Chapter 4
Blake
Yesterday was so long but lucky I was able to find a place to rent. It was only 1,100. Some kid around 19. Who inherited his dead uncle's one bedroom house right outside of town. He didn't ask anything other than if I could pay the first month's rent ($600" and the sincerity deposit ($500). He wasn't all too sad his uncle was gone and more annoyed that he had to deal with the house but it was good for a little pocket change if he rents it out. As soon as I pulled out the money he was more than happy to sign the rental agreement. I had to go back to town to get a burner phone, a bicycle, and food. The house had the old owner's furniture so i didn't need to get any. After all that I got home and put everything away. I passed out. It's been days since I slept on a bed. Now a new day is here. I need to find a job. I don't have much money left after everything and if I want to stay here after this month I need to do something. I put the clothes she bought me neatly on the bed. I will wash them when I get home. I put my best close on. They're not great but they will do. I should have got something yesterday. But there's nothing I can do about it. There is a small trail behind this house i don't know who owns it but i don't think they will mind me using it. It only takes about 15 minutes to get to town using it. When I make enough I will get a used car but for now the bicycle is going to have to do.
The town is quiet but not in an ire kinda way. It's a peaceful way. I rode down the main road going straight through town looking for and hiring signs. I see quite a few but they're all in stores. That would mean I have to deal with people. That's when i see it. an auto shop. I know a good bit about cars. This could work. I pull up and put my bicycle up against the building. The door has one of those little bells on it that ring when you open it.
"I will be right with you" came a husky voice. I look around. It's a small shop but very neat and clean. Some one takes very good care of it.
"How may I help you?" I look at the person who just spoke to me. It's an old man. I'm surprised again he has bright pinks, browns, purples, and a little blue. Not as bright as hers. It's nice to see anyways.I don't think i will see anything like her ever again in my life. But this shows this man is a good one. I must be having a stick of luck right now. Better to enjoy it while I can.
"Hi, I'm Blake. I just moved to this town. I'm looking for a job and I saw your sign in the window and came in to see if you were still looking??" I ask as politely as I can.
"O well hay i am timothy welcome to the town. Where did you move to? I know all the houses in this town. And yes, I am still looking for a worker. Why don't we go to my office to talk more" he says as he turns to lead the way into the back.
"I moved into Lance's old house. His nephew Derek is renting it to me. I just moved in yesterday" i way as we walk by a big mettle door that i'm sure leads you to the shop floor. He opens the door at the very back. It's a good size room with one chair on one side of the desk in the back and two in the front of it. He takes a seat behind the desk and motioned for me to sit in one of the two sets in front of him with his hand. I sit in the one closest to the door.
"Yes I know that house I was a good friend of Lance. I'm truly heart broken by his loss. I didn't know his nephew was renting it out though." I can tell he meant it when he said it broke his heart to lose him. When he spoke the blue around him brightened. I don't think he thinks too highly of his nephew. the purple dulled a little but it came right back to its bright color.
" I'm not sure I only met Derek yesterday. When I met him about renting it, I was sorry. I'm sure the man was a good one. I wish I could have met him." I say half meaning it. If he was like this old man I think it would have been nice to meet him.
"Yes, he was a good man. So you're looking for a job? Are you looking to work the front desk because that's my wife's job. She's just under the weather today. I may be able to give you part time work to help her out but not a full time position. However, if you are looking for a job working on cars. Now that i can give you a full time position even if you don't know anything i can hire you as a helper and you can learn on the job." he says with a smile but i can see pleading in his eye i don't even need to see his color to know he's desperate for a worker.
"I'm looking for a job working on cars. I'm not the best at talking to people. I do know a little bit about them. I know enough to get by and i don't mind learning more." I truly mean it. I would love to learn from him. He looks like he has a lot he could teach me.
"Perfect , the pay is $14 an hour, when can you start?" he smiles like a kid in a candy shop. I laugh. I am really starting to like this town.
"Tomorrow what time do you want me here ? And what clothes do you want me to wear or is there a uniform I need to get??"
"7 am. And just some flame retardant pants and flame retardant long sleeve shirts. With still toad butts. The only reason I want those is so you don't get hurt by accident."
"Ok thank you so much i will be here at 7." I stood up and shook his hand.
"When you get here tomorrow we can sign all the paper work and get everything squared away." he says walking with me to the front
"Ok is there any paperwork you need me to bring tomorrow?"
"Your id and your router information so I can pay you."
"I don't have a bank account is that a problem."
"No i will just write you a check every week there is a smoke and go next to the Piggly Wiggly where you can cash your check."
"Thank you again. I will bring everything tomorrow morning"
"Your welcome see you tomorrow" I shake his hand one more time before I step outside. Now I need to find a place that sells what I need. I didn't see any shops that sold what i needed so far but a little ways back from here. There was another street that looked like it had some clothing stores down there. Off I go. At first it only looked like women's clothing stores. Then I finally found one that might have it in it. It's called "all men's work clothes" . fingers crossed. I step in and all I see is different types of work clothes.its name really fits it. It doesn't take me long to find what I'm looking for. I find two pairs in my size and go to check out. This old lady is sitting and looking right at me. It's a little unnerving. Her colors are good though. Most of the people in this town are old but with good colors.
"Did you find everything you need?" she asked with a sweet voice.
"Yes ma'am, now all i need is to find a plays that sells shoes"
"O there is a place four shops down from here that sells all kinds of shoes. Why not stop there after and see if there is what you are looking for there."
"Thank you. I will as soon as i leave here"
"You the boy who moved into Lance's old house right?"
"Yes I am, how did you know that?"
"This is a small town everyone knows everything. And you're new here so you're the talk of the town right now. But don't have to worry after you have been here for a while unless you do something big no one's going to really talk about you." She smiled at me and for some reason that kinda felt like a threat. Yep I like her too. I hand her my cash and she hands me the receipt.
"I hope you go to love this place as home" she says when I make it to the door. I turn back and look her in the eyes.
"Me too, I'm starting to really like this place. I hope I can call it home some day." Then I walk out, finish getting everything and start heading home. By the time I get home all I want to do is sleep. I move my clothes to the dresser and throw my clothes from this morning and today in the wash and proceed to sleep like the dead.