The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse

Author:Amanda Prowse [Prowse, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781611099553
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2017-07-17T16:00:00+00:00

The next few days were some of the hardest days of Nina’s life, and the nights some of the darkest. The weather was brutal. Ice formed on the inside of the windows, which she scraped at with her thumbnail, gently rubbing the crystals away. She kept the fire burning when the boys were in the room, but other than that, she wore an extra jersey and thick socks to save money. The feeling of being depressed by her environment had been so constant in her childhood, yet she had almost forgotten it. She hated how often she suggested they all take to their beds during the day, knowing they would at least be snug under their duvets and extra blankets. It was as if the weather dealt them this one final blow to crush any bud of happiness that might form on their miserable family tree.

Every day she trawled the job sites, looking for new openings, applying for anything and everything, sipping hot water that warmed her bones and laughing to herself at how particular she had been when first searching. Now, some days later, she sent off applications to anyone who was hiring, from janitor to rat catcher, to legal assistant, her theory being that if she fired enough bullets with this scattergun approach, surely one had to hit a target. Only they didn’t, and with every rejection her spirits sank a little lower, taking all her efforts not to give in to the blind panic that threatened. What would she do when they ran out of money?

The few replies she did receive, standard letters and emails explaining that she wasn’t qualified or that the position had been filled, were more often than not for roles that she had forgotten she had applied for. She even eagerly called about the ‘Incredible Telesales Opportunity’ that she had been so dismissive of – commission only it may be, but it would be better than nothing. She spoke energetically to the young woman on the end of the line, trying to sell herself, hoping her sunny nature might make her a more attractive prospect. The woman quickly yet politely informed her that her lack of keyboard skills and sales experience precluded her from applying.

It was a new low point.

Every day that ended with a lack of success meant she felt the black cloak of despair throw itself over her little family, and it took all of her strength to cast it off and encourage them to look towards the light. She started handwriting letters of introduction, asking about any employment opportunities, and posting them through all the letter boxes of businesses up and down the streets, thinking this personal, local touch might make a difference. With the shake of nerves, she handed one over the counter to the pink-haired girl who she discovered worked in the convenience store opposite.

The girl was very pretty at close quarters; she took the envelope with a smile. ‘I shall give it to my boss.’ It was the most hopeful encounter she had had, and Nina felt guilty for how she might have judged the girl.

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