The hotel is on the way home. Dependable JuneBug sits in her usual position at the front desk: laptop up, bubblegum popping as she types away furiously on her keys, bobbing her head with her Airpods. I approach the counter and extract her Airpod. “Hey, JuneBug, what you doing?”
“Oh you know, tweeting, insta-gramming, putting my shit out on the internet, and sending my thoughts into the world-wide web. Nothing much.”
“Hmm. Well, you ready for school tomorrow?” She rolls her eyes.
“Yeah. I guess. You’re about to learn how lame-o Ohio really is, Katie-O. Going to become a Lady Lark then?”
I get lost in all of her O’s. “Um, excuse me? Lady Lark?”
“Yeah. The Lark is our school mascot. I’m surprised little miss preparedness didn’t know that already.”
I lean on her desk and get in her face. “Are you making fun of me, JuneBug? What’s wrong with being prepared? I mean, you can’t float through life forever. You don’t get things done without having goals.”
She sighs and leans away. “Chillax, Katy-did. I know, I know. Don’t worry, it ain’t my dream to be like a hotel desk clerk all my life. I’m going to go to college and become something. I don’t know what yet, but I’ll figure it out.”
I exhale. “That’s a relief. You had me going there. I thought I was going to have to go all-motivational speaker on your butt—give you the livin’ in a van down by the river spiel.”
She raises her eyebrow. “Say what?”
“Chris Farley? Motivational speaker? Google it.”
She rolls her eyes. “How old is your T.V., Katie?”
My hands rap a rhythm on her counter. “Good comedy is timeless, JuneBug, and no one knocks the Farley.”
JuneBug’s hands fly up in the air. “Fair enough. You were saying?”
“Oh, yeah. So what are you wearing tomorrow?” I feel like a girl on her first day of junior high, but I can’t help it. I’m nervous.
She laughs. “What? Slow your roll. This isn’t grade school, which I rocked by the way. Probably what I always wear. Same old stuff.”
I chew on my bottom lip. “I’m nervous, alright. Cut me some slack. I like, want to make a good first impression, you know. I told you before I was like a jock pretty much. I want to be different. I want to have some style. You got time to go shopping with me?”
JuneBug’s face lights up. She nods. “Makeover and shopping on your dime? Why didn’t you say so! I’ve always got time. I’m Totally In! See you after work.”