First Job Part IV

I couldn’t contain myself, but that was the truth the others were pointing out.
-And yet do not believe that is the case. Even the most inept are useful, somewhere, and you are not. You’re just beating it into your head.
-Do you really think so, Stella?
-I’m more than convinced. Everyone’s good at something. But everybody spits on other people’s bad points, but don’t let that stop you!
-Are you saying that from experience?
-Yes, Deni. When I was a child I was often made fun of for being weak in math and P.E., but as you yourself noted I have a gift for playing the violin.
Stella took a sip and then a second.
-I wasn’t a good student either, but I was slightly above average.
-I’d find that hard to believe.
-And now are you going to start doing it too?
-It definitely sucks to be made fun of, especially when you’re present.
-It’s undeniable.
-Well, when do you plan on having a girlfriend?
It came out of the blue, but I had to be honest with Stella.
-Actually, I’m looking, but no luck so far.
-Is that so?
-Yes.
Then I wish you best of luck. You’re on the right track. Just don’t give up or quit!
-Thank you very much.
I drank my sprite and got up.
-Now I have to go.
-Wait.
-?
-I’ll have a concert with an orchestra in a hall in two months. I’d love for you to attend.
-But I don’t have any money.
-No problem, here’s your VIP ticket.
-I don’t deserve it.
-Just take it.
Stella gave me the ticket by force, I took it and started back to my destination.
-He’s not bad.
-Not at all, Mike.
-You’re a bigger sister and you can teach him this or that.
-Aren’t you looking for a fight?
-No, it’s not like that.
Stella drank the rest of her drink and got up.
-Where are you going?
-To keep playing.
-Boss, how much longer do we have to follwo him?
-Have patience. Soon he’ll be desperate and easy to trick. Just make sure you don’t give yourself away.
-No, I won’t, but the girl which was next to him seemed nice.
-So what? She’s no use to us for anything. Well, concentrate on the young man. Now after him!
How many surprises were in store for me today I didn’t know, but only by walking forward could I figure them out. So only forward, and what will be-shall be. The alley leading to the fast food place wasn’t far. I almost reached it. It would take me to the end of downtown and the beginning of the rich people’s neighborhood. The place was literally teeming with people in expensive clothes, cars and whatnot.
As if it was a different world there, not the same one. Same applied for their way of thinking. They thought of themselves as more than others, but whatever a person was, they remained meat, bone and soul. I do not see the difference between them and us. All the shops here sold everything so expensive. It was like they were boutiques. I didn’t even have the courage to look at the people passing by here. About
them I’d just be an annoying fly getting in the way of their otherwise perfect lives. And whether that was really the case was another matter. I was trying as hard as I could not to be reflected in their eyes and
to find this place to make a quick meals. Surely everything in it would be expensive too. It didn’t matter. God, I nearly tripped over my own feet. Looks like alcohol in the cocktail after all, they gave me at my first job was starting to kick in. I didn’t know exactly where the place was, so I decided to ask a shopkeeper.
-Hello.
-Hey, poor guy, don’t beg.
-No, I’m not.
-Get out.
And that was their good welcome. I’d hate to think what their bad reception would have been. On to the next shop.
-Hey, can you…
-These clothes are from my great-grandmother’s time. You must be someone digging out of the dump. Get out.
I passed that store, too.
-Hey, can you…
-This isn’t a homeless people shelter.
I swear these people need a psychologist, but I don’t think he’d help them. It was best to ignore them or I’d kill them. Not literally, of course. I decided to use fate as a guide to guide myself, and so I checked out each store with a glance. It wasn’t long before I stumbled upon the place I was looking for, and it was literally across the street from where the rich man’s neighborhood begins. I walked into it. All eyes were on me and if not for what I usually get stared at for, here it was for my appearance. Somehow I gathered my courage and spoke.
-Can I speak to the manager?
A second. Two. Three. Four. Five.
-Yeah, come this way.
I followed one of the restaurant staff.
-Mr. Trakiyev, this one wants to speak to you.
-All right. What is it, young man?
-Well… I saw the job ad and I came.
-Do you have any experience in this field?
-No, but in the ad.
-You don’t, but even if you did, I wouldn’t take you. Your clothes are cheap and unclean. It would only ruin the name of otherwise good place to eat.
-Boss.
-I didn’t know you had such demands.
-Besides, I see you share nothing in common with us. It just won’t do.
=Boss.
-Yeah, what’s the matter, Yanni?
-One order was returned. What are we gonna do about it?
-Let’s see. Give it to this boy. At least he had the guts to come here, but he’s not like us. Isn’t he?
-That’s right, Boss.
All the workers shouted together.
-Kid, here’s your food. I hope you’ll remember this moment, because you’ll hardly ever have a chance to eat something this good.
I didn’t answer him, I just accepted the package of food and something to drink.
-Now get out of the back and don’t come around again! You’ll only ruin the image of this place!
Even if he wanted to I wouldn’t do it. I feel completely ashamed and like it’s just a reason not to get picked up.
I’m done with the downtown. Now on to the industrial area. I had to catch a bus to take me there because it was not a bit far from downtown. I saw the familiar driver and he charged me for the fare as a student. I sat in literally the first available seat. There weren’t many people for the industrial area, and most of the people working there were catching the earliest bus at six. I was beginning to think this was just temporary and that things would probably get better. Just bad luck. Whether it was or in reality is another matter, but let’s think positive.
Next stop industrial area.
Before I knew it the last stop came and expectedly I was the only one left. I got up and started to get off.
-Good luck, boy.
Then the driver called before I got off.
-Thank you very much.
In the industrial area, in a nutshell, it’s a black job. The first job was to unload building supplies at a warehouse. The place was less than a hundred metres from the bus stop. I headed there. While I was walking
I could see other workers working tirelessly without taking a breath as the expression goes. You could certainly liken them to worker bees. The hundred meters were not even two minutes walking.
-Hello.
I called to a worker who was unloading building supplies.
-Hello.
-Can I talk to your boss?
-Yes, of course. I’ll call him right now.
He turned out to be a polite man, or so I thought. After a minute a big giant appeared.
-What do you want, boy?
-You have a job advertisement and I came to ask for a job.
-What?
-Yes, I want to work here.
-Gut, ’cause the job’s simple. Ya load building supplies. Whatever you damage is taken out of your wage.
-How many hours. What’s the pay?
-Cinco, to be honest, I don’t think this job is for you. We work here from 8 to 12 hours depending on how much stock we take. You work when we call you. You get 4 euros an hour.
-He’s right. The job is not for you.
After some thought, I agreed. It really was a very physical job and I could only really work to pay for what I damaged.
-Thank you very much. Bye.
One down and seven to go.