The next day, Brando and Alvin returned to the employment agency. The morning air was crisp, the kind that felt like a quiet beginning. Brando tried to keep his mind clear, focusing on the hope of a new start.
The clerk greeted them with a friendly smile. "You're here early. Good—Sam Mall's department store is expecting you today. You'll be starting soon."
They thanked her and headed toward the mall, the streets busy with weekday shoppers and vendors calling out their wares.
When they arrived, they were ushered into the department store's back office. The manager, a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair, looked up from his desk. His eyes narrowed slightly in recognition when he saw Brando.
"Aren't you…?" He hesitated, then asked, "Are you sure you want this kind of job?"
Brando smiled, keeping his tone light. "Yes, sir. I'm sure."
The manager studied him for a beat, then nodded. "All right. Uniforms are in the stockroom. Go get fitted. I'll see you in my office later."
