Story Four: The Job Fair

Saturday morning.  Barbieville High School.  

Rose-Grace: Welcome to this year's annual Summer Job Fair.  As most of you know, Kida Nedakh died of surgical complications.  Her daughter Pocahontas has taken over operations of the amusement park and they do have a table inside. Kida was by far the employer my office was asked about the most. 

Someone in crowd:  She was the biggest employer for teenagers in this town! 

Rose-Grace: My stepsons worked for her the last few years.  They loved her, and the job.  We're all saddened by the loss.  Pocahontas is stepping into some very big shoes.  Enough oration - let's get inside before the heat of the day.

Frodo: You guys are working again this year?  When are going to get serious about your band?

Tanner: We are serious about the band, but we're still too young for the really good gigs.  The gigs we can get before we're 21 are few and far between.  We sure don't wanna spend the summer shoveling manure and dealing with our pregnant step-mom's hormones.

Mariko:  She's pregnant?!  Don't they have enough kids?!

Finnick: (laughs) It wasn't planned.  But me and Tanner will be out of the house by the time he outgrows a crib, so it's all good.

Four:  They already know it's a boy?

Finnick: No, but we're all hoping it is.  There's already three in the girls' room and Taylor won't be moved out by then.  Mom thinks they're gonna let her throw a Gender Reveal party but they hate the idea.  

Frodo: My folks didn't like the idea of them finding out after whoever hosted the party, so they threw one where they told everyone else.  Maybe yours could do something like that?  If that's the problem? 

Mariko: Yeah, I love those parties! Suggest that to your folks and don't forget to invite me if they do it!  (Changes the subject) We better get inside before all the good jobs are taken! 

Four: Do I look like I'm job hunting? We just came down to shoot some hoops.

  

Pocahontas: You're two people?

Nakoma: One of the resumes is for his brother.  (to Tanner) How are you, Tanner?  

Pocahontas: You can't apply for your brother.  He should come see me himself.

Tanner:  I'll send him over.  Sorry, Kida just always let us do it this way.

Nakoma: (to Pocahontas)  They're the twins Mom talked about.  (to Tanner) My sister's not as casual about this stuff as Mom was.  It's been an interesting transition. 

Pocahontas: (chuckles) Interesting is an understatement.

Peeta: Why are you talking up these guys?  Everyone knows you'll be operating the Windup just like every other summer. 

Finnick: Maybe not, with Kida gone.  Besides, it never hurts to apply at other places. 

Peeta: Might not want to say that right in front of a prospective employer.  They frown on being second choice.  

Sulu:  (scoffs) The whole town knows why Finnick wants to work there.  

Finnick blushes and hurries away.  Both Peeta and Sulu have a good laugh before discussing Peeta's possible employment at Sulu's greenhouse. 

After they've spoken to the employers - and been all but guaranteed work at the park - the twins join their buddies outside.  When the Job Fair winds down, Rose-Grace finds Finnick.  

Rose-Grace:  Pocahontas has to hurry back to the park and I volunteered you to drive Nakoma home. (Four nearly falls off the bleachers laughing.)  Why is that funny?  

Four: You live with this guy and don't know he's sweet on Nakoma?    

Rose-Grace: Of course I know that.  Why do you think I volunteered him and not Tanner? 

The Job Fair winds down by afternoon and all the teenagers that are still hanging around at the school have dragged the bleachers into the shade.  

Whitney: I can't believe we both got jobs at the diner, Mariko.  It'll be fun working together. 

Mariko: I had to do something or I'd get roped into campaigning for Spiner.  At least this way a paycheck is involved.

Tanner: Spiner?  Why would you want to elect him?  

Frodo: Just cause he's running against your stepmother, he's a sexist bigot?  You've been listening to the wrong people, man.  Spiner is running against her because he thinks she's gonna take property from all the farmers and give to the amusement park.

Tanner: Why the hell would she do that?

Mariko: Because she was friends with Kida?  Because expanding the park would bring truckloads more money to town every summer?  It's a real concern, Tanner.  My folks have always worried about that.  

Whitney: I don't think Rose-Grace would abuse her power like that. 

Four: Pocahontas does want to expand.  Offered my folks a nice price on our land. They're thinking about accepting it, too.  I have no idea what she could do with a measly half-acre, but I'm sure she does.  

Tanner: Well, Whitney's right.  She'd never let anyone strong-arm property owners.  I better get home and tell her about this.

Whitney: Dude, she probably knows. She is the mayor.