You look at Janice. “I thought this place was called the
Bisquit Joe?”
“Well, it’s actual name is just
Joe’s. The old timers call it
Bisquit Joe after the previous owner, but it became really popular only after the new owner put the Sloppy Meal™ on the menu, hence
Sloppy Joe. You can call it whatever you like, honey.”
She called you honey…? The man she came with is content to wait, hands in his pockets and a little smirk on his face until she finishes her explanation, then addresses you again.
“Isn’t she great? She’s more knowledgeable than she lets on!”
“This is Jerome, the night shift manager. He was around and told me he wanted to see to you personally”, Janice introduces him.
“Thank you miss Taheri, I’ll take it from here. We’ll see later!” He ushers you towards one of the corner tables, far from prying ears. Janice gives you a thumbs up sign for good luck, and goes on her way.
Jerome pulls out a chair for you, then seats himself on the other side of the table. He slouches over his chair, relaxed like a cat napping in a sunlight, and smiles. You cannot shake the feeling that you are being evaluated by some hidden criteria, making you nervous.
“So, miss, about those dreams…”
“Isn’t that a bit weird question for a job interview?”
“Please humor me, miss Vivian. Think of it as an icebreaker, hmm?”
“Ah okay…” You start but falter, then pick up and share disjointed snippets from your half remembered dreams. They are nonsensical yet felt intense, like the time when you-
-dreamt that you had a midnight snack of pineapple sandwich and a rabid rhinoceros burst from the pantry that you escaped by flying over the city only to burst into flame from touching the sun and fell-
-to a lecture hall where a rabbit in front of a green chalkboard stretching to infinity yelled what is the number at you, swinging a hammer at a flock of flamingos that whisked you away-
-to a beach where you found magical shoes and you danced on the shoreline in the light of the setting sun, and danced into the golden waves and was swallowed under the sea in its murky green depths-
-and was rescued by a dashing captain and you could not see her face but she cradled you in her arms wet with salt water and tried to wipe green ichor off you but couldn't so she laid you gently in a hole in the ground-
-and you are trapped deep, deep under earth with a terrible pressure crushing on you and it is cold so very cold and suddenly a bright green star lits up and you reach for it even though its light tickles and chafes against your pale skin, and it burns bright and merciless and you struggle as centuries trickle past you and you're almost able to touch it with your mandibles when it winks out
and then comes back again mere decades after and the surface will make WAY FOR THE CONQUEROR WORM-You suddenly feel stupid for recounting your silly dreams to a complete stranger and stop, sitting sullenly munching on the fruit attached to your fancy hat (it’s always a good idea to bring snacks to a job interview). Jerome senses your discomfort and makes an apologetic face.
“Look, Vivian, I’m not gonna to lie to you - I’m interested in you because you have a very special talent, unlike anyone else.”
“...Is this a sex thing?”
“What, no!” he looks genuinely taken aback, which makes you smirk. Serves him right after putting you through that weirdness!
He collects himself and leans close to you, speaking in low, intense voice. “You have great potential inside you, and I wish you’d let me to guide you to nurture it. You could be a big help to people who desperately need it.” He glances around quickly, sly as a prey animal, and whispers “Also I can help protect you and your family. We’ve set a fake trail to throw off the people who are after you, but it is only a matter of time before they-”
There is a loud bang. “Speak of the devil”.
“Everybody stop! Where are the rebel scum hiding?”
You are now sergeant Joe Mourad. You do not recognize these hooded weirdos - they most definitely are not with the secret police or the military. They are going to ruin your undercover operation!
