“Tanning Salon Worker”

BY AVA SEIFERT

She took care of my sister and me. We were her life, her purpose, until we became little birds leaving the nest. The passion and the energy to start her day vanished, until her spark came back to her. That spark was her job.

I work Mondays at the tanning salon for my best friend, Jen. I clean the tanning bed, change out the goggles, clean the towels, and make sure everything is locked up tight at the end of the night. Last night, Jen gave me a key to the salon, so now I can go in the salon whenever I want to! The tanning-lotion smell and the noise machine make it feel like I am getting paid to be at the beach.

I am a mom of two beautiful girls, but a lot of times, my hard work as a mother wasn’t rewarded as quickly or as visibly. I actually love Mondays. Getting up in the morning for work gives me a purpose. I get paid for my hard work. With this job, I have a reward that I can see: cash money, baby!

Some shifts, I do not really have any customers, so I sit there and read and eat snacks. Sometimes I get rude customers, but I just smile at them because I know they are going to relax in the tanning bed, and they always thank me when they leave.

Before my job, as I said, I was a stay-at-home mom. My pride and joy was my kids, and my life was devoted to them. But now, since they are older, I am proud to show them my job. I love to come home and tell them what I did at work that day. Since they also work, my job gives me a way to relate to them.