First Job Part I

I woke up not so well. I had the feeling that something wasn’t going to be right at all. Whether I was right or wrong didn’t matter. Time ticked by even if I didn’t move from the bed all day. I got up and was okay.
-Good morning, Mom.
On my way out of the bathroom I saw mom.
-Good morning, my boy.
-What’s for breakfast?
-You haven’t opened your eyes yet, and you’re hungry. That’s my champion!
-Stop it, Mom!
–Okay, toast, sliced cheese, tomato and cucumber.
-Cool.
-Come on, be more cheerful.
-Yay!
-The same thing. Today after breakfast, you’re gonna go ask for a job I marked in the paper. I nodded and we both headed to the living room. As Mom said there were a few toasted slices of bread on the table, and on another plate was sliced cheese, tomatoes and cucumber. It was a light breakfast.
-I’ll turn on the TV, dear.
-Okay, Mom.
-The topic in today’s news is a gang of criminals forcing others to commit the crimes for them. They often “hire” people to work without a contract, and besides getting others to steal in a roundabout way, they don’t pay you and often leave you to “guard” the crime scene.
-How dare! Someone has to catch them.
-Even if they get caught there’s no evidence. Without evidence nothing will happen.
-As expected from the lawyer in the studio. Right, Phil?
-Yeah, you’re right, Nell.
-If anyone happens to have information on these two.
They showed a picture of the two on the screen, but I didn’t pay attention to it.
-Call +359 98 XXX XXX XXX! Let’s stop them together.
-Where is the world going…
-Leave them alone, son. They won’t be in our town. They’re just panicking people.
I was eating while listening to the news. I didn’t hear anything else interesting. And it’s going to be hot today as it should be for the season.
-Thanks for breakfast, Mom.
I said after I ate thanking mom.
-No need for that son. Now you can go ask about work and good luck.
-I hope I have success.
The time was 10 and I had to leave. I got up and headed to the sink to wash my hands. Once I was ready I opened the door.
-I’m out.
I said and walked out with the newspaper in my hand. I had no idea where I was going to start, but I had to start somewhere. I looked around at the ads and there weren’t any near us, just on the other side of town.
-Well, whatever. I’ll catch the bus.
I headed for the bus stop. I heard noises, but I couldn’t tell where they were coming from. It couldn’t have been anything important.
-Brother, on the news they’re showing us.
-You’re going to give us away. Let’s follow him.
-Yes, sir!
-This isn’t the army, you idiot!
-You didn’t have to hit me that hard, boss.
-Let it be a lesson to you.
I had nothing to do so I decided to get my mp3 player. I took out the headphones and connected them. I sat down at the bus stop.
-That’s another thing. Let’s see. There are a few ads downtown. Let’s start there.
I had a quick good read of the job ads downtown: a waiter in a restaurant, a cook in a fast food chain, and a sales clerk in a store. According to the addresses, I could conclude that I was going to be doing a lot of traveling though downtown wasn’t that big. By the time I got a feel for it a few people came and before long the bus. I got on and paid the driver the fare. I sat down and again reviewed everything to be accurate in my otherwise folded newspaper, but I honestly looked kind of weird to the others. More than usual. It didn’t really matter or the fact that only old people read newspapers.
Achoo.
-All right. I’ll start with the place looking for a waiter.
-Boss, is this one stupid?
-At about your level.
-Is that a compliment?
-No, it’s not.
-I’m smarter than him!
-Because of the nonsense about winning the lottery, how many times have we stolen and we keep losing our stolen money.
-This time things will work out, honest.
-Didn’t you say the same thing last time?
-Then the odds were 80%, now they’re 85.
-And if they pull the same numbers?
-Well… Probably not.
-Let’s hope and follow this one from a distance.
-So be it.
The bus stopped at the bus stop next to the center and I got off. Others got off with me, but almost everything was happening here. I turned off my mp3 player.
-Thanks for the ride.
-There’s no reason, boy.
The driver joked, but even though we didn’t know each other that well we didn’t have a bad relationship. Because of that, he very often charged me as a student even though I had graduated. According to the ad it must be somewhere behind fountain. It wasn’t that far I boldly went ahead.
-Wait, isn’t that Deni?
-Where’s he, Ivelina?
-It might seem like it, but get back to work, Rosa!
-Whatever you say.
Behind the fountain a large establishment was revealed. There was a man in front. He saw me.
-Hello, Mr. customer. What can I help you with?
-Hello. I’m here about the job ad.
-Follow me. I’ll take you to Mr. Shilow.
We walked into the restaurant. It was huge. There was a big bar, TVs, and lots of stuff. There even seemed to be rooms where a group of people could reserve for themselves. Definitely a place for young people like me with the only difference is that I don’t go to places like that. I followed the waiter closely, if I can call him that. We arrived at a door.
-Wait a moment.
I nodded. Then he knocked on the door.
-You may come in.
-Thanks, master.
A bit of an odd greeting, but still. The two of them talked for not a minute.
-You can come in, boy.
And I was called. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was definitely worried.
-There’s nothing to be afraid of.
Then I gathered my courage and entered the room.
-Excuse me for coming in.
-Good morning.
-Good morning.
-I heard you were looking for a job and came across our ad.
-Yes, I did.
-Could say your names.
-Of course. Deni XXXXXXXv XXXXXv.
-Are you from around here?
-Yes.
-Address.
-XXXXX Street and XXXXX Street number 15.
-Phone.
-+359 98 XXX XXX XXX.
-Do you have experience in this field?
-No, but didn’t it say no experience required?
-There’s nothin’. We’ll look at others’ forms and call you back.
-Okay.
-But we don’t have-
-Come this way, Bernard.
-Yes, sir.
-Give him something for free and get him out. He won’t last a day without making mistakes.
-Understood. Let’s go, Mr. Deni.
-All right.
Ugh, that was a scary experience. I don’t know if they’ll take me or not, but at least I tried.
-What do you want?
-What?
-From the restaurant.
-Anything to recommend?
-Are you of drinking age?
-Yes.
-Then I’ll bring you a cocktail of vanilla cola and Aperol. Wait a moment.
I didn’t know what he was talking about, but I nodded. A minute later Bernard came in with a plastic cup and the cocktail inside.
-There you go.
-Thanks.
I took the cocktail.
-You can go now.
It sounded like an order rather than a courtesy, but there was nothing to do here and I left the place accordingly.