Prospects

Another Ten Minute Writing Prompt- 

I am hoping to do a post or more a month so here is May's. Since I liked my last one so well, I decided to use the same exercise and pulled three words or phrases from a 'hat'. These are my words I needed to use: 'roll of the dice', 'exploring the asteroid belt' and 'vocation'. Yes this took more than ten minutes and editing adds more though it is still rough so be kind!And here is my little story:

                Tammy sighed cynically as she surveyed the chaos in the high school gymnasium. A wave of noise, insistent and annoying, assaulted her senses as she stood by the double doors, leaning against the center metal frame, reluctant to enter further. She watched the crowd of students prowling around, the incoherent roar of a hundred simultaneous conversations echoing in the room as they jostled their way around each other to the various booths that were set up.. It was vocation day at her high school. A rather fancy name for a job fair, she thought. Not that even half the students knew what that word meant, she reflected as she maintained her brief role as observer.

                There was, she concluded, a decided lack of cotton candy at this fair and an overabundance of recruiters behind tables overflowing with banners and brochures, each selling bags of false hope to seniors suddenly face with a life outside of school. What could a person truly hope to gain from a short conversation likely consisting of the phrase, 'Yeah, it's really great! You'll love it.' or 'Absolutely, just taking our series of correspondence courses will absolutely prepare you for management levels, I promise.'

                Tammy shook her head, "I'd rather have the cotton candy. Empty calories and all." she murmured under her breath. "More honest."

                Eighteen years of structure, of being told what to do and how to do it then pow! You are on your own. Those of her peers chomping at the bit for freedom, for the promised life of no rules, no classes and no teachers were going to be disappointed, she suspected. Whatever was going to come next was going to be a roll of the dice. College for those with money or scholarships. And this for those who didn't. She sighed again, searching for a corner of the room to hide in or at least appeared occupied and interested before the school councilors caught her standing there.  She did not want another session with Mr. Gibson and another of his lectures on responsibility and decisions. Not that he truly cared what she decided, he only wanted closure to as many student files as he could before year's end.

                Taking a deep breath, she ventured forth in to the mass of students, avoiding eye contact. Slipping between the crowd of bodies around her, her skin crawling with anxiety, she navigated her way across the gym floor to a cleared space near the doors to the locker rooms. She looked at the doors speculatively, wondering if it would be worth hiding in there.  She heard a small clearing of a voice. Startled, she turned to see a slender man sitting despondently at a booth that was currently being ignore by everyone else in that room. Curiosity overcame her defeated boredom. His booth was fascinating in a 'I can't believe this is serious' kind of way. Behind him was a black banner with silver and gold lettering shimmering in the yellow lights. "Stars, Inc. - Exploring the Asteroid Belt with Humans since 1822"

                "Well?" asked the man with a measure of impatience.

                Tammy's focus turned away from the banner, confusion on her face. "I'm sorry? I didn't catch.." she started to reply sensing she was missing something important.

                "I said, are you interested in learning more about our fine company and a career in exploring the stars?" He gently pushed a pair of wire-rimmed glasses up on his nose and peered at her with growing interest.  

                "For real?" Tammy asked, her eyes wide. "Is this a joke?" She glanced around nervously, expecting to be laughed at or filmed as the prank continued.

                "A joke? Most certainly not." The man snorted indignantly, sitting tall on a stool with pride. He was a strange sight, dark rimmed glassed, hair slicked back carefully. His suit was brown and slightly too big. A blue bow tie completed the picture of sincerity. The table held a single brochure along with an application form.  "I represent Star, Inc., the finest space exploring company in the galaxy and our standards are extremely high. We don't take just anyone and we don't approach just anyone. We have certain, ahem, measures in place to ensure that, young lady."

                "Oh?" Tammy was confused both by the sincerity and the fact that this was rather elaborate if it was a prank. For the most part, she was ignored by the bullies, preferring to be invisible rather than a target. But if this was real, than she was certain that they didn't mean to be talking to her. "I think you may have the wrong, uh, candidate. I don't think I fit the high standards you are talking about. I'm pretty average, including my grades, so I'm guessing I don't qualify."

                "I assure you that we screen our possible employees quite carefully and you would not even see me if you weren't qualified, let alone hear me. Let's see what we have. One, a feeling of not fitting in. Two, desperate to escape, I mean wanting to travel. Three, curiosity. Four, a dreamer. And finally Five. You are willing to see the truth."

                "Yeah, I think you just describe almost every teenager in the country." She laughed. "Ok, I'll bite. Tell me more about Stars, Inc."

                "It is dangerous and exciting work, but most new recruits don't last the first day. It is not for the faint of heart. You will start small and work your way up the company. Everyone does. There are no exceptions or short cuts and it takes a certain type of person to work for us. It won't be easy." He warned.

                "Well, that isn't exactly encouraging though it is honest, I'll give you that. But to do what exactly?" Tammy asked intrigued despite her initial wariness.

                "Why, to map out the infinity of space, to explore the unexplored, to document the undocumented!" He exclaimed, his face glowing with enthusiasm.  "So, are you interested?"

                Tammy hesitated before answering, feeling draw in by his energy but uncertain that this was even a real job. Finally, she answered. "Yeah, sure." She had nothing better or more interesting to do, not as far as job prospects. The thought of drifting aimlessly for the next few years, scared her. She spent the next few minutes carefully filling out the simple application form and handed it back to the man, who gave her the brochure in exchange.

                "Now read that thoroughly when you get home and we'll be in touch, I'm sure." He added confidentially, "To be honest, the recruitment numbers among humans has been dismally low the last decade, so I am confident of your chances to be selected for day one are high. After that, well, it will be entirely up to you."

                "Uh, thanks." Tammy replied as she walked away. She glanced back. The man had already taken his banner down, rolling it up with slow precision. Even if this was pretend, she thought, it was nice to have something to hope for until reality hit. Hope, she decided, felt funny.

                She ran into Mr. Gibson as she was leaving the gym. His look was expectant. "Did you apply for anything per our agreement?"

                Tammy smiled slightly. "Yes." And she didn't even have to lie.