The shout of a stout, angry man pierced through the bustling office space.

　　"Hayashi!" he bellowed, stomping around his underlings.

　　The people murmured between themselves as they made way for their supervisor.

　　"Midori Hayashi!" he called again, his destination in sight.

　　Ignoring the happenings around me, I continued to pack the few personal effects into my bag.

　　Turning into the cubical, the supervisor cried out once more, "Midori Hayashi! Where is the report you were to have on my desk this morning?" Glancing around the desk, the man noticed the mess of papers where it had once been neatly organized. Upon further inspection, he found the familiar belongings of hers were missing.

　　"Hayashi, what is the meaning of this?" he grumbled, dissatisfied.

　　Thrusting a piece of paper in his pudgy, hairy fingers, I brought my bag to my shoulder.

　　Pushing past him, my voice carried around the room, "If you want it that badly then go buy it on a street corner."

　　The pounding of his sunken heart was all to be heard as I exited the building.

　　The growl of a coworkers engine muffled the click of my heels as they tapped the concrete of the parking garage. In my parking place waited a piercing, blue Harley Davidson. It's cool, leather seat chilled my flesh as I rested upon it. Pulling a worn leather brown wallet from my pocket, I opened it. Inside slumbered a credit card, a few dollars and change, a drivers license, and two pictures. Gingerly, I slipped out the slightly smaller of them. A grin crept across my face as I saw my boys gap toothed smile.

　　"Only for you." I murmured to myself, "Only for you."

　　Slipping the helmet over my head, I kickstarted the engine. The screech of my tires echoed through the parking garage as I barreled toward the exit.

　　"Are you really going through with this, Midori?" a concerned voice mumbled through the phone.

　　Resting the phone between my shoulder and cheek, I answered, "Of course I am."

　　Packing the dish ware away, I could hear the exasperation in her voice.

　　"If you really want to do this then fine. But it needs to be your choice, not the decision of a nine year old boy."

　　"He chose from the list I gave him. That's enough for me."

　　"Midori, I just want you to be happy. Trading jobs so often... How are you ever going to meet a guy and settle down?"

　　"I am happy. The only guy I need is sitting right beside you eating his dinner. If he's happy then I'm happy."

　　"You're whole world can't revolve around, Midori. You need your life too."

　　"Poppy, I have my own life. And I'm happy with it. Can't you be happy too? Char-Char would be happy."

　　"Why do you always have to pull that card on me?"

　　"I do it because it works and I can get away with it."

　　The opposing voice fell silent, at a loss for words.

　　"Besides, you know it's true, Poppy. He would be happy as long as we're happy. That's what he worked so hard for."

　　"I know. You're right." she agreed reluctantly.

　　"If it'll make you feel better, I'll try to stick to this one."

　　"Promise?"

　　"I promise."

　　"Thanks, Midori."

　　"Of course. You're my favorite sister-in-law."

　　"I'm your only sister-in-law." she giggled.

　　"Night, Poppy. Give the kid a kiss for me."

　　"Will do! Goodnight."

　　Hanging up the phone, I stretched my tired muscles. A roaring pur carried from my feet. Looking down, I found a three legged orange ball of fur. With a cry, he begged to be fed. Sighing, I filled his bowl and returned to my packing.

　　My eyes darted from person to person as the room grew more crowded. Each person had a new, unique look. Designer clothes, expensive make-up, everything about these people screamed 'I belong'. Standing near the doors, I waited for my turn.

　　The a sharp creak from the door gained the rooms attention, "Number fifteen, uh, Hayashi, Midori?"

　　"Present!" I answered, stepping forward.

　　"You're up. Please, follow me." the man directed, holding the door open for me.

　　Following him, I was brought onto a darkened stage.

　　The click of my heals echoed out into the seats. As the judging eyes gazed at me I began to feel the nervousness sink in. Was I over dressed? No. No of course not. I was just wearing a simple sundress. My hair was only combed with no products. And I wore no make up. The sudden spotlight burned my eyes. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward.

　　"My name is Midori Hayashi. And I wish to find a place in this company." saying that, I began my performance.

　　Replaying my favorite an excerpt scene from Romeo and Juliet. I cried out in hatred in a crippled voice,

　　"There's no trust! No faith, no honesty in men. All perjured, all forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers. Ah, where's my man? - Give me aqua vitae. - These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me old. Shame come to Romeo!"

　　Waving my finger my voice became young, and filled with despair, "Blistered be thy tongue for such a wish! He was not born to shame. Upon his brow shame is ashamed to sit, for 'tis a throne where honor may be crowned. Sole monarch of the universal earth, oh what a beast I to chide at him!"

　　Disgust filled the crippled voice, "Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin?"

　　A soft but defiant tone came about the young girl's voice, "Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name. When I, thy three hours' wife, have mangled it? But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would have killed my husband. Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring. Your tributary drops belong to woe, which you, mistaking, offer up to joy.

　　My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain, and Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband. All this comfort. Wherefore weep I then? Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death, the murdered me. I would forget it fain, but oh, it presses to my memory, like damned guilty deeds to sinners' minds. 'Tybalt is dead, and Romeo banished.'"

　　Folding my hands to my side, I closed the excerpt. My ears rang with the beat of my heart as I waited for their discussion to end.

　　My breath left me as the man in the middle stood. The spotlight behind him left his tall figure dark and cold to the eye, concealing his features.

　　"Miss Hayashi, we have decided to find you a place here. We look forward to working with you."

　　Relief fawned over me as I learned how breathe once more.

　　"Thank you so much for this opportunity. However, I thought it would be harder than this?"

　　"You're done here, Miss Hayashi. We'll call you with the details tomorrow."

　　Bowing, I thanked them once more and left the stage.

　　Stepping into my new apartment, I was greeted by my hungry, orange friend. Lifting his round body to my chest, I hugged his scruffy form. "Reow!" he cried with love.

　　Taking the phone from my pocket, I dialed Poppy.

　　"Hey, Midori, ready to move back home yet?" she greeted in a sympathetic voice.

　　"Nope. Thanks for the vote of confidence."

　　"I'm sorry. So how did it go?"

　　"Not that you care but I passed. I'm going to be an actor!"

　　"Are you serious? That's great, Midori!"

　　"Does that mean you agree to let me do this?"

　　"You know, I think it does." she laughed.

　　Giggling, I asked, "Is he already asleep?"

　　"Yeah, I'll tell him in the morning."

　　"Thanks, Poppy. Get some rest. Goodnight."

　　"Night, Midori. Call me after you get the details!"

　　"I will, I promise."

　　Hanging up the phone, I layed on couch.

　　"I did it, Char-Char. I really did it. I hope you can be proud." I spoke to the world around me.

　　"Reow!"

　　Glancing down my body, I smiled to the cat who had made himself comfortable on my chest.

　　"I can't believe it's already been a week since we moved." I sighed.

　　Looking around, I saw boxes still filled with items that had yet to be unpacked.

　　"Oh well, it can wait until tomorrow. Right, Nibbler?" I asked scratching his ear.

　　"Reow!"