“Why do the news reports keep saying there’s a shortage of workers?” Twenty-two-year-old Cindy Jansen pulled her hands upward running her fingers through the dark blonde locks of mussed hair. “I keep sending out résumés and nobody ever answers.”
Her face glowed from the blueish light from the laptop computer on her crossed legs in the darkened bedroom. The green numbers on the alarm clock next to the bed silently flashed from 1:59 to 2:00. She tapped a few more key strokes and then with her center finger banged the Enter key to send another résumé into the electronic never land that is the job market in 2022.
She rubbed her sore eyes and blew the bangs from her forehead in exasperation. “It’s now six months since graduation and I still can’t find a job1” She slapped the top down on the computer and pushed it across the bedcovers toward the clock.
The cellphone lying on the bed between her legs chirped. It was a text from best friend Jeanie. “u still up?”
Cindy’s thumbs danced a reply. “yep sending resumes”
“I thought u had a job lined up?”
“interview only never called me no word nada”
“I gotta go in early tomorrow they’re hiring here did ya apply?
“yep - no reply - ghosted me”
“sorry TTYL”
In the morning over oatmeal and orange juice, Mom asked
