's P

ate twenties wearing a baby strap across her back. I approach the secreta

hoping she woul

ease," sh

as her small hand gripped mine. My gaze is draw

arm one. "He's a sweetheart," sh

reached into my back pocket and slapped the bow on her head. Earlier, while I was walking in, the bow kept slipping

d in front of her

nd this may be hard to believe, but this baby isn't even mine," I whispered. "It's not obvious, but I'm black." I believe the father c

She quickly covers her mouth, remembering that she is at work. "Y

w a mother with children works at the same time. I've only been watching Marisa for twenty minutes, according to my watch, and I'm alr

eat. One of the most difficult things for me to do is stand up with a baby and heels.

rong," one of the women remark

bout the misunderstanding. If having a baby makes others treat me

n I entered a white room. They didn't have nice smiles on their faces; instead, despite the f

per cup filled with what I guessed was coffee; nevertheless, the smile

inued making notes on the one sheet of paper. Write any longer, and

thinned shining hair that keeps flapping. I watched as the air conditioner blew

do not

do not

do no

pink shirt. I can't believe I've already messed up. I considered run

ost noise in the room. Scratch that, the guy with the fl

ee if I'll laugh or not? A test to

p, flap,

that I think my eyes turned red, but

shirt lady eventually glances up, dropping the pen she was holding. "Why is there a b

e wig guy interrupted, "That's the problem? D

only thing

start a fire finally finished taking notes. He must

it?" I ask, looki

aring these into my office and scrubbing my floor with those awa-" I sink m

"I cannot take this anymore!"

ung man replied, causing me to snicker, but I quickly clo

I heard a click. He was removing the baby carrier straps. He walks near the pink shirt lady who grimaces, dropping it to the ground. She reaches for th

ss around not-my-baby, but they may one day become my superior. Lisa owes me at least this

ve babies," the young man say

when they'll start my interview. However, knowing my station as a lowly nobody

your boss. The one who pays you to not live on the street. The second is your cook, inorder not to have spits in

babies. "I never

y n

anni cooed the baby in his arms as he flipped his lovely hair. I was

oman said, looking sightly bored while pulling out her nail filer.

t around my body. He did it so gracefully and smoothly, without even to

ng the strap down to fix it befor

mouth in a

ion with comfort. "Thank you." "Can I hav

ll only distract you." Marisa laughs and claps her hands while Gianni bounces his leg

orrect her? "Why did you bring your ba

here," he added, resting his chin on his knuckles. "Must be rough being a single mother

slapped his hands on the table and

fied," the woman eventually said

ra Academy, Bitca," Giann

r. Where is the professionalism in this room? "And her graduating

e color,"

hire you because of your taste," Bitca snarl

e, I'm working in advertising." The individual w

rfall hair and started tying it up. "Someone holds my damn earrings

and held on

ble as if it were a hammer. "Bitcha...Baldy...sit

"Did he just call

him. "Your-" I didn't speak quickly enough, "resume is impressive, but the only thing that stands

ly told myself to be strong while biting my bottom lip. Going home with a h

at one of the most prestigious high sc

ed by

r degree will only create

I spoke for myself for the first time. "A slip of paper

arched h

ion," Becca said flatly, scribb

ence." "For the past year, I've been going to hundreds of intervie

g Gianni and Brody's earnest stares. Chains were put

eems to believe that a piece of paper represents my knowledge, identity, and work ethic. They didn't give me a si

e time. I'm angry at the people who sat in front of me.

l

je

l

je

p.

t. Re

Flap

Reject

to stay here for another 30 minutes so you may hot and cold me. Say anything nice about my résumé only to be met with a

re horrible, but so are those-" I attempted to think of an insult, but nothing came to my mind, "Damn it!" I

e world. He does, after all, play the part of a wealthy-looking man

him to rush back. "See, my baby is

ice sounded lethal, like if I had regressed to my childhood, w

ckly as he gr

ill fixed on me. "I'm going, contact me...do not contact me...

a better wig store on the Third Street," he sat up straight. "Go there," I a

Not Victoria! Not Valery! Vera!!! You can't call me anything else." I turn around but turned back again, "Unless yo

the door behind me closes. "