Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

were talking about it,” Dad said.
    “Oh, I wish I wasn’t working.”
    “Just call in sick,” Luke said as he leaned against the counter, his mouth full of food.
    He wore his favorite torn jeans and faded black tee-shirt, eating a bowl of cereal. Every time he leaned over to take a bite, his black hair fell into his eyes and he had to brush it aside.
    Luke was four years older than me and still lived at home. He was taking a few courses at the local junior college unsure of what he wanted to do ‘ when he grew up’ and currently unemployed. So, for him to give me ‘work’ advice was a bit ludicrous.
    “I can’t do that,” I said annoyed he’d even suggested it. “They are depending on me to be there tonight.”
    “There’s a simple solution to this,” Dad said, looking at me with kind but weathered eyes. He could give me his full attention now that he’d pulled out all the bills and tossed the rest.
    “Dad, we’ve talked about this before.”
    “It’s just that you’re only young once in your life and you’ll have plenty of time in your life to work,” he said matter-of-factly. “Actually, there’s only one person in this room that should be working but isn’t, but I’m not pressing the matter since he’s still in school.”
    My dad’s eyes stayed glued to me, but Luke instantly got interested in rinsing out his bowl, humming to himself. I chuckled. It seemed comical for a second, until I took to heart what my dad said.
    “I know,” I mumbled, biting my lip. “Maybe I should quit.”
    My dad walked over and hugged me again. His disappointment mixed with mine and I found it difficult to stick to my decision, until another idea came to mind.
    “Maybe I can get off early.”
    “I’d like that,” he said as he let go of me and took his bags upstairs.
    If I left early, at least I wouldn’t miss the whole evening and work wouldn’t be upset with me. I sat for a few minutes mulling it over while Luke changed the conversation to the most recent car he was dismantling. But I tuned him out as soon as he mentioned distributor caps.
    Aladdin, our cat, rubbed up against my leg, begging for some attention. We called her Aladdin, even though it was a boy’s name, because one day, she magically showed up and put a spell on us.
    I reached down to scratch her ears, but then felt the weight of my procrastination. I couldn’t prolong getting ready for work any longer.
    “I need to go,” I finally said. “Tell Jo I’m sorry, okay?”
    I headed upstairs to my room situated in the back of the house and peeled off my school clothes. The sofa burgeoned with my entire wardrobe, making it difficult to find my work polo shirt and khakis.
    My Dad was kind enough to give me the master bedroom a few years back. He thought I’d appreciate having my own bathroom, being the only girl in the house. But the best part of this sanctuary wasn’t the view out the windows of the redwoods surrounding the patio and creek below. My favorite part was the fact the distance separated me from the rest of the family and allowed me freedom from their emotions—huge bonus.
    I touched up my make-up, started some laundry before saying my goodbyes, and ran out the door. I really hoped my idea would work and the deli wouldn’t be crowded tonight.
    As I started my car and drove down my street, I fought a foreboding feeling I was making a mistake. Unsure, I glanced back at my house through my rearview mirror wondering if I should turn around. But, my sense of responsibility took over and I kept driving unaware my decision to go to work tonight would forever change the course of my destiny.

2 - FALLING
    I rushed into the deli, glanced at the clock and breathed a sigh of relief—right on time.
    My shift should’ve started without a hitch except I was starving and the aroma of baking bread hit my stomach like a jack-hammer. I would’ve been snagging a piece if it weren’t for Kelly’s impatient glare behind a long line of customers. So reluctantly, I deposited my things in the back and tied an apron on instead. My hunger would have to wait until my break.
    The deli’s interior resembled an old fashioned café, very homey in its decor. An old wooden fence stood, separating where customers ordered and where they sat. Lanterns, wooden wagon wheels, and camping paraphernalia littered the walls along with a potbellied stove in the corner.
    I took over the cash register and Kelly left without saying a word. I shrugged it off