She waited. And waited.
All day Sunday.
All day Monday.

Sky came over on Tuesday and spent the night.

Wednesday was more waiting.

And more waiting on Thursday.

Finally, when she thought she couldn’t stand it an hour more, it arrived on Friday. It came in an email, just as she’d thought.

‘Mum!’ she shrieked at the top of her lungs, ‘It’s come, its come!’

‘Dear, I’m kind-of-busy…’

Mrs Miller’s exasperated voice reached Sam’s ears from up the stairs.

‘Hey Sam, just open it without her.’

Liam leaned on the back of the computer chair.

‘The worst that can happen is that you won’t get the job; and there’s a ninety-nine percent chance that you will get it; I’m sure.’

Suddenly Sam couldn’t wait any longer. She opened the email and read it hungrily. At first she didn’t say anything. She couldn’t say anything. She turned around, her mouth hanging open; staring at Liam with disbelief.

‘I. Got. It.’ Sam just couldn’t believe her own eyes. She had got the job. She had got the job!

‘I got the job!’ she shouted.

Liam grinned at her.

‘Told you so,’ he said, walking away down the stairs.

‘Yeah,’ Sam whispered to herself. ‘I got the job.’

*** *** *** *** ***

‘No way!’

After telling everyone who would listen to her shouting, Sam called Sky on their home phone.

‘Hey Sky; guess what: I got the job!’

‘No kidding!’

‘I know; I can’t wait till I start!’

‘Yeah, well hey guess what!’

‘What?’ Sam leaned expectantly.

‘I got the job too!’

*** *** *** ***

Sam slouched on the couch. The first day at work was so tiring.

‘Hello!’

Liam plonked on the couch beside her.

‘So,’ he gestured his hands as if wanting an explanation, ‘How’d it go?’

Sam wriggled up to a sitting position.

‘Ah, well, it was—good.’

‘Ohw, come on Samie. What did you do first?’

‘Sandi showed me and Sky—we’re on the same shift—how to use a till thingy. And then she taught us how to make the milkshakes, smoothies, coffees, and juices. And we got to taste them all,’ she added with a smile.

‘So,’ Liam paused as if thinking in what to ask. ‘So tell me about the people you work with.’

‘Well…’ She propped her head up with her arm. ‘There was a black American girl who is my age. Her name is Violet; and she’s so nice. Next was a Jamaican; a guy about in his mid-forties, and his name is Malyck.’

Sam giggled. ‘His hair was all braided into little plaits, and the way he talks is so cool.’

She put on a Jamaican accent: ‘Ya man, just put the fruit in the blender and ya good to go!’

Liam laughed. ‘Who else?’

Sam fiddled with her earring, twisting it between her thumb and forefinger.

‘There’s a guy called Dylan; he’s okay. Sky thinks he so cool. He and Sky really hit it off.’

She scrunched her nose.

‘And then there’s a real sour-puss.’

Liam put on a mock frown of disapproval. He elbowed her in the ribs.
‘Sis, if there’s only one way to get fired, then it’s talking about people behind their backs.’

‘Yeah right. No, seriously, she’s a real sour-puss. Her name’s Sorrel, anyway.’

Liam nodded his head. ‘Fitting name that.’

Sam nodded head as well. ‘Yeah. Did you know what she said?’

Liam lifted his shoulders in a shrug. ‘No idea.’

‘She said to Sandi that people with blonde hair are usually the shifty type!’

Liam burst into laughter. Sam looked at him, annoyed.

‘Well, I don’t see anything funny about it,’ she said, fingering her blonde hair.

‘And when she said it SHE WAS LOOKING AT ME!’

Of course, this made the already-laughing Liam crack up even more.

‘I’m sorry sis, I just couldn’t help it,’ he apologised, wiping tears from his eyes.

Sam rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

‘Well anyway, I’ve got the neatest uniform in the world,’ she said, patting her brightly coloured shirt. ‘And look: cool headband,’ she added pointing to the headband with Mandie’s Milkshakes printed on the front.

‘Nice.’

‘Thanks for the encouragement.’

‘Your welcome, Miss Sarcastic.’

Sam couldn’t help herself.

‘Oh Liam, your impossible to have a conversation with!’

‘I know.’

‘See what I mean?’ She shook her head. ‘But you’re the best brother ever.’

‘I know.’

‘Oh shut up!’

Grabbing the couch pillow she whacked him with it til he cried for mercy.

‘Arhh! You’re breaking my head!’

‘Oh well, I think it’ll do you good. And while I’m at it I’ll whack some thinking into your brain!’

Though while Sam was making these predictions, Liam had taken the advantage and grabbed a pillow for himself.

*

Little Tina Miller had just taken her bath and changed into her favourite Tinker-bell pyjamas. She settled herself down on the living-room floor to watch the undergoing pillow-fight.

‘Go Liam! Now is’ your turn Samie! ‘Ood, hit ‘im hard!’

After a full five minutes of cheer leading from Tina, insults from both contestants, Sam finally called for a peace treaty.

‘Truce, truce! I’ve had enough!’

Liam, like the good brother he was, made peace and flopped down on the couch. Sam did the same. Tina came and took her spot on Sam’s lap.

‘There was one more person; his name was Joshua.’

‘Oh yeah? What’s he like?’

‘Well…nice.’

Liam smiled knowingly. ‘I see.’

Sam was lost in her own daze, stroking Tina’s hair absently. Liam shook his head.

‘Nearly time for dinner, eh Tina?’ And with that he patted Sam on the shoulder and left with the hungry Tina following in his wake, looking for the promised dinner.