Page 19 of The Secret to Belonging

as if you occupy that life

you glance in the mirror on the back of the office door

you see yourself reflected there

you finish filling out your application

proofread it

you find a typo

correct it with Mr. Hewitt’s Liquid Paper

you type an X next to “French-speaking country”

trade places with Alison

when both your applications are complete

she locks the back door of the store

you share a clove cigarette in the parking lot

Alison wants Spain or Italy or Greece

bring on the Mediterranean men, she says

you’re both giddy

you can’t stop giggling

she drops the butt

grinds it into the asphalt with her shoe

you squeeze into Alison’s VW Bug

and head for Hollywood

she cruises toward Santa Monica Boulevard

you roll down your window and sing along

with Irene Cara

you are definitely dancing for your life

but can you have it all?

you tell Alison you need leg warmers

she says you need to learn to weld

she spots some women standing on a street corner

parks the car halfway down the block

you double-check your doors are locked