Yeah, I’m interviewing with NVB and I feel so incompetant… They look at me like I am so below them, because my sole experiences with workplace drama have been in high-paced, imminent deadline scenarios - as opposed to their stool-sitting, data-entry, have a heart-to-heart with your co-workers lifestyle.

Oh, and Tool is awesome. Now I command you to DL A Perfect Circle’s “Thirteenth Step” and “Emotive” albums. No buts, GO!
manda

Seriously, Darius, you write him a letter. You don’t have to say a word; he’ll come talk to you after he gets it. This is how it’s done. Make it complimentary–how much you’ve learned, etc.–explain that due to circumstances beyond your control you are being forced to move away or you will be homeless (or however you want to put it) and say that your last day is negotiable within a certain time frame (however big you want it to be). Look, he knows you’re going to leave, that you won’t stay forever. You’re 20, after all. Also tell him that a letter of reference would make a world of difference, and then enumerate the many things you’ve accomplished, so that he can easily reference them while he’s writing you a letter. This is not a special favor that you have to grovel for. You’ve been reliable and done a great job. How many times did you ever miss work?

I have to call up my stepbrother and tell him that he can’t bring his son to my dad’s 80th birthday party because he molested Izzy and she can’t deal with the thought of being in the same room with him. So I know where you’re at with the sweaty palms and heart palpitations–it’s so hard to break news to someone when you know they won’t like it. But in your case, doing it in writing is perfectly okay.