A Chance: Part I

Photo credit: hern42 via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

“Thanks so much for meeting me here, Julie. Life has been so crazy lately that I figured the only way I’d have a chance to see you would be if we could meet here. It’s right outside my new studio.”

Julie cocked her head as she set down her latte. “New studio? Tell me everything.”

Alex wasted no time in setting down her bags, peeling off her jacket, and settling in to relate all the news to her best friend. “I quit my job.”

Julie almost choked on her cranberry scone. “You what?”

“I’m going to be a full-time photographer.” She grinned at her friend, waiting for Julie to show the same excitement she felt.

Julie stared at her friend, trying to comprehend what she was hearing quickly enough to come up with the reaction Alex was expecting. “What? How? What? When?”

Alex giggled, barely able to contain her euphoria. “Well, you know I’ve been doing some photography on the side, right?”

Julie nodded.

“I just got to thinking: what if I did this all the time? Why not? There’s nothing stopping me. And I looked around at my job and – don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate my job, but a lot of my coworkers hated theirs. A lot of my superiors. And I started thinking about what my life would look like in 30 years if I stayed where I was and…” Alex crinkled her nose. “Just the thought of it made me so depressed. So I started doing some research, looking into studios in the area and reading up on everything I need to know to own my own business, and voilà! I found a great studio just around the corner from here, turned in my two weeks’ notice and now I’m running around like a crazy person trying to get my business off the ground.”

“How long have you been thinking about doing this?”

“Months! Most of this year, actually.”

“Really? How is this the first I’ve heard about it?”

“Because for a long time I thought it was nothing more than a pipe dream, so I didn’t think there was any point in talking about it. But once I started doing my research and learning about other people who have done this and made it work, I started thinking I could really do this! There’s so much more to life than the 9-5 and I want to know what it’s like. If I’m going to be stuck in a windowless room, it might as well be my own dark room rather than some soul-sucking cubicle.”

“So you really have put a lot of thought into this?”

“Absolutely. You know I’m not one to jump in head first without testing the waters.”

“I know. That’s why I’m so surprised that this is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that it’s been so long since we’ve had a chance to get together and catch up.”

“No, don’t worry about it. I’ve been busy, too. And if this is what you really want, then I’m happy for you.”

Alex let out a sigh of relief. “Really?’

“Of course I am. I just wasn’t expecting it. It’s such a big change. And it’s a huge risk.”

“I know. But it’s worth it.”

“Good. Besides, if you never risk anything, you never gain anything, right?”

“Exactly. I’m so glad you understand. Now enough about me, tell me all about how the twins are doing.”

“They’re growing like weeds. Just yesterday I found Sarah sleeping diagonally across her bed. She doesn’t even fit in it anymore!”

“Already? It feels like you just got those beds.”

“I know. But I guess it’s time to get them into full-sized beds. I just don’t think I’m ready for it. I want them to stay my little babies forever.”

“I’m sure you do. Does Jack still fit in his bed?”

“Yes, but just barely. He’ll need a new one before long. Like next week.”

Alex chuckled. “Full grown or not, you wouldn’t trade them for anything and you know it.”

Julie sighed and looked down at the leftover foam that had settled at the bottom of her mug. “Yeah, it’s true. Just don’t tell them that. The only way I can get them to behave these days is by threatening to trade them in for another boy and girl who are better behaved.”

Alex laughed. “You don’t!”

“I might.”

“That’s ridiculous. You’re doing such a good job raising those kids, I don’t believe there are any boys or girls in the world who are better behaved.”

Julie lifted a fist and popped a finger for each point she made: “One: thank you. Two: you’re lying. Three: don’t ever tell them that or I’ll lose all my leverage.”

To be continued…

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