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What a pain the ass to travel three hours to attend and 15 minute interview. The shoes I wore today have done a number on my heels. I'm only a third the way to my car when the pain is just too much, and I have to take the shoes off, there is just no other option. On a path cutting through an empty lot, I’m doing this awkward dance to pull off a shoe and balance my backpack and keep my headphones in my ears. Stripped down to my black socks I walk the rest of the path with relief, until I got to cross a section of grass to get to the side walk. The grass is dry and I know by the patchiness that this was not going to be pleasant, but I’d forgotten just how damn painful bindies can be. I haven’t been trapped in a bindy patch since I was kid. I’m bouncing from foot to foot and then have to leap the rest of the way to the concrete. My socks littered with clusters of the little bastards, and when I try to pick them out they stab into my fingers. You wouldn’t believe how sharp they are, and pronounced the sting. Instead of removing them all like a sucker I just rip the socks off, nearly tumbling sideways, still balancing everything, failing, and dropping a polished shoe.

There’s still a block to get to my car, and I’m barefoot on burning concrete, dressed in my best interview cloths. People are about, so I am trying to walk casually, as if I am not in massive amounts of pain. Pretending the blister caused by the shoes hasn’t torn open and the loose skin isn’t flapping with each step.

Twenty meters on now, I’ve dropped all pretence and am hobbling, wincing and cursing. I don’t care I am bow legged like I have messed my pants, don’t care I am carrying my shoes and socks. Me feet are burning and searing with pain, fuck them. I fold into the suffocatingly hot car and inspect my feet. I am expecting tiny shards of glass, deep gouges, blood; but no, just the runny ripped blister.

The phone sings and I dig it out the backpack. On the line is Bret from the employment agency, saying, “Just letting you know, they decided to go with someone else. Ok, mate?”