This Is My Brain in Love - I. W. Gregorio Page 0,10

ears. This is the question that I’ve dreaded the most, that I pondered all last night as I second-guessed my decision to accept the interview. I’m still not sure if I’ll get it right.

“I’ve eaten your food before and think that it’s great. I like that you can use my web skills, and it’ll be cool to get behind-the-scenes in the restaurant game. Plus, I work for the St. Agnes school paper and my adviser wanted me to learn how to manage a team and grow a business.”

She nods, expression neutral. I want to see that little sliver of a smile again, so I add, my voice shaking only a little, “Also I thought your sign was cute.”

If you were to measure it, her lips probably tick up only a millimeter. But it brings me miles closer to calm.

JOCELYN

I knew the emojis would be a hit. I knew it! My dad frowned and said it looked “not professional,” but I was right. I let myself preen for just a second and then settle down to business. Who is this guy and do I want to pay him with the money I shredded my soul to earn?

“You said you work for the school newspaper at St. Agnes?” That’s the local Catholic school. No wonder I didn’t recognize him.

“I just finished my sophomore year.”

“Me too. I’m at Perry High.” Weird, to be interviewing someone who is the same age as me. My eyes flick toward the legal pad with questions from Monster.com.

“Tell me about your greatest strength? And your biggest weakness?”

Will nods and looks straight at me, and wow, effective use of eye contact. While his skin is a smooth medium brown, his eyes are dark, almost black, kind of like mine. “My greatest strength is probably that I am very detail oriented and careful. I think before I act and try to consider all the consequences of my actions before I do anything. That’s how my parents raised me.”

He says the last part almost as an afterthought and breaks our gaze to take a sip of water.

WILL

My parents raised me to be thoughtful, of course, because when you’re black in America you need to consider the consequences of your actions in a way that other people don’t.

Sometimes, though, thinking too much can paralyze you. So when Jocelyn asks me what my biggest weakness is, I tell the truth. “I guess the flip side of thoughtfulness is that I can think too much. Once in a while, it takes me too long to get things done. My sister, Grace, calls me a camel.” I grin, thinking of last Christmas when she gleefully packed my stocking with dromedary-themed stuff. “I can agonize for hours over things that seem trivial to others. But the thing is, I feel like when I make decisions, I can stand by them.”

JOCELYN

Will’s honesty catches me off guard. “Good answer,” I blurt out a millisecond before the silence gets uncomfortable. I blush. God, how condescending.

He takes it in stride, and I wonder if it’s because he’s been told too many times how “articulate” he is. “Thank you.”

I look at question number three. “So, what do you want to know about us?”

“What are the general duties you mentioned in your e-mail?” Will asks.

I shrug. “Whatever needs to be done. The main thing I need help with is social media and outreach. We need to get more customers. But the more customers we have, the more we might need someone to help with processing credit cards and delivering. Do you have a car?”

Will nods.

Thank God. If Will can drive, we can expand our delivery radius—right now we only deliver to where my brother and I can bike. We really aren’t going to find a more perfect candidate. The restaurant might actually have a fighting chance.

“Anyway, that’s the deal. I think you’d be great for the job. We can’t really pay you more than minimum wage plus gas mileage, but you’ll also get some money from tips. You could probably get thirty to forty dollars if it’s a good night. And of course, we’ll provide a meal each shift.”

This is the part that I dread: I watch him do the mental math, and I step back for a second and consider this from his point of view. He has a good résumé, excellent references. What the heck do I think A-Plus Chinese Garden can offer him?

Nothing.

I close my laptop and finish off my water in one gulp. “I can give you a