“So, are you looking for a career or a job?”
It was at that moment that Aurora Guerrero got a feeling she wouldn't be working in insurance. The three other women in the office declared “career,” and as the interviewer turned towards her, she said “job,” as confidently as possible.
“Well,” the interviewer replied, “We don't really have any part-time positions available.”
“But, your representative at the job fair told me that there are clerical positions open.”
“That individual was probably misinformed.”
“Are you sure?” She asked trying to make her posture a bit more alluring, “I be could a good secretary.”
“We're don't need any new secretaries either. Look, just listen to me and maybe we can work something out.”
“Alright,” Aurora replied with some reluctance. Within 40 minutes into his pitch however one thought crossed her mind, Nope.
She left the interview more than little bitter. All she wanted was a decent side job to support her ventures into modeling for the time being. She had already auditioned for a couple of times in Philly, but no one called back. What made things even more frustrating was the pride she had in her appearance. She had curves, a photogenic face, an f cup, Maxim Magazine material right there as a far a she was concerned. Plus, the modeling sessions were always fun, for her at least. The last time she was at a session she got in an argument with the photographer about how she should pose.
Aurora caught the next bus to the high speed line. Riding the bus was always a mixed affair for her. Someday it would be uneventful, other days it would be unbearable. There were only four other people on the bus as she took her seat in front of an older woman. At least she had a chance to decompress from a great disappointment. That period lasted for roughly five minutes. The first new passenger to enter the bus was a man in his late 50s talking on a cell phone. He sat next to Aurora and she heard what was on his mind.
“Dave,” he sighed, “I can debunk haunted houses in in my sleep. I'm done with that shit. Just give me a couple more days to find something to write about.”
After a short pause, his frustration became more pronounced.
“Look, I get into specifics when we dine Caribou tonight. Okay? Okay, see you then.”
With that he hung up. He glanced at Aurora who despite her best efforts couldn't help eavesdropped on his little talk.
“What are you looking at?” He snapped.
“I'm sorry,” she replied, “I didn't mean to stare.”
“Well stop it. I've had a shitty enough day and don't need anyone judging me right now.”
“I wasn't judging you.”
“Well what are doing right now?”
“If, you hadn't had an attitude problem I wouldn't be arguing with you right now.”
“Please!” a voice exclaimed behind them, “There is no need for this.
The man turned to face the older woman setting behind them. She was in her early 60s and dressed in oddly loose fitting blue and white clothes, and large glasses.
“Stay out of this lady,” said the man.
“Why should I?” she asked, “There is a problem, and I feel it's my right to help out.”
“Well, you don't,” the man snapped back, “Now Shut Up!”
Before the argument could escalate, the bus had arrived at the speed-line. The man wasted no time and stormed of the bus. Aurora followed suite, but as she stepped away from the bus, the voice of the older woman muttering, “oh dear,” brought her to halt. She turned and saw the older woman going through her wallet and shaking her head.
“Not enough money for ticket?” Aurora asked.
The old woman nodded. Aurora slipped three dollars out her wallet and handed them to her.
“That should do it,” she said, “Sorry about what happened on the bus.”
“Don't be,” the old woman replied with a smile.
Aurora smiled back headed to the speed-line.
Arriving back in Collingswood was a bittersweet feeling after having a rough day. It was the town Aurora grew up in and living there had a certain nostalgic appeal. On the other hand, she didn't want to live there her entire life either, but so far having a non paying internship wasn't helping with her limited income.
She watched the train speed off to Philadelphia in more wobbly fashion than usual, and made her way back home. Aurora trekked along her favorite part of town, Knight's Park. She saw an array of middle aged men fishing in the pond, field hockey teams at play, and kids hanging out on the playground.
The same stuff she saw when she was a kid, and it was always a comforting sight.
Once she got back to her apartment, Aurora made herself some homemade lo-mien for dinner. Once she had finished her meal, Aurora was ready to go to bed earlier than usual. After, such crappy day she just wanted to put it behind her. She didn't even change into her Nighty, she simply flopped onto her bed in fit of utter exhaustion.
Around 10 p.m. something woke her up. A low humming sound emanated from outside her apartment. She turned towards her balcony and saw a glow coming from above her floor. As Aurora stepped towards her balcony the humming slowly grew louder, and she began to realize that the humming seemed to be coming from a human voice. She stepped onto the balcony, and looked up at the light. The light shot towards her and engulfed Aurora. Now the voice spoke to her.
“Your test begins now.”
Then, in the blink of an eye the light was gone.
Aurora stepped back into her apartment shaken by what has just transpired. As she closed the balcony door behind her, she felt something. The sensation that came over her body couldn't be easily defined, but wasn't unpleasant. It was quickly followed by another sensation one of her clothes tightening. IT wasn't long before a button popped of her shirt and Aurora quickly realized what was happening to her.
She was growing larger.
Aurora was in a panic. Her clothes were tearing, and her head was being pushed against the ceiling. She has to get out, but her room was seven floors up and rate she was growing she was would in all probability end doing a lot more damage. She turned back towards the balcony, and realized that it was the only way out.
Aurora forced her way out onto the balcony, and the floor begin creak under her ever increasing mass. She looked at the balcony above, reached up and garbed it with booth hands. As soon as she found her relative balance she grabbed the balcony to her left. When, she felt she had a firm grasp she began to climb down the apartment building.
Her growth made the climb down difficult. She found herself losing her balance frequently until she had no choice but to let go. She closed her eyes and released her grip. Her feet touched the ground as soon as she did that. Shocked she stepped carefully back and saw she was half the size of the apartment building and still growing.
She looked at her clothes and saw that while they were torn, they also seemed to melting and blending together to form like clay being formed by invisible hands. As her eye-line began to reach the roof, her clothes had taken shape. She was now wearing what appeared to be white and aqua colored tube top and what seemed to be cross between a mini skirt, and pair of shorts of the same color. There was a strange elegance to the clothing, with what appeared to be sapphires woven into the fabric.
When she finally stopped growing, Aurora stood at at a height of 90 feet. Not knowing what to do she found herself wondering. She tried to watch her step she was overwhelmed by her now found size, and her sense of balance was off. She found herself walking back into Knight's Park. It was a surreal feeling wondering around a childhood landmark that now looked to be no bigger than a schoolyard sandbox. She came to the pond, and Aurora finally got the full view of what happened to her. As she stared at her reflection it was illuminated by the full moon light, one thought crossed her mind:
I look amazing!
A sense of wonder began to take over Aurora's mode. She couldn't help but strike a pose and admire her size. She now wanted to know what she was capable of. How strong was she? Could she grow bigger? Those question took a backseat when she heard the sound of an approaching PATCO train. As she approached the train station, it's size relative to her, she couldn't help but think back to when her family would set up a train set around their Christmas trees. As the train fell, she put her hands on her hips and prepared to show of her new form. But then she noticed something off about the tacks. She leaned closer and realized that the tracks were loose. The Train's horn blared. Its brakes screeched, and the train began to fly off the rails.
Aurora reached out and grabbed the falling vehicle in both her hands. The disaster was averted in the blink of an eye. She raised the train up to her face and peered into the windows. Most of the passengers were roughed up, but no one seemed to be seriously injured. There was however something else she noticed, one of the passengers was a very familiar late middle aged man. The same man she got into a nasty argument with. He stared at her with the same look of shock and awe as the rest of the passengers. Seeing this she couldn't help but smile playfully. Sirens started to below as she set the train down in the Station's parking lot. The doors open and strangely only one of the passengers stepped out. It was the old woman from the bus.
Aurora keeled down and locked her eyes on the woman.
“You again?!”
“Indeed,” she replied, “You have done well.”
“I did?” Aurora asked, she then noticed that the train passengers weren't moving. Upon closer inspection it was if she was looking at 3-D still photograph of them. She then realized that the approaching fire engines, and ambulances were frozen as well.
“Did you do all of this?”
The woman nodded, and said “I wanted to speak to you without interruption.”
With that the older woman turned into a column of bluish white light. The light grew in width until standing was light blue figure with distinctly feminine appearance.
“Who are you?” Aurora asked.
“A teacher,” she answered, “and you used my gift well.”
It was starting to come together. The argument on the bus and her being there, the man she argued with, her saving him, this was some sort of plan.
The figure put her hand on Aurora's shoulder and said, “Come, we have much to talk about.”
There was blinding flash of light, and they were gone.
No one knew how to process what they had just witnessed. As rescue crews tended to the train’s passengers the best explanation that came from all the chatter was that and miracle had occurred, and one of the passengers had the initiative to get on his cellphone and make a very important call.
“Dave? It's Ethan. Don't worry. I'm okay, and I've got something to write about.”