Study Hall Smoke (2 of 10)

"Well, I thought I would be writing important stories that lead to stopping corruption, solving crimes, and bringing down shady organizations, and the scoundrels behind them!" Dawn whined.

"Dawn! It's your first week! ...And you're an INTERN. I mean, that stuff will come. It takes time. You gotta get the basics down first. Be patient!" advised Becky.

"Well, it appears the basics for being a female reporter involves a whole lot to do with your pantyhose!" complained Dawn.

"Your pantyhose?" parroted Becky, clearly confused.

"Oh yeah, big time! I read plenty of documentation that required my signature on multiple lines making it abundantly clear that I understood that as a female staff I would follow protocol outlining legwear requirements and standards. Zero degrees or 100 degrees, I'm expected to dress my legs in nylons. Presentation matters. My hosiery is expected to be run free and 'presentable' at all times," explained Dawn at length.

"I mean, that could all be standard new hire paperwork, cousin. It's not like you've had a ton of jobs before. Maybe this is what it's like to be a grown up in the workplace?" Becky tried to make sense of Dawn's explanation.

"Rules that make it clear to me that I will be terminated if I am discovered to have unsatisfactory or unpresentable hosiery? Or that being caught in my stocking feet, even at my desk will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination?" continued Dawn.

"Well... I mean, sure, that seems a bit strict. But certainly, they are just wanting the staff to be professional?" questioned Becky.

"Well, they certainly have strange ways of communicating that," complained Dawn.

"What do you mean?" asked Becky.

"This guy, Danny Breslin, he was the one giving me the tour this week. He gave me this actual advice as a new intern: 'If you want to make it as a serious reporter, you are going to need to make daily stops at the drugstore for fresh pantyhose. Otherwise your career will wind up in the trash like an old pair of nylons!' Can you believe that guy?" Dawn chirped.

"Wow. He actually said that?" asked Becky.

"I know, right!? I mean, what a weirdo. What kind of guy gives a girl advice on her nylons!? And what kind of girl buys her pantyhose at the drugstore!?" gabbed Dawn with a dramatically exaggerated expression on her face.

"Well, he's probably just trying to be cost conscientious," reasoned Becky. "Was he cute?" she added.

"Was he cute? What, so if he was cute, that gives him the right to humiliatingly give me pantyhose advice? I swear, the whole time that he was giving me the office tour, I caught him looking at my legs!" Dawn bellowed. Then after a pause, "...Yeah, I guess he was pretty cute. He works in the IT Department."

"Ooooooo yeah! Maybe he'll ask you on a date!" Becky giggled into the phone.

"Becky!" Dawn scolded her cousin feeling scandalized by the insinuation, then she added. "Well... he did say that I have the kind of legs to be a star reporter."

"You should totally wear pantyhose for this guy!" advised Becky.

"I don't have much of a choice!" sighed Dawn. "I'll just have to hope that I can get this Danny Breslin character to see past my reinforced toes and control tops, and notice the sharp smart copy that I turn in for news stories."

"If enduring the perils of pantyhose gets you a date, then it'll be worth it," chuckled Becky, taking a playful dig at the lack of Dawn's love life.

"Geez, cousin, you make it sound like my pantyhose turn me into bait on a hook!" blushed Dawn.

"If that's how you catch a fish, keep a fresh supply!" laughed Becky into the phone.

"You are the worst," Dawn rolled her emerald eyes.

"Okay, so what else? Tell me about all the exciting goings on in the perilous world of my fabulous cousin, the great Dawn Meadows," chuckled Becky.

"Hang on, cousin. I've gotta go, something's come up. Can I call you back?" Dawn suddenly whispered into the phone.

"Ummm... yes? Sure? Everything okay?" asked Becky, curiosity growing in her voice.

"Mmmm... yeah... I mean, I think so. I dunno. I'll... I... will call you back later. Something's come up. Gotta go!" Dawn said distraction in her voice, ending the call.

"That's weird," Becky lamented, looking at the "call ended" notification on her phone. What the heck is Dawn getting up to in her study hall?