He told the dude that he didn’t wear girls shirts to work. He wasn’t wasting his best stuff to work in this dust bowl environment. His good shirts he wore when he went out with his girlfriend. Why impress these guys at work who didn’t exactly come off as fashionistas themselves.

Day after day, box after box he drove the fork lift up and down between the stacks of merchandise. He did as he was told. He picked up what was ordered. He had to eat.

He stopped for breakfast every morning. He liked waffles and breakfast sausage. For lunch he ate a single sandwich. Dinner was big. Sometimes he went with the guys to a burger joint.

The days drudgery got him down sometimes. Driving up one row of furniture and down the other. Picking up luxury appliances and big screen TVs for the customers who paid his wages. Who will sleep on a new Vera Wang mattress tonight?

He was smart, but there were no opportunities in this small town. There were no better jobs. He needed to make a drastic change if he wanted to secure his future and grow financially.

Already halfway through his twenties, he was primed to succeed. His girl had an eternity ring, now she should be getting a diamond engagement ring. He didn’t need to impress her exactly. He did, however, need to grab hold of a future for himself and take her along with him.

They met at the restaurant for dinner. She strolled up to him wearing a long skirt and brown boots with a white blouse. She carried a matching hobo bag. He had changed into a clean shirt. They had a sweet familiarity that they had nurtured over the years.

Sliding into a cool booth they ordered drinks and food. Steak and salad were one of their favorite meals. It was not too unhealthy if you count the salad as the healthy half.

They enjoyed talking about their day. She spent hers in class. He spent his at work. They came together to share common interests in music and recreational pursuits. She focused on him and often longed for him to join her in the world of academics that she so loved.

He enjoyed their time together and they shared everything. He had funny anecdotes, she had academic stories. They had fun, but, she wished he could join her in the academic world she was involved in.

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