"The Interesting Life of Brandy Broke" Part 2

{Authors Note: Hello, I have just now noticed that I am missing some pictures in this chapter and several others.
Part 5 has pictures again. Sorry for the inconvenience, I have no copies but I can reshoot , having the dialogue is a big help.
Thanks for reading.}


After Dustin went to school Brandi washed up the dishes and cleaned the
kitchen while Beau finished eating his squishy pancakes.




Then it was on to potty training. And none too soon either. Brandy really
could not afford to buy diapers anymore. And she certainly did not
want to be stuck with two babies in diapers when her third child was
born.

Beau is very smart and got the hang of it right away. He really did not
like wearing soggy wet diapers.
"Yippy, its big boy pants during the day for Beau, and pull - ups at night."
"Great Job Beau!" shouted Brandy.




Brandy sat Beau down in front of his favorite toy and had a chance to make a few phone calls.



First, she called for a Nanny to come and watch Beau, while she ran some
errands. Then she called the unemployment office, and made a appointment
to go and talk to someone about getting to work right away.
Then she called the "Widow's Relief Organization." They had been a big
help to Brandy and her family over the last few weeks.
They have a special program for women who need help getting clothes
together, so they can rejoin the work force. They even offer free hairstyles and makeovers.




As soon as the Nanny arrived, Brandy called a cab and was on her way to
go and get some clothes for work. The place that she was going was
actually on the upscale side. Way to go, "Widow's Relief Organization!"



Brandy was treated nicely and enjoyed a very large selection to choose
from. She could pick any three outfits she wanted, at no cost to herself.
It was agreed though, that once Brandy was on her feet that she would
donate some money and or time to the "Widow's Relief Organization" so
that someone else could be helped.



After several hours of trying on clothes, Brandy found three perfect
outfits to go to job interviews in and to get her started in the work
force.



As she was checking out, she asked her cashier, "Is this store doing any hiring?"



"Well," said the young woman. "I am new here myself and I'm not
really sure, but that is my boss at the next register."
"Thank you," said Brandy and then she made her way over to the
next cash register.

Come to find out, she knew the manager. He had just graduated High School
last year. He was friends with her son for a little while when they
were both on the basketball team.
"Hello Carl, remember me?" I am Dustin Broke's mother.
"Hey , of course I remember you - you only make the best brownies in town, ever!"
"How is Dustin?" Carl asked her.

"He is doing well in school, he will graduate next year, thank you for asking,"
she said politely."But I was wondering if you were doing any hiring at this
time? You see, I am in need of a job."
"No, I'm not doing any hiring, not at this time; sorry, Mrs. Broke. But my
brother Jared owns a fine jewelry store downtown; I know he is hiring."




"That's great! I know that place. I will go down and fill out a application as
soon as I get my make over," said Brandy.
"I'm sure you won't need to fill out a application, Mrs. Broke, Carl said sincerely.
"I will call my brother now and put in a good word for you. I'm pretty sure
he will hire you, if I give you the O.K.



"Thank you so much," she said. Then suddenly she felt very nauseated
from the baby. She did not dare let on that she was pregnant. She knew
that the jewelry business was very much about image and she did not
believe a pregnant image would be very welcome.


After a long day of shopping and trying to secure a income for her and
her growing family, Brandy came home to find the Nanny washing up the
lunch dishes from Beau.




"You are such a dear Nanny, thank you!"
Brandy and Nanny got along very well.
"I have great news by the way," said Brandy, with a big
smile and a lot of excitement.



"I do love good news," said Nanny as she finished the last of the dishes.
"You will never guess!" Brandy exclaimed with a squeal, Jared's Fine
Jewelry Store is hiring, and I just happen to know his little brother,
who used to play basketball with Dustin on the team at Dustin's
school. His name is Carl; he remembers me and he called his brother
Jared while I was there, and set up a interview with me tomorrow."



"That is good news," Nanny began to say, but found herself talking to no one.



Brandy had to make a mad dash for the bathroom. And, *Barf!* Poor Brandy.



Since Beau was still taking his afternoon
nap, Dustin was still at school and Brandy needed to have a shower,
to pick out a new hairstyle and outfit to go on her interview, Nanny
agreed to stick around a little longer, and give Brandy some time to
play with her new clothes and make-up.



Off to the wardrobe.




Brandy put on a outfit that she already had in her wardrobe.
She wanted to save her three free outfits for interviews and such.
The outfit she picked was still practically brand new and looked great on her.




Now for the hair and make-up.




Brandy gazed at her reflection and tried to think positive. She needed
to say good-bye to her old self, to her old image. She could no longer
afford grief or it's sad look.




The new look was quite a shock.




"Oh my gosh!", she laughed into the mirror, "I look so different!"




But then when she looked at her clothes, she was quickly reminded of
the last time she wore them. It was for her and Skip's last wedding
anniversary. They had gone out to eat at a nice steak house. They even
went dancing they had a wonderful evening. This was making Brandy feel
very sad and she could see it only to clearly in her reflection.



Time to make the sadness go away. So she went to her wardrobe and
got out one of her new outfits to try on.






'Much better', Brandy thought, as she looked in the mirror again.



It was easier now for her to accept her new look.



Maybe I should just get rid of all my old clothes and start fresh', she
thought with a sigh, for the first time being able to think about Skip
without crying.
'But first I have to get that job and make some money', she reminded herself.



{I like Brandi's new look. I think it suites her very well.}



After showing off her new look to Nanny,
Nanny inquired about the pinball machine that she had for sale.




Nanny loves pinball machines and has a hobby of collecting them.
"How much do you want for the machine?" , asked Nanny.
"I'm not sure; how about if you make me a offer?," replied Brandi.



"I will give you $1700.00 for it," said Nanny with a silly grin.



................................"Sold!".................................



Kaching! Thank you Nanny. Brandy really needed the extra money. $$$$$$$



For the first time in well over a month, Brandy felt blessed and thanked
God for her good fortune. Things were starting to look up for Brandy.



The next day after her interview down at Jared's Fine Jewelry Store,
Brandy got the phone call she had been waiting for
: she got the job at Jared's! She would be a sales associate,
she would get a hourly wage and 10% commission of anything she sells.



As soon as Dustin got home from his part time job at the junk yard as a "Grease Monkey," she told him the good news.



. . . "I got the job!"



"I got the job!" she said again as she grabbed him to give a hug.



"Honey, things are looking better for us."



"Mom that is great!" Dustin said, with a mom - squeezed voice, while enjoying seeing his mom so happy.



........... "I love you Mom."




"Sooooooo!" Brandy carried on in her very excited way. "I will be working from 8AM to 4PM, Tuesday through Saturday. I get a minimum wage, paid weekly. So every Friday I get a paycheck,
plus 10%" of anything I sell!
I have made arrangements with Nanny to watch Beau until you get home from work. I really appreciate your help Dustin." Brandy rambled on and on with the details, but it really hit home with Dustin when she said."It would be so much harder to deal with, without you."



"I am so glad you are here my son, I love you." Brandy declared to her son.



"Everything is going to be ok." Brandy said, as she tried to look cool, giving the thumbs up.
It didn't work as well as she hoped, but she did get a great, big smile from her oldest child and now, her "Right Hand Helper".



Brandy did have to tell her boss that she was pregnant and she was right about the image thing. Pregnant look was just not really in when trying to sell Wedding Rings. So it was agreed that Brandy would quit working once she started to show. But Brandy proved within the first week that she could sell jewelry. She was a "wild woman" on fire, so to speak. She was allowed extra time because she constantly searched for the most fashionable clothes she could find to cover her growing belly.
Brandi took advantage of the sales money and made few nice contacts.



She found this awesome dinning room table and four chairs for only $300.00 at a local auction.



And managed a make - over for her kitchen.
Yeah, I know, I'm no designer, but it is better than the Pink Barf of Death... ahhhhhh.
(No offence to people who like the color pink, but I really did not like that kitchen)



Hi everybody, I am out of time. I will have to post the rest tomorrow. Sorry, and thanks for reading.