Highest Bidder Collection - Lauren Landish Page 0,216

and nail to keep the funding for our program. We realize how important it is that children who are disadvantaged get the help that they need so they can get a fair shot at life.

Unfortunately, the city council doesn’t think so and has voted to take away the funds that keep Children in Need Foundation running.

What this means is that all members working under this program are being terminated forthwith and you will no longer be employed by the Department of Education.

It saddened us deeply to have to send out this message to all our hard-working employees, knowing how much so many of you care about these children and how you all want to make a difference in their lives.

The world needs more people like you and the entire Children in Need family wishes you all luck in future employment. Don’t hesitate to use us as a reference for any future employers, you will all receive our highest and most glowing recommendation.

In the meantime, we will be doing everything in our power to get funded in the future.

Yours Truly,

James Cricket

President & CEO of Children in Need Foundation

My body is like ice as I sit there, staring at the screen, numb with shock. I can’t believe what I just read. My eyes stop at every word, not wanting to comprehend what’s written on the screen. I’m hoping that this is some sort of cruel joke. But when I check the sender address, I know that it’s real. A pulsing pain hits me out of nowhere in my temples. I wince and seethe in a breath, rubbing my suddenly throbbing temples. Great. Now I have a fucking headache.

I continue to massage my temples, hoping it would all just go away. I just can’t get over how sudden this is. I really wasn’t expecting it. My heart squeezes in my chest as it really hits me. I just lost my job. I lost my fucking job. And the kids… fuck. The pounding in my head intensifies as I focus on just breathing.

For a while now, I knew that I could depend on this job, that I would remain employed until I was done with school.

Boy, was I dead wrong. Now my entire living situation is in jeopardy if I don’t find another job in a reasonable time frame. I only just moved into this place. I lean back in my chair trying to calm my breathing and get rid of this headache. Tears threaten to form in my eyes, but I won’t let them. I won’t cry over something like this. I rock back and forth in my chair, taking in soothing breaths like I learned in that yoga class. I will fix this. I will find a way. There’s always a way.

I don’t know what to do, but I will figure out something.

My cell goes off just as I feel like I’m starting to calm down, the shrill beeping making my head throb even more. For a moment I debate on not answering it, but then I think it might be my job calling with some miraculous news, and I jump to answer it.

“Hello?” I answer breathlessly, hope soaring in my chest. It has to be one of the counseling administrators. Please God, let it be.

“Miss Wade?” A deep, authoritative voice that sounds somewhat familiar asks. I narrow my eyes trying to place the voice, but nothing is coming to mind.

I hold in a groan of despair. My left hand rubs the throbbing pain from my head as I keep the phone to my ear, closing my eyes and wishing that I would wake up from this nightmare. This isn’t my job calling to deliver a fairytale. This is more bad fucking news. I just know it.

“Yes?” I try to keep my voice steady, though I’m inches away from breaking down.

“This is Officer Johnathan Johnson with the Department of Corrections. You left a voice message on my voicemail the other day for Zach White.”

My mouth goes dry and I’m unable to even put forth the effort for an answer.

“I’m calling to inform you that Zachery White is in jail for committing a third offense.” If my laptop wasn’t right in front of me, I’d slam my head against the desk. Today is nothing but a cruel joke.

“What was the crime?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart sinks in my chest and my throat closes. The state has a three strike law. My hand runs down my face as