at the building. She imagined what type of lives people who worked there lived. They certainly didn’t have to help explain to Jessica for the hundred time which buttons to press to void duplicate transactions.

Mr. Shelton came in grinning ear to ear, he wanted to tell Carly about his fine new fence. Carly laughed in her head as thought who comes into a electronic store to talk about that? He didn’t seem to be in the mood to buy anything. Then a new customer came in, she was slender and bright eyed. She wore a long tan jacket over a cream-colored top with matching pants. She walked away from Mr. Shelton and beamed to the customer and said “Hello welcome to BB’s. May I help you?” “ I’m in need of a new laptop.” Said the stranger. Carly set her up with the best they had to offer and put it on a credit card that seemed to glow to Carly because it had the word Inspired Publishing Co. on it. Carly said “Thank you Miss Williams” That was the name printed on the card. As soon as Miss Williams left, Carly pretended to go to the back to get some more boxes of batteries. She watched Miss Williams from the window as she walked back to Inspired building.

She sighed and thought, that’s the life that I want but I don’t write any of interest, I only write this, letters to someone who everyone but me seems to have forgotten. She threw her journal out of frustration and landed in a box. She went to go retrieve it but she heard Jessica yelling for her in the front of the store. What is it now, Jessica? Carly thought.

Soon Carly what caused all the ratchet, Jessica’s new boyfriend Lance was holding Jessica’s hand and pulling her toward the door . Jessica squealed “He just got time off and we are finally going to go to the Paramount!” It was a bar that just opened up two weeks ago and as Jessica said anyone who was anyone was going. “So, could you lock up for meand make sure to stock up the display for the earphone sale tomorrow and I’ll make sure to bring you back a couple of souviners and work your Sunday shift. “ Carly glared at Jessica as she said “And?” Jessica put her finger on her mouth as if thinking and than said “And I’ll clock you in early from lunch so you can do errands tomorrow”. Carly smiled and said “Ok! OK! Go before I change my mind!” Jessica and Lance didn’t need to be told twice and soon Carly was alone.

Time to get stocking, she thought as Carly grabbed the two boxes and brought them to the front. She heard the front door’s bell ding. She turned to look and it was Miss Williams.

Carly said “ Oh? You came back, Miss Williams?” “You can call me Mirabelle” the lady said. Carly gasped under her breath when she heard that name, that was her mother’s name and she hadn’t hear said out loud in a very long time.

“What’s wrong?” Mirabelle asked. “Nothing, I just remembered something I needed to do before the store closes in about 15 minutes.” Said Carly. “Oh, well do you think you could help me, my laptop was missing a cord and then I’ll be out of your hair.” Said Mirabelle. “Oh, darn it, you can’t do your writing without that. “ said Carly. “How did you know I was a writer?” asked Maribelle. “ I just guessed because of your card but anyways I’ll go grab you one, it’s just in the back so give me a second and I’ll be back.” Said Carly. She wandered into the back she was exhausted from her unexpectedly long day.

She returns and was shocked to see Mirabelle holding her college application in on hand and her little black book in the other hand. She dropped the laptop cord and reached her hand out. “I didn’t read it “ Mirabella stammered, “the book fell out of that box over there and then this come out of it.” Carly face turned bright red and she feel venerable.

She snatched both things out of Mirabelle’s hands. “Edenrose College?” Mirabelle asked. Carly just stood there bewildered and didn’t want to talk about this with her because she couldn’t even send in an application. Another reason was she couldn’t tell if Mirabelle was mocking her, that someone who works here could go to that school.

She suddenly felt small and unworthy. Mirabelle locked eyes at Carly and smiled “You’re a writer.” “No .”Carly muttered. “Oh, I’ll be on my way, I didn’t mean…” Mirabelle said and started to bend down to pick up the cord. Mirabelle started to walk away but turned back as she was going to say something but she left suddenly.

Carly felt a bit better, she planned on locking the door and leaving everything to Jessica. She was going to pick up a half pint of butter pecan ice cream on the way home and take a long hot bath.

The next morning, she walked quickly past Jessica as she was stocking up. Jessica didn’t seem upset. Jessica beamed and beamed about the night before going through all the details.

And then suddenly in mid sentence Jessica said “I forgot, you got something.” Carly laughed and said “What my Paramount tee shirt? You still going to give the merch? Even though I didn’t stock.” “No” Jessica said and handed Carly a small metallic box with a lid that lefts off. “Where did this come from Jessica?” “ I don’t know some lady. I think she was like a President of Inspirational Fancy Pant Women Incorparated but I don’t know she wanted to know your full name but I told her.”

Carly rolled her eyes and stopped listening, she knew Jessica must have had too many shots last night.Carly opened the box and inside was a book, simialar to the one she had but it was had Edenrose College’s logo on it and tucked inside was a red envelope.

She opened the envelope and inside was a neatly written letter. Carly read Being in my business, I know who the writers are. Edenrose College is a fine place to grow. That’s where I got my start. I’ve invested in your start. You’ll have a credit of $20,000 in your name. Attached to the letter was a business card for Mirabelle Williams, CEO and President of Inspired.

Carly was in disbelief and she thought, these things don’t just happen, it must be a mistake. Carly grabbed her phone and dialed the number on the card. Mirabelle picked up and Carly started to stammer but she was stopped by Mirabelle, who said “ I know you don’t understand and I don’t either. I felt something, I never felt and I knew that it would be the right thing to do. It’s up to you.The money is there and if you don’t use it, then it will be returned to me. I hope you decide to take that step, Carly Girl. Goodbye.”

After that abrupted phone call, Carly yelled to Jessica, “I’ve got to head out. “Jessica started to bicker but she saw the Carly’s eyes and asked “You’re not coming, back are you?” Carly just smiled as her response. She walked over to bench by the Inspired building and she took out her journal. She flipped back to the beginning of the notebook. It was the words she wrote in her first entry. “Mom you said that you’d be sending me a gift, one that I won’t believe. She skipped a few pages and then she saw it “These are the final words you said to me, “I hope you decide to take that step, Carly Girl.” As Carly closed her little black book, she shook her head and said out load “ I will, Mom, I will.”