mercurial scribe

“Mommy, i hurt my leg!”

Enter yesterday morning.

Though i don’t normally work on Fridays, a girl at work was desperate to go see her ailing grandmother in Wyoming over the holiday and had covered every shift (including the weekend shifts) except for one, a day shift on Friday. i was one of the few who could cover it. So, for Posterity’s sake, i caved.

About an hour into my shift - right as the lunch rush hits, of course - my leg is searing. The best way i can describe it is like a charlie horse extending from my mid-hamstring down to the bulge of my calf. i limped through the next hour and a half of my shift, finding relief in the fact that i would be able to call Justin to come pick me up.

Until i went to call him. You see, my cell phone was dead. And Justin never answers his phone if it’s from a number he doesn’t recognize, like, say, the restaurant’s phone number.

Well, FRICK.

After i was cut from the floor and checked out, i hobbled over to the bus stop across the street. Bus pass? Check. Book to read while i wait the half hour for my bus? Check. A place to sit so i don’t pass out from the pain? Check.

After a few minutes of sitting, the pain in my leg subsides (like it usually does while i sit or lie down). i even manage to lose myself in the interesting novel i’ve been obsessing over for the last two weeks. Suddenly, a large young woman toting an extraordinarily large rolling briefcase bordering on suitcase sits besides me and exclaims, “I’m so mad!”

Being accustomed to people yelling into their cell phones in restaurants, in the line at the market and even at a bus or train stop, i remain happily reading. That is until she repeats her exclamation and i make the mistake of looking at her, startled by the urgency in her voice.

“I can’t believe this! My temp agency has screwed me again! Can you believe it?” Immediately she rushes into a monologue about her temp agency and how they’ve screwed her out of $400 on her paycheck - again - and her landlord is only going to be so lenient on her rent check.

“That sucks,” i say and immediately shove my face back into my book hoping she’ll take the hint.

After a minute of silence she cries out, “And this is the eighth time they’ve done this to me!”

Now i’m annoyed. i’m near the very end of the book - the apex of a drama that has involved murder and intrigue and a lineage betrayed. i want to know why Jacob can’t forgive his mother for dying! But, in an attempt to be kind and polite, i look at her again and say, “I’m sorry. Maybe you should look for another agency.”

With an apologetic smile, i bury my head back in my book, having to again reread a large paragraph about Jacob’s mistress due to her interruptions.

“I’m signed up with four or five of them, but this is the only one that gets me steady work!”

Insert resigned sigh here.

Again, i reply, “That’s horrible.” Seeing the look on my face, she begins to profusely apologize for unloading on me, a perfect stranger, but she needs someone to talk to *now* and well, “you’re here”. Lucky me.

The pain from my leg and from my interrupted reading infusing my brain, i simply smile my silent forgiveness. And then pretend my phone has vibrated and have an imaginary conversation with my husband until the bus arrived.

Sometimes people just won’t take a hint.

After i exited at my bus stop, i had to gimp the third of a mile home. Once i hit the apartment complex i was absolutely willing myself not to scream aloud in pain. Each time i put weight on my left leg it felt like the muscle was tearing and tightening at the same time. Then up three flights of stairs, down the hall, into my apartment and onto my bed crying in pain i went. Since then i’ve been hobbling and icing, occasionally moaning like a laboring woman. Doctor Dad has diagnosed it as pulled. Icy Hot, icing until numb, support hose and a healthy dose of ibuprofen have all been prescribed. Not to mention, staying off of it (with obvious exception to work). i only slightly bemoan this, mostly because the apartment is littered with laundry, dishes, magazines and Easter candy.

i think you’ll be hearing a lot from me for the next week or two while the left leg is propped up and iced. Mostly because without walking or standing, there isn’t much else i can do other than read, write, or play music. Though some down time with the XBOX is sounding quite appealing.

*Drooling like Homer over donuts* Oh, Halo…