Interview Gone Wrong by Cody Lottmann

I went to an interview and the employer asked if I can work mornings and I replied with no

I, a junior in high school, could not do such a thing

He then proceeded to bribe me with free coffee

As if brown liquid that stains my stomach and my veins

Beating my heart so fast that I can’t function

Would change my response

But I’m lactose intolerant

So politely I decline

He then tried to hand me a donut and asked again

As if the first no one wasn’t a real no

But I’m intolerant

Intolerant to people who try to stain my stomach and veins

With chemicals of goodness

To drop my future for morning shifts

In exchange

For Green solid cash

But no really I'm intolerant to gluten

Can’t consume it or I’m bed rotten sick for a few days at worst

Either my body just didn’t like being bribed by such chemical goodness

Or it knew ahead of time this situation would appear

No in-betweens

But I politely declined

Again

“But are you sure you can’t work Wednesday mornings”

persistent—persistent for me to throw so much away

For things that just make me sick

“Yes”

“Are you sure”

“Yes”

I’m sure enough, that I walked out

Only returning for a drink of water

For when I’m dehydrated from long walks

And when I do, it’s quick and simple

Grab, tap to pay, go

Yet most times when I do go

It seems like the second I get through the doors I see the employer

The employer rushing to try and ask again

Making me uncomfortable

Because no

Means no

But not to cooperate people

Who treat workers as pawns

A generator for cash

And maybe they thought they could feed off my desperation

But I think I’m feeding off of their desperation

Of needing me

Wanting me

But they feed off Knowing if I took the offer without any benefits

Besides loosing what I already have

They know I’d never leave

Like chains bounding me to the walls of a place

That I can never drink or eat at

But I’ve moved on, unlike the employer

Who’s still desperate for my attention

Calling me constantly

Despite my no, desperate for me

But I’ve blocked them

I haven’t returned since then