5. The last of the ordinary days

 There wasn't much in the bank balance. Orange bought oatmeal, hamburger, a head of lettuce, tomatoes, and sanitary pads she should be needing now.

Afterwards, she stopped at Lotta Hotta Latte for some brew. Beneath a bright, carved wooden sign, through the glass, it was just a basic, clean shop with flyers plastered on the windows for bands, meetings and other events. Behind the counter were the owners, and now they were Orange's friends. She handed them her frequent customer card. 

"Cool new sign you've got there. Looks legit!"

Arriving at work, she stopped in the school office to pick up her paycheck, and then she went upstairs to the classroom where she taught. Sunlight streamed in. It heated the classroom--too much in the summer, but nicely in winter. Right now, with September just beginning, Orange opened her pay envelope. It was 600 dollars. She tucked it back into the envelope and was glad to get that, doing a job she liked, but the bills ate it up fast.


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