Macaroni

Chapter 3

"So this is what I've figured out," Bebe said, her voice shaking, not because she was scared of her husband, but scared of being weak and out of control, needing this, needing to be away from her children. And then not only did she need to be away from her children, but she was contemplating seeing a therapist for how crazy she'd been feeling, so there was another hour away from her children to tell her husband about.

"So this is what I've figured out...I'm going to find a part time job, just morning or afternoons or something a few days a week, and get a student from the college to watch the kids, someone majoring in human development or something child-based. What do you think?" Casey agreed that she could benefit from some adult away time, and making money at the same time would make it worth the childcare involved, probably make it neutral, but still it was a start. They agreed that she'd look for something nearby, something she really enjoyed, and something preferably with coworkers.

Bebe was through the moon that Casey approved, though she thought she might have overemphasized her mental instability to get him there. She started searching wanted ads, along with the wine after 5pm, and putting the kids to bed at 7, and dreaming of being away from them, and away from the house for a few hours, a big chunk of time every day. They lived in a college town, so people were used to hiring students, people for ten hours a week, and she found plenty of options for a 36 year old competent mother of three.

But the one she really wanted was a three day a week position at her favorite little antique store, and she called the owner and set up an interview for next Tuesday at 9am. She called her favorite babysitter for a couple hour job and started picking out her clothes, slacks and a wrinkled collared shirt she hadn't worn in years.

She found a coupon, splurged, took a pile of clothes to the dry cleaner, and dreamed of her new life as a part time antique store employee.