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YOU'RE FIRED!"

Those words struck me like an electric fly swatter. I had no idea it was coming. Why was I being fired? Don't ask me, I have no clue. Of course that doesn't go over so well with the boss.

"You don't know? Well that's a shame. Clear out your desk, I want you out in five minutes!"

I watched in a state of shock as the huge man, in his fancy shmansy pin suit, his gold cuff links with a matching tie pin, pinned to a tie that was much to short for the huge belly he had, lumbered away, the thick stench of his Cuban cigars still in my nostrils. I felt someone nudge me, shaking me out of my state of shock. I looked over and saw Simon, giving me a slightly pitiful look, as if to say 'what can you do?' "I never liked this place anyway. Always some ones assistant, never a real worker." I muttered more to my self then anyone in particular as I grabbed the few things off my desk that I actually cared about.

I took a final glace around the office, noticing that work resumed with out even a second thought about me. I wasn't the Co worker that was just fired, I was now nothing more then a person in the way of thier work. I lifted up my small box and walked out of the big corporate world, one that I never was a big part of any way. My biggest job there? Getting coffee for the higher ups. I guess there is a silver lining. I no longer have to be stuck in a job I hate, meeting the demands of every person in the office, trying to please then like a puppy with a bone. Within minutes I was at my car. I slid into the beat up, faded, brown, crapy Honda, and as I sank into the leather seat, the fabric peeling away from itself, and I realized just how much trouble I was in. I might have hated that job, but I needed it to support myself, as well as my little brother, the only thing worth anything in my life. Pulling down the sun visor, I look at the picture of us, taken six years ago when I was just 15 and he was 10. We were at the beach, him on my shoulders, our parents standing on either side of us smiling. 2 months later, they were killed. Police said it was a mugging gone wrong. I never looked at the crime scene photos. I realized in that moment, as I stared at the last happy picture of my once complete family, that I had no idea what I was going to do. How was I going to feed Ryan? That's when I lost it. For a good hour, I sat in my car, holding the picture of my family close to me, tears falling down my face, trying, but failing to find a solution to how I was going to explain to Ryan how our lives had gotten worse. It broke my heart.

I looked down at the clock, drying my eyes. I realized I needed to pick Ryan up, since school was getting out soon. With my foot on the gas, my car in drive, I sped off with a new determination in my mind, to make sure that I wouldn't have to have that conversation.

The car slowly came to a stop in front of the local high school, my eyes drifting over the black and blue logo, the contemporary style of the building contrasting with the older bungalows on the campus, a sea of young adults and teenagers storming out of the big iron doors. With a sudden thud, my passenger door opens and a small fox pops into my view, his eyes big and caring, not a single bad bone in his small little body. With a huge smile, I watch him climb into the car, and instantly, as if he could read my mind, his smile vanashes and he asks, "what happened? What's wrong?"

My smile wavers slightly, but I try to keep my composure

"What do you mean pup? Everything is fine. "

"Sam, I'm not dumb. I can read you like a book. Please, what happened?"

Looking into his eyes, I knew I couldn't lie. There was no way.

"I..... I was fired! But that's not for you to worry about. It's my concern OK? Now, let's go home and have some diner while I look for a new one ok?"

"you were fired?? Why? What happened? Is it-"

I look over at him and smile, my paw resting on his shoulder.

"that's enough pup! Don't worry about it, I hated that job any way. We have enough to get by for a bit ok? Like i said, its my concern not yours. your concern is diner tonight!"

With a small smile, he nods his head and relaxes.

"OK. I trust you Sam. Let's go home."

I unlock the house, walking in with Ryan right behind me. Looking around, I notice that the house, while not huge, never seems to loose the comfy feel. It's a small one bedroom house, the walls a pale blue mixed with an off white, a small kitchen attached to an even smaller dinning room area, and a small cozy den, the couch messy and tossed with blankets and my pillow, acting as my make shift bed, all complete our tiny home. I sit down at the computer, looking up some of the local places, searching for any job openings as little Ryan starts dinner for us, the smell of fresh cooked pasta and chicken floating through the air. I'm not sure where he learned it, but man Ryan can cook! I hear him getting plates and drinks as I scroll past a few potential ads. One for being a waiter at a local diner caught my eye.

'Full time waiter needed. Starting rate is $15, with room to grow. Night shift only, 2am to 10am. Apply With in'

Well that doesnt work. Theres no way I would be able to do that and take care of Ryan. Out of the corner of my eye, I see something slide over to me, and I notice its ryan, handing me my plate. Taking the plate, my mouth instantly starts to water, the juciy chicken, with a thick layer of motzerella and tomato sauce, all on top of buttered linguine.

"Ryan, this looks incredible"

"Thanks. I found the recipe online. I just mase a few adjustments in the sauce." he replied.

With out warning, Ryan stands up and hugs me tight.

"Thank you for taking care of me. I know it would be easier if you moved out on your own, and didn't have to take care of me."

Slightly shocked, I hug my little brother back. "Don't be rediculous. If I was alone I'd have to cook my own meals. I wouldn't last more then a day! Oh and your also family...I guess that does count for something." I say smiling, my paw ruffling his headfur.

Looking up at me, he smiles and asks jokingly, "So your just using me for my cooking?"

"Yup! Besides that your usless!"

Chuckling, he pushes away from me, and socks my arm. "Jerk!"

Smiling as we start to eat, i look over at him. "well make it through this just fine."

"I know" he says and smiles back.

I search through all of dinner, and late into the night, even after putting Ryan to bed. I was so close to giving up and going to bed myself. There seemed to be nothing but jobs that were either to little in pay, or needing experts.

"ugh ok, one more page then I'm going to bed."

Thats when I stumbled across something that caught my eye. It was a small ad on the local newspaper website. The ad read "dreamcatcher needed. 6 hour shifts, midnight to 6am, 4 days a week. Inquire at 425 Moore St reet. Inquire within at any hour. Wages to be discussed upon hiring"

What the hecks a dream catcher? Clicking over to google, i do a quick search and pull up....nothing. not a single result.

Well thats strange...but I do need a job...whats the harm in looking? 425 Moore Street....... That's only a block away! Its a nightshift, but thatll still give me the ability to take ryan to school, come home and go to bed, wake up and pick him up, then spend time with him before work.

Quickly I scribble down a note, explaining to Ryan where I am incase he Wakes up, then grabbing my wallet and a copy of my resume from the printer, I walk out the door, and out towards the address, the night air cold against my fur. As I walk, I start to wonder what exactly a dreamcatcher might be, but then again, a jobs a job so who cares?

The hours, while not perfect, are still really manageable for me. I look up as I come to a stop in front of 425 Moore Street, a building, that while not exactly new, is still obviously well kept, a fresh white paint job recently just finished. Above the door, in crisp black letters, reads 'Dreams are never what they seem'.What the heck does that even mean? Looking around, i think about mine and Ryans situation. I need a job. But this place....it seems...it seems shady. I cant have a dangerous job....Ryan cant lose another family member.The neighboorhood we live in, the same one this dreamcatcher thing is in, isn't shady or bad at all. But something about the place makes me feel uneasy, as if what I might find inside, may be dangerous. but there is no way to know unless I walk in, so with a heavy sigh of nervousness, I push the door open, and walk in.