Letter to the Hiring Manager of Texaco
(summer of ‘99)
Texaco Gas Mart
College Station, TX
Attention: Hiring Manager (summer of 1999)
Re: My best friend’s temp job application
To Whom it May Concern,
You couldn’t have known Natasha was bilingual in Urdu and English when she applied, though she’d noted the fact on her application. Since hers was the only Pakistani family in town, I said you didn’t need the skill. In fact, the mention might hurt her chances of getting an interview. I suggested she erase it, replace it with something transferable: a positive attitude. She shrunk into that booth adjacent to the machine that spun hotdogs in diesel exhaust. I combed through my book bag, found a white-out pen, and pushed it across the table under my palm. She concealed the ink with precision until it was undetectable, blew it dry, then stuffed her modified version in the drop box slot. She has gone, but if you receive this, you should know my friend, Natasha, spoke Urdu and English.
With Fond Memories of Nashu-beti
Crystal Taylor (she/her) is a writer and poet from San Antonio, Texas. Her work lives in Dishsoap Quarterly, Stone Circle Review, Neologism, and other sacred spaces. Her poetry has been nominated for Best of the Net. She enjoys connecting with fellow literature lovers on most social media platforms.
