Em Garner - Contaminated

“Velvet, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to let you go.”

For a second I don’t get it. “Pick her up?”

Ms. Campbell shakes her head. “Permanently.”

“But…” I shake my own head, not sure what to say.

“I’m sorry,” she repeats. “I need someone who can show up to work when she’s required. Without other—distractions.”

She means Opal, or my mom, or both. She means she wants the job to go to someone who’s not a Conorphan, maybe. Whatever she means, I suddenly don’t care.

I stand. “Okay. Thanks.”

As I’m turning to leave, her voice stops me. She sounds surprised. I don’t know why she would be. “Velvet, wait.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Campbell, but I really have to go pick up my mom now. You fired me, right?” It doesn’t feel bad, saying it out loud. Fired. I should feel scared, but I really feel more relief.

“Yes, but… I thought…”

I wait, but she doesn’t seem to be able to say what she thinks. “That I’d be more upset?”

“Well. Yes.”

“Did you want to make me upset?” I’m not trying to be a brat, just asking.

Ms. Campbell looks startled. “No. Of course not. It’s that… you understand, don’t you? I need someone reliable. Someone mature, responsible. Someone who can handle the requirements of a full-time position here. You were fine in your part-time capacity, but I’m not sure you’re ready for more responsibility.”

Once more the giggles hit me. I think about the past year and everything I’ve done, juggling school, a job, my sister, paying bills, buying groceries, cooking meals.

“Yeah, you’re right. This job is too much for me,” I tell her.

She looks surprised again. “So, what will you do?”

“Do you really care?” Again, I’m not trying to be a pain, I’m only asking.

“Of course I do.” She almost convinces me.

I laugh. “There’s a lot going on in the world right now and it’s a lot easier not to care than it used to be. Don’t worry about it. We’ll be fine.”

A flurry of expressions pass over her face, some internal struggle I really couldn’t care less about. I just want to get Opal, get back on the bike, get to the kennel. I’ll worry about the rest of it from there. That’s all I can do, really.

I find Opal in the arts and crafts room, making stars out of strips of paper with Mrs. Goldberg. They’re both bent over the table, carefully folding and tucking the paper. Beside them is a pile of stars already finished.

“Opal, we have to go. They found Mom.”

She looks up, bright eyed. “Hooray! I told you!”

Mrs. Goldberg looks up, too, her eyes not as bright. “Oh, honey, that’s good news. Your sister here was telling me all about it.”

I’ve always liked Mrs. Goldberg, who has to use a walker but can get around by herself pretty well. She never makes a mess on purpose and sometimes she’s even given me tips we’re not supposed to get. I used to feel bad, until she whispered to me that she doesn’t have any grandchildren to spoil.

“I’m sorry to tell you, Mrs. G., but I won’t be coming back. I got fired.”

“Oh, no!” Mrs. Goldberg shakes her head and thumps a soft fist on the table. “That’s not right!”

I shrug. It’s not a struggle to put on a brave face. I think I’m numb. “It’ll be okay.”

She nods. “You come back and see me, Velvet. They can’t stop you from visiting, can they?”

“Nope. C’mon, Opal. Let’s go.”

“You can keep these,” Opal says and gives Mrs. Goldberg a hug. “They’re pretty.”

I give Mrs. Goldberg a hug, too. She smells like peppermints. She pats my back and tugs my hand, with a smile, before I pull away.

“You take care,” she says.

If nothing else, it’s because of her I don’t want to leave this job. But I don’t have a choice. In the parking lot, Opal doesn’t get in the carrier right away.

“Velvet?”

“Yeah.” I look over my shoulder, my foot already on the pedal.

“I’m sorry you got fired. Is it because of me?”

“No. Not really. It’s just everything. Get in, c’mon.”

She still hangs back. “Is it because of Mama? Like at school?”

“Yeah. Maybe. It doesn’t matter, Opal, really. I don’t want you to worry about it. I can get another job. What’s important right now is getting Mom home.”

At last, she gets in the carrier, and we’re off to the kennel. Opal’s never been there. I think about telling her to wait outside, but it’s really cold. She doesn’t have to come into the part where the cages are. She can stay in the waiting room.

Jean’s not there behind the desk when I come in. It’s a boy with messy dark hair, instead. It must be Dillon, Jean’s son. The one whose number she gave me and I’ve never called. The room is suddenly too hot after being outside, and I want to unzip my coat, but I’m still wearing the scrubs, which are totally not cool.

As if he’d care. As if I should. The days of name-brand hoodies and designer jeans are long over for me. I keep my coat zipped. He looks up when we come in.

“Hey.” He smiles, looking curious.

“Is Jean here?” I motion for Opal to sit down on one of the broken plastic chairs. “She called me.”

“Hold on a sec. Mom!” The boy leans back in his chair to call into the back room. He looks at me. “She’ll be right out.”

“Hello!” Jean comes through the doorway with a bright, wide, and genuine smile. It’s been so long since I’ve seen one, I almost forgot what it looks like to see someone who is actually happy when I am standing in front of her. “Dillon, look. It’s Velvet.”

Wow, that wasn’t subtle or anything. Dillon stares at me, and I stare at him. I think we both look away at the same time. I’m blushing, I don’t want to be blushing, it’s too hot, and I still won’t unzip my coat.

“Your mom was picked up by one of the patrols,” Jean begins, and cuts me off when I start to reply. “She’s fine. She was cold and hungry when they brought her here, that’s all. Because she had the collar on, they were able to identify her right away, but your phone’s been disconnected?”

She ends it on a question mark.

“Um… yeah, well… we were kicked out of the apartment. So we moved back home. I don’t have a phone. Yet.”

“Oh, that’s terrible! They kicked you out? Weren’t you in assisted housing? Don’t they have—”

“It was because of your mom, right?” Dillon says quietly.

“Yeah.”

Jean makes a sad sound. “Oh, hon, I’m so, so sorry. That should never happen. I mean, we’re doing our best to get new legislation, protection against discrimination, but…”

“It’s okay,” I say. It’s not her fault. “We moved back to our old house. It’ll be fine. Really.”

“Well. Good, then. But, Velvet, you know you have to make sure she’s restrained when you leave her. I don’t have to tell you what might’ve happened.” She throws a look at Opal, who’s busy coloring some picture she found in a kids magazine.

“I know.”

Jean nods. “The collar saved her.”

Funny how that works. The collar that could kill her was what kept her from being hurt this time. And it allowed the patrols to get her someplace safe and for Jean to contact me.

“Can we take her home now? I don’t have to fill out any other papers or anything, do I? I mean… do I have to pay a fine?”

“It’s been taken care of,” Jean says. “Dillon, please go bring Malinda out for Velvet and her sister.”

“Wait, will she be okay?” I don’t want her to be upset.

“Oh, hon, Dillon knows your mom. She’ll be just fine. He’ll bring her right out.”

I nod. When I look at him again, he’s smiling again. He’s got a really nice smile.