THE PERFECT ILLUSION

d. Half a dozen obese pigeons crowded around me, and as is my morning habit, I tipped my change

ugh the door, I felt pret

la, flashed me a worn smile as I swept up to th

de a virtual citizen's arrest at our local co

s a blood glucose reading." Yeah, I was trained to do part of what nurses do."Mrs. Caldwell refuses to take a shower, while Mrs. Montoya in

gnments to complete before I left,

..th

ood luck." The

.. I had been at the same institution for about three years and hoped to have landed an acting job by now. Hospice was not a permanent employment. Patients were divided into two groups

y individuals you met, you wou

he end, offering palliative end-of-life treatment. And I wanted to make their final days comfortable. I want to be that trusted and compassionate adviser who helped patients and

spoken with every day for the previous eight months,

oing to be

nt door shut, Sophia jumped up to meet me as if she h

k?" she inqu

ms she had instructed me to purchase. "Work was fine." I felt as if I'd been answering the sam

cking out anything I was about to say as s

and down, her deeply charcoaled eyes brimming wi

callback!

she moved from side to side

for dramatic effect. "Hot Ranch Chick Number Seven." She removed the tequila from the

d racing with possibilities. "And to

lled," she responded practically. "To b

second before adding, "Congratu

you for stoppin

ss!" I suddenly remember

admiration. "Your first real fisticuffs.

ly. "Well, actually I stopped it before they cam

akings of a fight, a long-standing life ambition,

iterally deflated. "

on the shoulder. "Come

. "I am s

She had brought out our nicest silverware, and for once, we weren't dining f

at

orence and the Machine began

t her suspiciously. "All this f

hoved me down in an adorable manner. "The issue is, Shay... I actually se

That is w

and it

brow. "What

he opportunity to meet some major names. We might also earn a significant bonus simply by mentioning the agency. If

par

ght? "I'll tell you more in the salon," sh

ho

irl. It's time to get primped! Of course, wh

ng on paper plates, so tha

we're not using