Pilot
Marlene really needed some money. She got fired from her job at Walmart for ‘excessive tardiness’ after three years of what she thought was her best work, and she cant pay the rent for her shitty studio apartment with just the tips from her clients at beauty school. She had to work random jobs like housesitting and door dashing until one of the multitudes of businesses she had sent her… unimpressive resume to decided she was okay enough.
After about twenty interviews, she wasn’t very hopeful to get a job anymore. Marlene might have to crawl back to her parents, who would have open arms, a room set up, and smug smiles burned into their faces. She loathed the idea.
She was slumped on a large beanbag, which was carelessly placed in the midst of her cluttered apartment. In front of her was her television; the first thing she had bought with her paychecks from a high school job. It was a little used 20 inch tv from ebay that she had now placed haphazardly upon crates cluttered with her limited book collection. Marlene was not paying attention to whatever was playing, she had likely seen it dozens of times before.
Marlene was meant to get a phone call from Dennys, the family restaurant chain, around three pm; it was two forty-six. The interview could have gone better, she showed up late for one, and of course was awkward. Maybe she could hope that Dennys was as desperate as she was, after all: who the fuck actually wants to work there?
Ten minutes pass, and Marlene grows tired of her pointless anxiety and groans, standing and tossing her phone where she had been sitting. She went to her kitchen, tripping on some stray clothes on the floor and frustratingly kicking them away from her, in a place she would surely trip on them again later. She glared into her half empty fridge and the crumbs and spilled liquids that obstructed the shelves and thought to herself that she ought to clean it. Marlene would become the president before that fridge got cleaned. She glanced around it before sighing and snatching a Tupperware of leftover boxed mac and cheese, moving to reheat it. Her microwave was, of course, also dirtied with exploded butter and the remains of past meals.
She leans over the counter eating and poking at the meal, eyes on the tv but not focused on it. A few bites in, her ringtone snaps her attention to the beanbag, and she drops her fork on the counter, hearing its harsh clank behind her as she hurries to pick up her phone, her socked feet sliding on the wood floor.
She picks up her phone and answers, “Hello, Marlene McKinnon speaking,” she greets, putting on a sweet and calm voice.
“Hello Miss. McKinnon! This is Frank Longbottom from Dennys, calling regarding the results of your job interview,” the man replies cheerily.
He continues without her reply, “Well, I am calling with good news: we would absolutely love to welcome you to the Dennys family!”
“Really?” Marlene says with a smile spreading across her face, “Oh my god, thank you!”
Frank chuckles on the other end, “Our pleasure Miss McKinnon. We did talk in your interview, but well have you pick up your uniform tomorrow and start working next Monday, and I did send you an email with all the important details and information you need.”
“Alright, that sounds great,” Marlene replies, still disbelieving and happy.
“Alright,” Frank chuckles again, “Well, we’ll see you next Monday then, Miss McKinnon.”
“Okay, see you Monday”
“Alright, bye.” Frank replied, ending the call.
Marlene was incredibly relived to finally have a job, she didn’t even care that it was Dennys. She took a few steps to let herself fall down on her unmade bed, which consisted of a mattress atop a box spring behind her beanbag. She stared up at her ceiling which was half covered in glow-in-the-dark stars, and half covered in the sticky dots that the fallen ones left behind.
“Fucking finally.” Marlene spoke into the air with a relaxed sigh.