The Loneliest Profession

She works in Pod 165, packing blankets, clothes and shoes for Desmond Outdoor Apparel. She's at the end, over 100 pods away from her friend Nicole, who she eats lunch with when they're fortunate enough to have the same break schedule.

She isn't allowed to wear a personal radio and the noise on the floor is grating. She used to wear earplugs but they compromised her ability to hear directions that were given over the loudspeaker to the employees. Some of the employees had the same problem, and so even though earplugs were still allowed, headphones were prohibited. She hated the noise except when she grew so bored she played counting games by listening to the 'chun-ching' noise the conveyor belt made and made bets with herself that it would make the noise a certain number of times. Usually over five thousand times a day.

She finds two of her co-workers attractive--Scott and Mark--but they seldom look at her. Scott says hello to her once in awhile, but he's pleasant that way, a sanguine young man. She would never admit to him that she's fantasized about dating him; she would never admit to Mark that she wishes he'd talk to her and acknowledge her.

Mark often sits at a table two over from her, always with a buddy of his, and he doesn't seem to know she exists and this kills her.

She wears red nail polish because it cheers her up when she puts the clothes into the plastic Desmond mailers, or when she slaps tape on a box containing the famous Desmond Hikers for Men, usually a size ten.

She's thought about getting a tattoo, especially lately and especially since she's seen Maura's. Maura looks no older than 12 in the face, all youth and innocence, but her cargo pants and tank tops betray that, the subtle variations of womanhood accenting the seams of her clothing. Maura got a star of some sort--Oriental, perhaps--tattooed across her lower back. Nobody at work ever saw it unless Maura were stretching or bending to get something and her shirt pulled up.