The next night I reported for duty, but I had brought something for Jenny. I couldn't even begin to imagine the living hell she was going through; completely awake and aware of her surroundings, but unable to move. I've experienced this a time or two with sleep paralysis, but it passes within a few minutes, and once I can move something, I keep kicking or flailing until I wake up. Jenny didn't have that option. She was stuck in perpetual sleep paralysis, and I was determined to help her get through it as best I could.
I had crossed the line when I had sex with her, I will admit that. In the eyes of the law, it was considered rape, but since she had agreed to it, it really wasn't; at least in my eyes anyway. It was a huge gray area that perhaps in the future, might be exposed for more black and white aspects. In the meantime, I was aware that she was aware, and I wanted to make her misery as comfortable as possible.
"Hey Jack." Laura greeted me. "Ready for Night Number Two?"
"I am!" I replied cheerfully.
"Miss your girlfriend?" she inquired with a smirk. "Whatcha got in the bag?"
"A book, a CD player and some CDs." I replied.
"That boring, huh?" she responded. "I'm glad you can keep yourself occupied. I just keep the TV on."
"Oh, these are for Jenny." I said, slipping up big time. "I'm going to read to her and play some music. She likes rock."
Laura frowned.
"Are you still convinced she can hear you?" she asked disdainfully. "Really Jack, why don't you just do your job like everyone else?"
I shrugged.
"I guess I'm not like everyone else." I replied. "Anyway, you know where I'll be if a call comes in."
I started to walk down the hall, when Laura called out.
"Come back here!"
I turned around and retraced my steps.
"Look," she said sternly, "you seem like a nice guy, but if you keep this up, I won't be able to cover for you. You aren't worth my job, you understand me?"
I clenched my teeth, causing the muscles in my jaw to bulge out. If there is one thing you don't ever ask me, it's if I understand. I'm not a dog. With an IQ of 138, I understand quite well. In fact, I probably understand a lot better than you do, thank you very much.
I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, doing my best to keep my temper in check. I looked Laura squarely in the eye and set my bag on her desk.
"Do you know what I did before I took this job?" I inquired.
"What?" she responded sarcastically.
"I delivered newspapers." I replied.
Laura rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "How nice for you."
"It was." I said casually, now that my initial anger had passed. "And every now and then, some housewife would point to me and say to her kid something like, 'if you don't stay in school, that's what you'll end up doing,' or some other bullshit. You know what I would say?"
"Indulge me." Laura said in a very bored voice. "I'm all ears."
"I would say," I continued, "'Yes, it's true I graduated high school and did not go on to college, but in the meantime, I became a TV star, a published author and a politician. So, if you don't want to go to college, don't. Do what you feel is right.' The bitch would always huff up and tell me to stop lying, so I'd just hand her one of my business cards. Like this."
At that point, I thrust one into Laura's smug face. She took it, and her expression suddenly changed. It featured an older head shot of me in my heyday, and listed me as an actor, author, public speaker and politician. It also gave a link to my IMDb page.
"Anyone can have these made up." she sputtered. "This means nothing."
"Look up my IMDb listing." I said coolly. "And then look me up as a political candidate. I know just about every representative and senator in this state and a dozen more. My problem is that I just don't know what I want to do with my life; I get bored very easily. I do know this, however, so pay attention. I have taken a special interest in Jenny; that's Miss Nobody to you, but her name is Jenny, and she is fully aware of her surroundings.
"Your staff has ignored her, and as you admitted, you all know she can hear. Have you ever had any interaction with her?"
"That's none of your business!" Laura snapped.
"It will be when she wakes up and starts recounting who knew what, and did nothing to try and help her get through the sheer boredom she's been experiencing. Look, you're my immediate supervisor and you seem pretty nice, so I'd like to keep you out of the coals here. Don't look away from me when I'm talking to you! Look at me, Laura. Do I look like a pushover to you? Do you understand that when Jenny wakes up, I'm going to contact every politician and news crew that I know? Do you want to go down with them?"
Laura was silent and sullen for about thirty seconds, before replying.
"No."
"Good! Then start recording everything I report to you." I advised. "You may be my supervisor, but I'm going to handle this situation the way I see fit. When this is all over, heads are probably going to roll. Stick with me, and you'll probably get a promotion. Now, I'm going to visit with Jenny. In the meantime, feel free to look me up online. Oh, here's a couple of TV commercials and a music video I starred in too."
I scribbled the info onto the notepad that was laying on the counter, and dropped it onto her desk, leaving Laura slack jawed in response.
"I'll see you soon."
"I could have you fired!" she called after me.
"You could," I replied over my shoulder, "but I don't think you will, particularly after you Google my name."
I turned and strode down the hall to Jenny's room. I opened the door and knocked twice.
"Knock, knock!" I called out, as I shut the door behind me. "It's me, Jenny."
She immediately began puffing, and I hurried to her side.
"It's okay!" I said soothingly, as I took her hand in mine. "It's me, Honey. I'm here. Relax, Sweetheart. I'm here."
I leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She knew it was me!
"Oh, Pretty Girl." I murmured. "I missed you."
She puffed twice, and I knew she had missed me too.
