The World Is Still Sleeping, While I Keep on Dreaming

Life is supposed to throw you a curve ball every now and then right?

Right.

If it didn't, it wouldn't be life.

Not that I'm complaining about mine. I've got a great job at a record store, Empire Records in Chicago. I'm held in pretty high regard since the manager, Lucas, trusts me with running the store if he's not there. Yet still, I had to get a second and third job to pay for rent and college.

My second job is one I'm trying to get out of since I'm not too fond of it. I work at Coyote Ugly on the weekends which at first was ok but now, I'm just not liking the image or anything about it. Not to mention we got a new manager and she's a total bitch when it comes to image, even if you get a bruise, she's down your throat like you stole money from the counter.

Then my third job? I do make up for the news anchors at News Channel 5. It's not that bad but I prefer the night crew to the afternoon and morning, they're more understanding and cooler. I started as an intern there in 2008 but soon they hired me on, whenever they need me.

I went to school for cullinary arts so it works out. It was my minor while I majored in dance at the Art Institute. It was hard to follow a chef around town because the program demanded so much of my time that I could pull off the internship and still help out Lucas. And he needed the help since he only had Burko and Mark from Joe's Empire in New York. Since I've worked there for 5 years now, it made me one of the older more experienced people he depended on.

I still wanted to do more with my life. You know the typical, met a guy fall in love part but I still wanted my dreams to come true. Maybe owning a dance studio or becoming that head chef I've always wanted to be. Or maybe Lucas would turn over the shop to me eventually. But as you all know, life doesn't always take that smooth route.

Especially now since the town has been busier with the Blackhawks in the playoffs then now in the Stanley Cup Finals. It was intense. Sure, the economy was still bad and the record store sometimes didn't have the hours but bars and the news media were buzzing.

That curve ball, I was talking about? It happens to come in the form in Paula Farris suggesting to take me along with her to follow the Blackhawks on her reports from each game. Never in a million years did I expect for something like this to happen as I followed her.

Disclaimer: I don't any of the following events except the original characters. It's all fictional and a work of my mind.