Rub-a-Dub-Double by Ivy Garcia

Author:Ivy Garcia [Garcia, Ivy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Miss Ivy Jo Publishing
Published: 2021-08-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHOICES

Strange how vulnerable Megan felt, being the first one in the dining room. She chose a table, feeling like a kid in middle school, fingers crossed, hoping someone would come in and happily join her. Or if not join her, at least smile at her before they chose another table. Did this feeling of self-doubt ever go away?

Don’t be silly, Megan. You’ve only been here a few days, not long enough to become a social outcast. As far as she knew, she hadn’t done anything to single herself out. In fact, everyone had gone out of their way to make her feel welcome. But fear had a habit of superseding the truth.

She imagined people coming in, noticing her alone at this table, and then purposefully choosing a table as far away as possible. Then more people coming in, noticing that she sat alone, assuming there was a good reason to avoid her. And through no fault of her own, her role of pariah would begin.

What difference does it make what the Oldies think of me? I never asked to come here and I’ll be leaving in a few days. Megan hated that she cared so much.

Don’t look hopefully at the entrance, Megan. It makes you look desperate. She could pick up the menu and pretend not to notice when people came in. Then when they ignored her she would avoid the sting of rejection. Or you could smile and flag down the first person that comes in. Make them feel welcome. Take a risk. Megan picked up the menu and studied it intently.

Megan was thoroughly enjoying her lunch. Her fear of eating alone had vanished when Sandy entered the dining room and headed straight to her table, followed by Joe and Austin a few minutes later. Somehow the subject of Abby had come up.

“You should have seen their faces when they washed off all that peanut butter and saw what she’d written underneath!” Austin sat back, folded his napkin in his lap, and sat back in triumph as his table-mates erupted into laughter. He had them wrapped around his little pinky. He was a natural storyteller and apparently had been around the place long enough to know some doozies.

“Well, I admit going along with Abby’s stunts sounds very entertaining,” said Megan. “But I think I’ll play it safe and stay put until my allotted time is up. I’m perfectly happy hearing Abby stories without being part of the creative process.”

“Probably the wisest choice,” said Sandy, apparently the only voice of reason at the table. “Meet up with Abby when your SWAP is finished. I’m sure she’d love that.”

“But that takes the fun out of it,” said Joe. “Getting past security is part of the adventure.”

“Easy enough for you to say,” argued Sandy. “You don’t have a chip in your wrist with directions to stay in the center. You can leave whenever you want with no consequences.”

“She’s right,” Megan said. “I can’t risk breaking the rules. If I do, something bad’s gonna happen.

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