Tango's Parents Chapter 2
#2 of Tango’s Parents
"Really? You wanna work here? What happened to a high paying job?" Blu asks as they pull into the parking lot of a fast-food burger joint.
"They said that you get raises frequently. We can work our way up." He says confidently.
"Honey, fast food sucks. Are you sure you wanna do this?"
"Yes. We're gonna get raises and make decent money."
"Then let's try it." She smiles at him. Fully supportive of his decision.
They go in and get their applications. They fill them out in the car and bring them back in shortly after. They turn them in and meet one of the managers.
"How soon can the both of you start?" The manager eyes the couple.
"As soon as possible. Can you hire us both?" Nate asks.
"Hire you both? I wish there were MORE of you. Yes, I'm hiring you both. Can you start tomorrow?"
"Yes!" Blu says excitedly.
"Um...can we both have the same shifts?"
"Sure sure. Be here tomorrow at 5 pm. We'll order some shirts for you. Oh, and make sure you have some non-slip shoes."
"Got it," Nate affirms.
They exchange a few more details and Nate and Blu go home for the day. The next few months go by without a hitch. Blu keeps Nate in check at work and they both get a raise pretty quick. Things are going well.
"Hey...Blu..." He asks over dinner one night.
"What is it, honey?"
"Everything is going well. Our situation seems to be improving. So...I was wondering..." He seems a bit nervous.
"Yes? What is it?" He has her full attention.
"D-....do you...w-wanna...." He's REALLY nervous now.
"..." She waits patiently for him to spit it out.
"Do you wanna have a kid?" He freezes after he asks the question.
"..." She's silent for a few moments. "Nate...I...really really do...but...do you REALLY think we can support a child off a fast-food salary?" She's skeptical.
"W-well we're both working...I think we can do it..." He has a pleading tone.
"Honey, I don't think you understand. If I get pregnant, I'm not gonna be able to work anymore. Even after, someone has to stay home. And you'd be alone at work." It makes her sad to think about it. Will she ever be able to raise a child? Will she ever get the chance? The questions that float around in her head make her want to try anyway.
"B-but...how do you know I haven't gotten better?"
"How do I know you have?" She fires back quickly.
"I..." He's distraught. "Then...when?"
Silence follows the question as neither of them know the answer to it.
"We need to wait, honey." Silence...it's a while before he responds.
"Well...we're gonna be waiting forever...and then it'll be too late..."
"That's..." She wants to disagree. But at the same time, she can't see a better time. There are no better jobs around. And going to school for a good career costs money. Money the couple doesn't have.
"N-no...w-we can't...not now...not yet." Saying this pains her deeply. Her desire for a child is just as strong as Nate's.
The rest of their dinner is spent in silence. They sleep and continue with their routine. It soon starts to get stale. The joy of working together has slowly started to wear off. Their job gets more and more irritating to the both of them as the days go by. Eventually, they both develop a hatred for it. However, as much as they hate it, they still trudge through the days, Unaware of the stress they pile onto themselves.