Chapter II : Smart Choices?

Anthony:

“Baby, you hear this? Another one of those cars lost its brain. You sure this job with Ionic Motors is smart, Felicia?” Anthony rubbed his head as he stood in the living room watching the morning news.

“Anthony, it’s an interview! Take it. The money from the diner isn’t enough. You are one of the best mechanics in LA. Everything is going to be fine. You are so ready to get back out there babe! What’s it been now? Almost a year since you got a check!”

“Damn, Felicia, why you gotta go there?”

Felicia rubbed Anthony’s shoulder.

“I’m just saying, Anthony, please. It’s time you get back to work. You can’t believe everything you see on TV. Hell, that lady was probably drunk or anything. You know people in North Carolina don’t usually have good sense.”

She walked back into the bathroom to continue getting dressed.

“Plus, babe, come on! You know working for a company like Ionic could change our lives! I’m tired of working at the diner.” she yelled from the bathroom.

“Felicia, how do you know if I’m ready? I’ve been looking everywhere! No one has hired mechanics since the EV switch.”

The room grew silent for a while. Felicia sighed deeply and walked toward her boyfriend. She hugged him from behind and gently rested her head against his back.

“Baby, I know. A lot has changed in California, but we have to keep moving. It’s not like that accident was your fault.” Felicia’s voice trailed off.

“Damn right it wasn’t my fault! A fifty-foot ladder collapses on me! Me, of all people in this world, Fe! Anthony gets his goddamn legs broken.”

Anthony knew his girlfriend was right. It had been practically a year since he got paid and he had been cleared for work months ago. Maybe he was afraid.

Today, his skills were being overshadowed by the latest technology, leaving him no choice but to work in warehouses. After the accident, he thought he was going to be paralyzed or, worse, have his legs amputated. But his physical therapist, Dr. Lee, wouldn’t allow it.

“You’re doing great, Ant. That’s it. One foot in front of the other.”

Every day, even on Sundays after church, Dr. Lee was dedicated to Anthony’s recovery. Within a year. Anthony was walking again. Quite the miracle story, really, but now his lawsuit money was running thin, and he needed to get back to work.

“Something about that place is bad news. I can feel it,” Anthony said.

Felicia walked out of the bathroom in her black robe and bright purple bonnet. The bedroom smelled like cocoa butter and cannabis.

“Ant, look, we really need the money. Just go and see what the damn job is. Besides, Rashida really is doing us a solid by getting you this opportunity. She pulled a lot of strings for you.”

Anthony rolled his eyes.

“Rashida this, Rashida that. Damn, that woman thinks she owns you or something,” he complained.

“Babe, don’t be like that.”

“Nah, I think she’s got a thing for you. She’s rather husky, ain’t she?”

“Anthony, stop it.” She lightly slapped his arm. “Come on, you know she got me my first audition! She even got me my first commercial. I owe her.”

Anthony mocked Felicia as he mouthed her words. She always went with the “she got me my first audition” line.

It was all so familiar: “Rashida invited me to this party,” or “Rashida got us tickets for this screening,” or “Rashida got us a VIP table at the club.”

“Yeah, okay, baby, but if she thinks she owns me, that witch has got another thing coming.”

Anthony tightened his belt and stood tall.

“Look at my baby. Ain’t he handsome?” Felicia teased, as she admired her man. They held each other’s gaze for what felt like an eternity.

Although reckless and a little loud, Anthony loved Felicia’s funky feet, beautiful smile, and delicious cooking. He knew he would marry her one day, and he was going to prove that to the world.

“Yo, Fe, the minute I see some bullshit, I’m out.”

Anthony laced his dress shoes and walked out the front door.

Should Anthony work at Ionic Motors?

• 0%YES 😈
• 0%NO 😈