every color can be found

Things've been rough, haven't they? I didn't get caught up in the worst of the curses we've had lately; I'm sorry for those who have.

Anyway... a lot of people have been leaving, too, which means the Welcome Center and the Youth Center are both seriously short-staffed. This probably isn't the best time to send out a call for workers, but there's never a good time when you're getting hit with curse after curse, you know? I'm not giving the Youth Center the attention it deserves, so I'm also looking for someone to help out over there. It'd be a big time commitment, but the pay's not bad and it's not a hard job.

So... if you're looking for a job, I can find one for you.

[A tired sigh.]

I wish Euphie and Derek Morgan were still around to help. Yin, too... she was getting really good at greeting people. And if I could bring back Dean, Stephen, Curt, Jenny, Sophie, Toph--but they're probably happier where they are, and I wouldn't want to take that away from them. I hope they're happy, and I hope that hoping for their happiness counts when they're all in different dimensions and they don't remember the City. At least they're remembered, and that's something.

[Sniff. Shut up, it's allergies.]

Sorry. Late night... rambly stuff. Back on topic. Jobs: if you want one, don't be afraid to get in touch with me.

And if you're newish to the City and haven't been by the Welcome Center, we're right off the center square. The Youth Center's down about a block; anyone who's too young to live alone or just wants company can get a room there. We've got food and spare clothes at both locations, and if you ever need anything at all, just head to the Welcome Center and ask for Penny.

[A pause, some shuffling...]

Is it raining...?

[...and end audio message.]


[COMMENTS]

[Penny, currently seventeen and rocking a pixie cut, digging frantically through a pile of papers (just off screen, but the odd piece of wrinkled notebook paper goes flying by). Judging from the background, she's sitting in the hall at Westerberg High.

And talking to herself.]

You know when people tell you to prioritize the stuff you should get done? I think I did it wrong, so I'm basically doomed for finals.

[Or maybe she's talking to the network. She shuffles papers for a few more moments before giving up, putting the papers down in favor of the network device.]

But you know what's worse? I'm too busy freaking out about finals to freak out about anything else like the twenty-four people who starve to death every minute or the seven trees an average American goes through each year or anything relevant. [pause] No, I guess I'm still worried about the usual stuff. But seriously, finals on top of that? I'm never going to need to know this stuff in real life.

[She pauses again, rethinking this.]

Unless, you know... you're a teacher and you're listening to this. Teachers, you're an invaluable part of the American workforce and it's completely not your fault that the high school students in Finland test way better than students in the United States. [If Penny didn't sound so sincere, that might have come off as sarcasm. It's not.] That'd be my fault. Not by myself, I mean--not even I can blame me for that--but students like me who could do better and never get around to it. Motivation issues.

[A sigh.]

Okay. I'm calm now. Ranting's good for the soul.

[And with that nugget of wisdom, she ends the feed.]



[COMMENTS]