Helen Sobczak woke up bright and early, even before her alarm was set to go off.

She considered herself a punctual person. Her nightmare was having to run in ten minutes late, everyone in the lab shaking their heads in disappointment.

No thank you!

As she usually did just after waking up, she stretched and yawned. But today, she slumped back in bed with her butt still sticking up.

She didn't want to go into work today.

Helen was still laying in that awkward position when her roommate came to check to see if she was awake.

"Are you okay? You're usually up by now," said Michelle -- Shelly to her friends.

"Dun wanna go to work," Helen moaned.

"Are you sick?" Shelly asked, concerned.

"I just need a break from the place!" Helen exclaimed. "My boss turned into a woman!"

"Hey, whoa," said the otter, putting her hands up. "Not cool."

"What? No, not like that! One of the interns spilled some chemicals on the scientist I'm working with and he grew tits. Grew some tits and looks cute! And the intern spilled other chemicals on herself and turned into a hunk!? And there's this lizard lady who I think is the money lady??? And she looks like a supermodel! The famous Dr Science apparently has an alien baby???? There's this woman who is literally named Nemesis and she acts like it! She's constantly muttering threats under her breath! I took the last brownie in the cafeteria and she vowed 'vengeance even unto 7 generations!' So I gave the brownie to her and she told me that bribery would not guarantee a cushy position when she rules the country????? And Xavier??????? Everyone is so hot and/or weird and I just wanted to work in serious, normal science!"

"Breathe, girl," said Shelly.

Helen breathed and calmed down.

"So I just want to lay in bed all day and not deal with that for one day."

Shelly hopped up on the bed and sat next to Helen. She patted the dog's head.

"Hey, its fine if you need to take a day to yourself. I support that. I do have just one quick question."

"Yeah?" asked Helen.

"What's your PTO like? Do you get paid time off?"

"Uhhhhh..." Helen had not actually gotten clarification on that point.

"Is there a call-out line you need to call?"

"Ummmm..." Helen had that information... on a card that she'd left in her work locker.

Shelly inhaled then blew the air out. She suddenly smacked Helen on the ass.

"Ow!" Helen cried indignantly and sat up to get her butt away from this mistreatment.

"Go to work," Shelly said sternly. "You can't afford not to get paid or to get an unexcused absence! And our rent can't afford you losing your job!"

"Okay, okay," said Helen. "But I'm using the last of the fancy tea!"

"That's fair," said Shelly. She had bought the fancy tea for herself but had let Helen have most of it. "You gotta treat yourself."

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Helen started out very enthusiastic about her new job at Science Laboratories. She's still very excited to be working with such prominant scientists but sometimes she wants a day off from all the weirdness. Its so weird there! A little Science Laboratories goes a long way if you're not also a big weirdo who takes it mostly in stride.

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Helen Sobczak owned by me
Art by  Kastoluza