“Well, I don’t know how to say this, Miss Emily, but…” The counselor said with a quite stern look on his face, darting from the papers on his hand to the girl in front of him.

  Charlie Emily remained seated, waiting, expectant, and quite anxious at the result of her last chance to get a job in Hurricane, still shocked by how she has survived two days after moving into the town, back to her childhood, and back to some nostalgia. But reality would push her back to the present in right about a few seconds. “I want to tell you that, I tried all I could, I called some contacts, some friends, went to some places but, there is no position for you… I’m sorry.”. Charlie’s head fell to her knee level while she let out a huge sigh, remembering all the concerns, warnings, and advise her aunt had told her, and now, those concerns and warnings have become real. Right now, the only thing she wished more in the world was that her 18th birthday wish was not to study here, but now that decisions were made, there was no going back.

  She lifted her head back up, rubbing her eyes as stress ran down her whole body. She got up from her seat and took her backpack away, ready to walk out of the office. “Well… thank you sir. Could you at least contact me if anything comes up in the future, please?” Said the girl, her voice as cracked as her spirit but as persistent as her need. “Sure, I will. Take care, Miss Emily.” Charlie nodded, thanking him, began to make her way outside, only wanting to go to her car and take a breath. Things cannot get any worse, hopefully. “Easy, Charlie… there is always a way for everything…” Muttered the girl like a lullaby to herself as she lets her head rest onto the driving wheel of her car, as she inhales and exhales as deep as a pond, but feeling herself sinking in it as life hits her harder than she thought, and the worst part, she is not even paying bills yet.

  But one thing at a time, and first, she needs to get some money, which is exactly her problem. The only money she has right now is literally the savings of her whole life and some more money her aunt gave her. And of course, her car. During her first day, she managed to find a room in an apartment. Not too big, not that clean either but, it works for her. If things truly can’t get any worse, surely, they will get better. eventually. “Wait a minute… it’s 12 already?!” Charlie puts the keys in position and twists them, shaking the car alive and immediately drives out of the parking lot as quickly as she could. First meeting in years and who would say her habits of getting late would remain with her friend. It’s not like Marla cares of course, but maybe it would have been a little more special if she got rid of some bad habits with her old best friend.

  It has been quite easy to communicate between each other. As soon as Charlie sent a letter, just a day or two later she received an answer from Marla. It is kind of funny to Charlie since managing to keep a conversation for weeks through letters is quite a concept. And now with the internet and online mailing, it’s going to be a little better than to just waste paper and some money on postal services and all that stuff. Recently, Marla has been up to getting a new job, which she did along with her boyfriend, Lamar. Charlie always said she was better out of the romance game, but of course, her best friend would not let her sit on the bench. Who knows how lucky the quirky but friendly Charlie Emily might get as life goes on for her.

  Charlie drove past many houses to reach for the park. Many of those houses had been kept by time, but also have been tarnished by it as well. She finally arrived up to the park, composing herself a little as she looked out the window for any possible sign of Marla. Realizing she had to go and look for her, Charlie then opened her backpack and took out some more comfortable shoes to walk with. As soon as she put them on, she got out and began her search for Marla. She saw all the little kids playing on the old areas of the park that seemed almost like she remembers them, although her memory wasn’t that great but still, it’s kind of happy that they did not change many things of the Hurricane Park.

  Of course, there were new things and all but, not that much to peek Charlie’s interest. As she got to the fountain in the center of the whole park, she saw a brown-curly-haired girl, with two hot dogs on her hands, and managed to hear her as she began to walk faster towards Charlie. “Charlie!” Shouted the quickly moving girl. “Marla? Marla!” Charlie began to run towards her, a smile on both of their faces as the awaited re-encounter had finally arrived at the present time. “Gosh, it is good to see you again.” Chuckled Marla in between a tight-gripped hug. “Well for me it is great to see you again!” The two girls, after sharing the same chuckle, started their road towards the fountain. “Oh, by the way, here is your hot dog.” “No way- Please tell me these are the ones from Harry’s hot dog stand…” Charlie said as her smile widened at the sight of the hot and fresh hot dog.

  “Oh, they sure are!” “Oh ho, thanks Marla, you really shouldn’t have!” The two girls arrived at the fountain, sitting on it as Charlie kept contemplating her food like some kind of priced antique. “Oh don’t worry about it.” Said Marla, the smile on her face quite infected by Charlie’s. “So, how has it been going?” Charlie gives the first bite to her hot dog, tasting it as if it was the last hot dog on Earth. “Oh, it’s good. Just your usual ′moving to a new town′ stuff.” She muttered between munches. “Yeah, how’s your apartment?” Marla asked tilting her head slightly. “Well, it is comfy I suppose, pretty small but, I can get used to it.” Says Charlie, while Marla bites her hot dog, her mouth getting smeared with ketchup until she takes the napkin from under the hot dog holder and cleans the spot off.

  “Oh, how’s it been going with you and Lamar? It’s been a long time since you’ve told me anything about him.” Said Charlie, her hand hovering for some seconds in the air. “Oh, things have been very smooth. He is practically the boy of my dreams Charlie, I tell you…” A dreamy stare appears on Marla, as a wide smile crosses on her lips, while Charlie just stares at her, teasing her with a soft shoulder pat. “Right, the rich bragging their money with the poor.”

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Marla has a soft chuckle coming out of her, while she lifts a taunting eyebrow, ready to respond. “Well, it is not my fault you haven’t been looking hard enough for your other half, you know.” Said Marla, returning the tease to her friend, who puts up a fake indignation along a light chuckle. “I mean, being very honest I think I’ve realized romance is just not for me.” Said the girl, the indignation being replaced by a look of acceptance on her expression. “Come on don’t you say that! You are barely 18 years old; you still have a long life to find the man who will complement all your dreams.” A soft chuckle drops out of Charlie as well, unsure but very certain of what Marla is saying. “Yeah, just maybe.” “Yeah…” Marla bites the hot dog once more, enjoying the bite almost as she is enjoying the moment. “By the way, I see you’ve been on the hunt for a job…” Marla said while rising a curious eyebrow. Charlie takes a small glance at her formal clothing while giving her hot dog a bite, smearing her mouth with a little bit of ketchup while doing so.

  “Oh, right yeah, I uhm… I think we should talk about that later.” Said the worried girl. Marla gives Charlie a playfully annoyed stare, raising an eyebrow as she gives a bite to her hot dog as well. Who could say it is still the same after 10 years. “Charlie…?” “It’s fine, really!” Marla holds the look onto Charlie’s eyes, she always knows when Charlie is saying the truth and when she is not, or at least, almost always. “Fine, it really isn’t… There is no position available nowhere.” Said Charlie, frowning as soon as she finished talking. Marla shifts her expression, rising an eyebrow thinking to herself while saying out loud with a slight annoyance… “What do you mean there are no positions available? Did you make calls for yourself?” “Yeah, of course I did! It was my first plan before heading to a counselor but, he didn’t have any luck either… Plus, I need to get money fast so I can rest easy when going to university!” “Oh, right yeah, it was mechatronics, right?” Asked Marla, trying to recall it as much as she could. “Yeah, and you nursing, right?” “Yup”.

  Silence and stillness remain for some seconds between the two girls. Charlie gives another bite to the hot dog, almost finishing it, while Marla’s hot dog is still quite whole, which surprises her and giggles as she asks. “How are you finishing that hot dog so quickly?” “What? I’m hungry. Plus, it’s been years since I’ve eaten one of these.” “Yeah, I can notice…” A smile remaining on Marla’s lips before fading slowly. Charlie then finishes off her hot dog, wiping a little of the ketchup and mustard off her cheek with her finger, then licking it. Marla though, she still has half of her hot dog. Marla remains like a rock, until a lightbulb turns on inside her mind, and a knowing smile return to her. “You know, I think I have the solution for your problem, dear.” Charlie shakes her hand a little before answering. “Do you mean fast eating or employment?” “…A little of both.”

  Marla gives another bite to her hot dog, almost finishing it off, while Charlie uses the opportunity to go and throw the wrapping to a trash can, looking around how green the park looks now compared to many years ago when she was little. She would have loved to play hide and seek with… Sammy. “So, as you know, me and my beloved boyfriend have a job together. It is half time of course but, it has surprisingly good pay.” “Hmm, money you say?”

  Said Charlie with little greedy-like expression and a fake raspy voice, getting a laugh out of Marla. “Yeah, it’s what you need right now, Mr. Krabs!” Said Marla, watching Charlie chuckle afterwards. “Heh, unfortunately yes. And what’s that place the two of you are working at?” Asked Charlie, feeling a small drop of water from the fountain fall on her head, patting her head slightly afterwards. “Well, you remember that dark tunnel you were always afraid to go through, right?” Charlie remained thoughtful, recalling it in a matter of seconds. “Uh, yeah?” “Well then, now you know where it is.” Said Marla with a slight smile on her face. “But, basically, the place is a kid restaurant. The name is Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and…” Fazbear? The name echoed through Charlie’s mind, bouncing off inside her head like a tennis ball carrying pain with every bounce, and the worst of it, it was attacking the deepest and most beloved memories of her childhood.

  “Charlie? You okay…?” Charlie comes to herself after some seconds, feeling her heartbeat quicken slightly at the echoing sound of the Fazbear name. “I… I’m fine, sorry, just zone out a little bit.” Marla gives her the same side eye, knowing very well there is something wrong, almost like a mother knowing her son is lying about something, although she doesn’t really have an idea of what it is. Charlie tries to compose as she notices Marla trying to get further into her thoughts, but this time it won’t work. “Seems like, an interesting place… how much time has it been open?” The quite specific question only makes Marla even more doubtful, knowing fully well Charlie is trying to hide something, but it doesn’t make sense to ask now, knowing how stubborn Charlie is and how she always plants herself like a tree. “…I think since the beginning of the 90s, if I’m not mistaken. Huh, that is curious, 8 years since that place opened its doors. Guess Hurricane needed some cheer after all.” Said Marla. 8 years? Now this was the pinnacle of ignorance. How could the people of Hurricane forget the chaos the name of that company caused for a long time? Did they forget about her family? About those families that were affected as well…? Charlie is not very pleased to remember those events but, why does it seem like people have just shrugged and treated everything as if nothing ever happened? “Oh, and almost forgot to mention but, it is a security gig. Specifically, during nights.” Mentioned Marla once again. Charlie shifted her sitting position, tapping one of her fingers against her leg. “Yeah… you know, I think I’ll take it. After all, I’ve heard nightshifts are the calmest position you can take.” Mentioned Charlie. “Heh, that is if there’s no trespassing involved of course. Well, if you definitely are up to it…” Marla takes a pen out of the pocket of her black jacket, gesturing with her hand to Charlie to hand her hand over to her. “This is Dave Miller’s office number. Remember, you just got to get through that tunnel on Hurricane Heights and you’re there.” Charlie looks at her hand, contemplating the number just written on it. The only solution to her problem is the dread that she never thought would come back to torment her. “Yeah… thanks Marla.”