Pipe Dream

BY JACQUELINE LAWSON

JIMMIE STOOD SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE CLASS AND MINUTELY INSPECTED HER SPLENDID IMAGE. SHE SAW SHINY BLACK SHOES, KNIFE-CREASED PANTS, A NARROW LEATHER AND SILVER BELT, AND A NEAT WHITE SHIRT WITH A COLORFUL INSERT DOWN THE FRONT THAT, AT A QUICK GLANCE, ALMOST RESEMBLED A TIE. SHE KNEW SHE LOOKED HER BEST, BUT SHE CERTAINLY DIDN'T FEEL IT. SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE ONION ALWAYS LEFT HER PRETTY MUCH OF A RAG. ENDLESSLY SHE WAITED ON GIRLS WHO CAME EARLY AND STAYED LATE. SMOKE FROM A MILLION CIGARETTES STUNG HER EYES AND ABRADED HER THROAT. SHE WAS KEPT RUNNING, ALWAYS RUNNING TO DO THE BIDDING OF GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS. WHAT A WAY TO BUTTER HER DAILY BREAD. SHE MADE A FACE AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR AND TURNED AWAY TO GET HER COAT. WHAT SHE WOULDN'T GIVE FOR A DREAM JOB IN A QUIET AND PEACEFUL PLACE, AS FAR REMOVED FROM A NIGHTCLUB AS POSSIBLE. SHE WAS SICK OF THE ENDLESS SEARCHING; THERE MUST BE A PLACE FOR HER SOMEWHERE. WHY COULDN'T SHE CAST LOOSE FROM THE EVERLASTING ONION?

ONE GOOD THING ABOUT THE ONION THOUGH, WAS BEING ABLE TO DRESS COMFORTABLY. SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR STOCKINGS OR HEELS OR PAINT HER FACE WITH GOO. HOW SHE HATED DOING THAT! LONG AGO SHE HAD DETERMINED NEVER TO GO WHERE FEMININE FRIPPERIES WERE PART OF A JOB REQUIREMENT. STICKING TO THE RULE HAD KEPT HER IN THE LOWER INCOME BRACKETS, BUT SHE HAD BEEN TRUE TO HERSELF, WHICH MATTERED MOST. SHE HAD HAD SEVERAL SHORT-LIVED JOBS, FROM EACH OF WHICH SHE HAD SCOOTED BACK TO THE ONION FOR REFUGE. BUT IT WASN'T SO BAD, REALLY. SHE HAD BEEN THANKFUL FOR GAY CLUBS TOO OFTEN BEFORE TO DESPISE THEM ALTOGETHER. GETTING A TOEHOLD IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD WAS DIFFICULT ON YOUR OWN TERMS. THIS LESSON SHE HAD LEARNED WELL; SHE HAD BRUISED TOES TO PROVE IT. AND NOW SHE WAS TRYING ONCE MORE. SHE HAD SEEN A "MESSENGER WANTED" SIGN ON A FIFTH AVENUE FLORIST SHOP AND HER HEART HAD DARED TO GIVE A LITTLE LEAP OF ANTICIPATION. HERE WAS ANOTHER CHANCE! SHE HAD RESOLVED TO SACRIFICE NEEDED SLEEP AND PRESENT HERSELF FIRST THING ON MONDAY.

SATISFIED THAT SHE COULD MAKE NO FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN HER APPEARANCE, SHE BUTTONED HER WALLET INTO HER BACK POCKET AND WENT QUICKLY OUT THE DOOR OF HER SMALL APARTMENT. STRIDING ALONG THE STREET IN THE CRISP WINTER AIR, JIMMIE IMAGINED HERSELF AMONG FLOWERS AND

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