Free License to Shop by Kelly McClymer

on the
interview interruptus, much to her amusement. “That puppy needs to
be called False Alarm.”
    “ I think we’re going to go
with Jasmine. Anna has her heart set on it. And she is a sweet
puppy, even if she sheds.”
    “ Okay. We’ll make a pet
person out of you yet. Now, what are you going to have for
dessert?”
    I didn’t hesitate.
“Chocolate mousse, of course. Do you want to share?”
    She shook her head. “I
want one of my own.”
    When the mousses came, she
stuck a candle in mine and lit it with a cute trick lighter that
looked like a Pez dispenser. “Make a wish.”
    “ It isn’t my birthday,” I
protested.
    “ It’s the start of a new
chapter in your life. That’s like a birthday in my book. Now, make
your wish.”
    I made my wish, blew out
my candle, and enjoyed every bite of the mousse.
    “ What did you wish?” she
asked, signaling for the bill.
    “ To—” I started, thinking
about the likelihood that my mother would actually approve of the
results of the housecleaning party, never mind the idea of a
housecleaning party to begin with.
    “ Stop! You’re not supposed
to tell me.”
    “ Then why did you
ask?”
    She checked the bill and
tucked her credit card into the sleeve of the folder. “Because I
wondered if you would tell me.” She grinned cheekily as the server
grabbed the check folder from the table. Her eyes followed the
woman to the register terminal that was visible to us
both.
    I noticed her close survey
of the waitperson. “Do you think she’s going to add items to the
bill while you’re not watching?”
    “ Better to be safe than
sorry.”
    “ Aren’t you suspicious
today.”
    “ It happens.”
    “ I know.” The lists talked
about it. But it hadn’t happened to me yet, and I really liked to
think that people were more honest than dishonest.
    “ In fact, I think it must
be getting worse.” Celeste gave her traditional
the-world-is-going-to-hell-in-a-handbasket head shake. “The lists
are buzzing with news of credit card skimming, and unauthorized
credit accounts being opened in our area.”
    “ It probably just seems
worse because everyone is talking about it.”
    “ Maybe. But that’s why I
watch. You should too, especially since you are trusting enough to
tell people what you wished when you blew out your wish-candle just
because they ask.” She laughed.
     
    “ Good luck today,” Seth said as he kissed me
goodbye and left the house with the puppy, now firmly named
Jasmine, over Ryan’s objections.
    “ Thanks. I need
it.”
    He held out the puppy. “Do
you want to take Jasmine with you. Maybe it will give you extra
points with Henriette?”
    “ No thanks.” I thought of
how heartlessly eager Dr. Stubbs had been for Kecia to get rid of
the puppies. “I think Jasmine will be safer with you.”
    I dropped the kids off at
school and did a quick coffee shop job in the time between car pool
duty and the interview. Watching the barista activity at the coffee
shop reminded me that all it took to do a job well was to pay
attention to the details. Maybe that was all it would take to get
the job, too.
    Kecia had called to inform
me that, despite my interrupted interview, I’d been moved to Round
2. That meant I wouldn’t be facing just Henriette Stubbs, but two
other senior staff members in the Admissions department. This was
the interview that really mattered. The one that would get me the
job. Or not.
    The two other people, a
man in his late twenties, and an older woman with gray hair pulled
back in a severe bun, smiled at me in friendly greeting. Dr. Stubbs
did not. She led off with, “Good morning, Ms. Harbison. I hope we
do not have a repeat of that annoying fire alarm today.” While the
words were perfectly fine, her tone seemed to imply that I had been
the cause of said fire alarm.
    “ I hope so, too,” I
agreed. “I can’t afford to adopt another puppy.” I brushed at
Jasmine’s hair, firmly embedded in my pants. “My budget for