After school meandering

Jack pushed the cart under the arch as Inez walked beside him. How should he start the conversation? Just ask her about herself Jack, what could go wrong.

"So umm, how long have you been working at Bladmore?" he asked. He didn't know if she wanted to talk about her job. She probably didn't like it, but it was the only thing he knew about her. He had to start somewhere.

"This is my second year here." she replied, her hands in the pockets of her blue jumpsuit.

"What brought you to Bladmore?" he asked as they past the spot where the kids had been hanging out. He was glad they weren't there; he would be kind of embarrassed to be seen walking with Inez. Which is kinda of a shame, why should he feel embarrassed for conversing with a person who does a lot of hard work and keeps the school clean? Oh right because of his alternative motives...but still.

"You asking if I'm here legally Jack?" she asked.

Jack couldn't tell if she was joking or if she was actually offended. Better to play it safe.

"No of course not! I-I just mean--" he said as he gets cut off by Inez.

"I'm kidding Jack," she said smirking. Look at you go Inez, making jokes and everything. "I grew up in Mexico, my father took me and my sister to California when we were 5. Well I was 5, she was around 7. My sister and I both became citizens when we were teenagers, but my father never could. He got sent back to Mexico when I was 19." she said as her and Jack entered the school and started walking down the hall. "I didn't have anywhere to stay so I moved in with this older guy that I met. He was a **** dealer. Those next 10 years of my life have become a horrible blur, but the important thing is that I got away. I moved to Arizona a few years ago when I had enough money. I had a few other jobs before this one, but I'm here now and I'm just grateful that I made it here." Her happy smirk gradually changed to reminiscent concern as she relived some unpleasant moments from her past.

As Jack listened to her story he remembered the story Ms. Ambers told him about her past. It's hard to imagine being older and looking back. When he looked back to this present how would he feel about his choices? His life sure is a lot better than Inez's. At least he still lived with his family. He hasn't knocked a girl up and had to raise a baby....well not yet anyway. It's just interesting to think about perspective and how it changes.

Jack wasn't sure how he should react to what he just heard, but honesty seemed to be working thus far.