About a month past, it was now late April. I managed to bring all my grades up to As and Bs. Buck's 19th birthday was the first of April and I did give him a small something, a wooden display case with photos of him playing football, in his turnout gear, and his ROTC uniform. CJ advised me not to give it to him but it was something I had for him for our 8 month anniversary but hadn't given to him because of the break up three days before the occasion.

With the boys' birthdays both being in May I'd been working more hours at the mill and was absolutely dead at school. Staying at work till 2am then getting up at 6:30am for school was really putting a toll on me, physically and mentally.

I honestly need a break but I'm not sure if I can get it. Bills have to be paid and Mom is terrible with money.

One afternoon Mr. Cruz pulled me aside during fourth period. "Jolon I may have an opportunity for you. Quesenberry Inc. is looking for construction leads and asked if I'd recommend any of my upcoming graduates. I know you've got several certifications from my class and a couple from Sawyer's agriculture classes. With your home situation, I think it would truly help your future," he said.

"Well sir, I would love to get away from the mill and Quesenberry is where my daddy worked as a machine operator and mechanic for 15 years. I know they have good benefits and pay. What do I need to do?" I asked.

"Fill out a résumé, print copies of your certificates, and call this number between 8am and 9pm. Make sure you talk it over with your mom but I really think you should do this. I'm in your corner little lady," Cruz handed me a sticky note with a number scribbled on it. "Sawyer and I already agreed to be references for you and I have the information you need for it."

"Thank you Cruz."

"Now the job won't start until after graduation on May 28th."

"That's fine," I smiled.

I began working on my résumé on the school desktop. I started with my contact information: email, phone number, address. Next my job references: odd jobs on my sister-in-law's mother's farm in Harlan, work with the fire department for five years, and Curtis Russel Lumber for the past two years. Then onto my list of certificates from school and the ones I'd gained at the fire department with Daddy:
* NCCER Certification
* OSHA Certification
* CTE certification
* PLTW Certification
* Green hand degree
* American FFA Degree
* Certified Welder
* Land Conservation Certification
* Animal Science Certification
* First Aid Certification
* CPR Certification
* Junior Firefighter Certification
Then a list of my accomplishments in school activities:
* 1st place Tool ID Skills USA
* 1st place Job Interview FFA
* 1st place in National Young Writers contest
* 34 on ACT
I finished it off with references of Cruz, Sawyer, and DeeDee, my late sister-in-law's mother.

When the bell rang I rushed to tell CJ about the opportunity that was being offered to me.

"That's incredible Ash," CJ said. "Are you gonna keep working at the mill till then?"

"Actually I'm debating taking a month off. I'm gonna crunch some numbers and see if we could live off mom's salary and my savings for a month. I think we can," I said writing in my notebook working out the math.

"You deserve a month off. You're killing your self working all the time."

"Yeah."

My part of the bills was my truck insurance ($150), the internet ($60), and the phone bills ($95). So my portion of the bills is normally around $305 plus gas for my truck. General bills for the house are electric ($245), water ($45), and groceries/feed cost/necessities ($365 after the WIC for the boys). Thankfully the house is paid off so that helps the total not be as high. That's $865 in total house bills plus two tank fill ups for Mom's Jeep and my F150, which is around $326.

Mom's salary as a nurse of 17 years was $30 per hour. So with 40 hours a week for four weeks was 4,800 pre tax. After tax and insurance it'd be around $3,840 for the month.

For monthly bill payments of around $1,291, Mom's salary and my savings from before Dad passed of $5,281.16, we could easily last a month of me not working.

During sixth period I called Mom in the hallway.

"What, Lubella?" She answered.

"Mom, I've been given an opportunity to get a job interview with Quesenberry's Inc in Big Stone Gap. I've debated taking a month of of working and enjoying my last month in high school. Now I took the liberty of crunching the numbers and with your salary and the money I've saved up over the years, we can make the bills for a month with money to spare," I said.

"How much have you got saved exactly?" She questioned. I never really told Mom how much I saved up because she constantly asks for money and I wanted to save it for college or a house of my own.

"Enough to help out for a month," I answered.

"So you're gonna be lazy and slack off for a month while I bust my ass. What are you gonna do? Go drink with your friends? Smoke away your money? Bring boys over while I'm at work? I don't think so young lady," she said over the phone.

"Mom, working all the time is killing me," I pleaded.

"Welcome to adult life," she hung up the phone. Does she not realize I'm fucking 17? I'm not going to be a legal adult for another two months.

If she wants me to act like an adult then fine, I'll make an adult decision on my own and there's not a damn thing she can do to stop me. I called Quesenberry's Inc. My interview was Friday at 4pm.

At work that night I talked to my boss. "I'm putting in my two weeks notice and since I have two weeks of vacation built up from not using it the past two and a half years tonight is my last day here."

"What's brought this on Jolon," he questioned.

"I've gotten another job offer and I need a break from working and going to school," I said. I busted my ass the rest of the night to show there were no hard feelings and that I wasn't the lazy piece of shit my mother believes I am.

At home that night, I used mom's printer to copy my certifications and placed them in a folder with my résumé. I didn't tell Mom what I had done but when it worked out after graduation it would be so worth the secrecy and lying.

Friday finally came around and I was both excited and nervous. I was in my newest work boots Daddy had bought me for Christmas, a pink and gray button down flannel shirt, my pink and gray splattered hat, and my nicest blue jeans. My light brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail and thankfully my hat was made just for the hairstyle. I looked professional while also looking ready to do laborious work.

I left school and headed to BigStone Gap, around a 30 minute drive. I got to my interview 15 minutes early.

I gave my information to the owner, "I've not seen a 17 year old with 10 different certificates like this. OSHA, NCCER, First Aid and CPR. This is something we definitely need on our staff. All I need is a high school diploma which with a 34 ACT score I don't see that being a issue for you."

"Thank you sir."

"So why would you like to have this job?"

"Well sir, I'm currently taking care of my two nephews after my brother's sudden passing. If I can make a living doing what I enjoy, which for me is wiring and building houses, while being able to provide for them, I'd call that the American dream."

"Well Mrs. Jolon, how does 25 dollars an hour plus overtime pay and benefits sound starting May 30th?"

"That... that sounds incredible." We shook hands and I left for home. I immediately called CJ to tell them the news.

"CJ, I got the job!"

"That's great Ash!"

"I start May 30th so I have exactly one month to be a normal teenager, we'll as much as one can with two boys at home," I laughed.

"We'll have to celebrate. Have you told your mom yet?"

"Mom doesn't even know I quit Curtis Russel Lumber. She didn't know about my interview and I ain't letting her until I start working there. As far as she's concerned I'm just on a two week vacation from the mill."

"Damn dude."

"Forget mom. I wanna have fun for once in two years."

For the next few weeks I stayed home and it was great. I hung out with CJ in town and smoked with Finn in the field.

Phoenix turned 2 on May 4th and Wilder turned 4 on May 18th. For their birthdays I got the two a full over full bunk bed to go in Clay's old bedroom. The two were finally going to get a room of their own. I let the two pick out there own bed sheets and built the bed for them.

Mom was surprised and surprisingly didn't have a problem with the gift. The kids were thrilled to get their present.