Free The Big Dream by Rebecca Rosenblum Page A

sorry,” the guy muttered and walked on without looking at the girls, the sweater, Sasha’s bloodred face.
    â€œOh, shit, sorry,” said Sasha, staring at Yaël’s wet and yellowed and half-translucent and very expensive sweater. “I am so sorry. I really – ”
    Yaël put her mouth down on Sasha’s hairline, where blush met blonde. She knew Sasha would never have makeup on her forehead, or product in her hair. She ran her tongue slowly along Sasha’s temple, felt the texture of skin, tasted the tang of sweat, heard the silence between songs in the CD changer.

    To: All onsite employees
From: Building Services
Re: Monthly Fridge Cleanup
    Wednesday 10:19 a.m.
    Â 
    Dear Dream Team,
    Â 
    Please note that this Friday evening is our monthly fridge cleanup. Please be aware that any food items that you wish to keep must NOT be left in any Dream Inc. office kitchen over the weekend. The cleaning staff does not have time to assess everything in the fridge – if it is left this Friday evening, it will be considered abandoned.
    Â 
    Please evaluate and collect your food stores accordingly. Happy snacking!
    Gregster

AFTER THE MEETING
    AFTER THE MEETING WAS OVER, we got in Wayne’s car, since he was the only one who had a car, and started driving back into town. We figured we’d go to Martin’s, but on the way we picked up a two-four, a pizza, and a box of Jos Louis. Since we were all unemployed now, the beer was domestic and the pizza was from this Iranian place by the highway, but I wouldn’t compromise on the Jos Louis.
    â€œMetro brand is shit,” I told Danvir. He shrugged, but I could tell he agreed.
    As we walked down the alley to the basement, Martin said, “They shoulda let us take our stuff, like the stuff from our desks. They shouldn’t have made us go straight-aways, ’cause it’ll suck to take all that on the bus if Wayne’s not there.”
    â€œAnd I won’t be there, man – all I got in that desk is the manual and some Craisins.”
    â€œMmm, Craisins,” is what I said, because I had skipped breakfast thinking I’d get a muffin from the caf to eat at my desk while I worked, only there was no work that morning, because we were busy getting laid off.
    Martin’s place was big, sort of, but with everything around a corner from everything else, and these pillars spiking up at random, so the chesterfield, TV, and chairs were all sort of huddled up in front of the kitchen. Plus the rubber underneath the carpet had dried up so it crackled when you walked. There was cat hair on everything, white and light like dandelion fluff, but I didn’t see any actual cats.

    It wasn’t until Wayne had tipped his big ass onto the chesterfield and opened up the pizza box on his knees that anyone talked about what had actually happened.
    â€œWell, fuck.” That was Martin, but he’d swear at a baby.
    It was sadder to hear Danvir say it. “Fuck, indeed. The caterers’ payment is due next month. Ally’s gonna divorce me ’fore we’re even married.”
    Wayne had a faceful of pizza but he still muttered, “Wait’ll Kayly gets the news; then we’ll have fuck.”
    Martin just sighed, maybe because gay boyfriends don’t yell at each other, I dunno.
    I was single, so all I said was “I wish I hadn’t had that stupid fight with my mom, ’cause now I can’t go stay with her if I can’t make rent.”
    Danvir bugged out his eyes at the same time as he reached for my Jos Louis box. “You got some savings, right, Will? You’re not gonna be totally broke in two weeks, right?”
    I watched him take one out. “I got expenses, man. And two-weeks notice is sorta dick-all – I’m not gonna get a job in two weeks.”
    I had the one chair and Danvir had the other, and Wayne had most of the chesterfield. Martin was skinny and could have fit in beside