Bethany Brooks: You're Fired!

Remember when you were a kid? Not a high school kid, but putting your boogers on your crush kind of kid? If only someone would have told me to enjoy life instead of telling me to stop being a kid. Being a grown up sucks. What’s even worse is my boss, Calvin Izza. Yes, thee Calvin Izza. Three feature film award winner, Calvin Izza. “I’ll make it happen”, Calvin Izza. Well, you get the point. He’s been extra uptight lately. Between struggling with my bills and needing a new car; I have no choice but to deal with it because I really want to keep this internship. One day I’ll be just like. “Bethany.” What? Did someone say something? “Bethany!” Oh, it’s Calvin. “I don’t pay you to daydream. I need you to run some errands.” He actually doesn’t pay me at all. He’s got this awful garlic scent today. He thinks the vampires on set might actually be real. Is he serious?

“What can I do for you today?” Oh no. He looks puzzled. Anytime he looks puzzled he’s about to ask me something crazy. “I need you to go into the city and pick up some things at the art store.” Okay, that’s not that bad. “I also need you to take this book to Vincent's house.” He hands me this coffee stained sticky note. He starts to hand me the book, but then snatches it back right before I grab it. “Can I trust you? This has my name written on it. Literally.” He’s not kidding. It’s a little black book with silver glitter words that spell out Calvin Izza, and a sticky note that says “Not for prying eyes.” I’ll look at it later. “Well?” I zoned out again. “Of course. Right away.”

I put the book and the list in my purse and I head out to the parking lot where Old man Gerald is taking his hourly smoke break. “What are you looking at?” I look around. There’s no one out here but me. “Nothing. Not that you’re nothing. I was just.” He’s walking towards me. His cigarette smells like a mix between rain water and charcoal. “Where are you going? We need to get filming.” He’s so nosy. “Calvin has me running errands.” He keeps looking me up and down. “Well, hurry back. I need you to make me a sandwich.” As if he needs anymore sandwiches.

Everyone here treats me like I'm the help. I mean, I am the help, but I’m not the help. Man, my car is filthy. I have to save money, so no car wash. Although, maybe I could bend the rules this one time. My new paint job is starting to peel off. Cost me extra for this shade of dark blue. Enough of that I really need to go.

Woah, Vincent's house is so...uh...well. I wouldn’t expect someone with so much money to have such a basic house. I get out of the car and the first thing I notice is the doorbell missing. Classic. I guess I’ll just knock. I’m standing in front of the door and then boom. My heart almost exploded. Not literally, but it was close. He tapped on my shoulder. I turn around and he must be on the vampire wagon. Either that or he over seasoned this...is that chicken? “Do you like ribs?” No way. Those are so bad. “Yeah. Sometimes. Calvin wanted me to drop this book off to you.” I hand him the book as his greasy hands drip on my new shoes. “Thank you. Let me tip you for that.” I guess it would be rude to say no. “Okay, thanks.” He hands me his chicken plate and reaches into his pocket and pulls out his checkbook. “I hope this is enough for you. I really needed this book.” Woah. He just handed me a check for twenty big ones. Twenty-thousand dollars! “Wait, are you serious?” He looks really confused. Please don’t take it back. Please don’t take it back. “Do you want more?” Oh that was close. “No, that was just wow.” I better wipe my hand off somewhere before this check becomes covered in chicken grease. “Are you sure you don’t want any ribs?” I really need to leave before he gives me food poisoning. “No thank you. I should get back before Calvin fires me.” He has a sweet laugh. “Okay, and I wouldn’t advise you telling Calvin or anyone about that check.” That’s odd. “Okay.”

Oh crap. I’m fifteen minutes late. “Bethany Brooks, what took you so long?” Lie. Wait, just tell the truth. “Anyone home? We needed to get this production started two days ago.” Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. “There was traffic on the way back.” Maybe I should say something else. “Bethany, this is the third time this week. You're fired.” What? He can’t fire me. “What? You can’t fire me.” By the way the crew all just turned and looked at me; I guess he can. “Get off of my lot, and don’t come back. Bethany Brooks.” Oh no. not again. “You are FIRED.” There it is. At least I still have this check. I should probably cash this before Calvin finds out about it.