Page 10 of Mav

A while later I take a seat where indicated, which is in front of a desk where Alf is looking me over. He gives me a warm welcome and the lady who I overheard talking about the job gives me a finger wave as she passes the office I’m sitting in.

“Okay, Blake. First, can I see your references?”

I pass the envelope with all my references inside. I have seven and they are all good ones, showing I am reliable, honest and can work unattended. I am rather proud of my working experience, even though they are lowly in some people’s eyes. But to me, it doesn’t matter as a job is an honest way of making a living, no matter what that job is.

I wait calmly and quietly as Alf reads each one of the references. He eventually places them back into the envelope and passes them back to me. “I’m impressed with those, Blake. You have continually shown excellent character, and the cleaning, nursing home and serving ones give their personal contact numbers as well as the company’s. That, to me, shows how much they valued you as a worker and an individual.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me Blake, you have obviously earned the praise they are giving you. I’d like you to start on Wednesday if you can. It will give me time to get your clients organized. I will go around with you the first time you meet them, then they won’t be frightened to open the door to you.

“The job entails cleaning kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, and if needed, anywhere else. The people you are being placed with see no one after they have had their lunchtime meal. We have included hot meals for any of our customers who can’t get a hot meal for themselves. I don’t give a rat’s ass what anyone else wants us to do officially. We included a little on the cost of our service to our commercial clients, which covers the meals. Hence, our elderly customers don’t have to pay for a meal each day.

“I need you to check their fridge, freezer, and cabinets. If you think they don’t have enough food, offer to shop for them. If you do any shopping, I will give you a bonus at the end of the month to cover your time and effort.”

“I can do that, and would do it without you needing to give me a bonus.” Alf gives me a considering look, searching for something in my face, I’m sure. I calmly look back at him, showing I have no hidden agenda.

“Let’s put you on a three-month trial, and then we can part ways if we feel we are not a good fit. If you are a good fit your salary will increase a little more.”

“Okay, that’s good. Do you want me to come here and go with you to the customers? Oh, there is one problem, but you may not employ me after I tell you.”

Alf leans forward, clasping his hands together on the desktop. “What’s that, Blake?”

“I don’t have a vehicle. I am okay to walk from one customer to the next, but is it a problem?”

Tapping his fingers on the desk while obviously thinking, we both turn when a lady walks into the office and gives me a bright smile.

“Hi, are you Blake?” she asks.

“I am, yes,” I return the smile, trying to maintain a good impression.

“Well, you’ve got the job. I’ve been told by Bitty that you are solid, you need the job and that you are her friend. She also told me she’d spit in my food at the clubhouse if I didn’t employ you.”

I’m so shocked that I’m sitting here with my mouth hung open. Alf looks about as shocked as me, but then both he and this woman throw their heads back, laughing.

“Those three are beyond anyone I’ve ever known. Honestly, Heather, how the three ended up in that clubhouse I’ll never know, but I bet they are trouble at times,” Alf chortles.

“I’m not sure I can take the job because I don’t have a vehicle at the moment,” I quickly let her know that I’m on foot thesedays, because I don’t want them to employ me, and then they are embarrassed to say they can’t use my services.

“That’s not a problem. Alf, have you placed Blake on a trial basis?”

“I have, Heather. Three months. Blake's references are excellent and I’m sure we won’t have any problems.”

I realize that Heather is the owner, along with Alf, that I’ve heard of. I have not heard a single bad word about her, and if I’ve heard right, she is the woman of Forest, our local Sheriff. I don’t think they are married? But then I don’t know them so they could be, but either way, it isn’t my business.

“We have the Nissan NV200 out back, and nobody has used that in quite a while. It’d be better to be used than left to rot,” Heather is looking at Alf with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, okay, Blake can use that, and I’ll give her the usual contract we put on the vans with the stipulation it’s returned, if at the end of the three-month period we part ways.” Alf looks at Heather, who nods her head in agreement.

“Okay, I’ve got to get to the clubhouse this morning, but I’ll see you soon, Blake.” Heather quickly waves at Alf and disappears. She is a bit of a whirlwind.

An hour later, I’m driving home in the van I’ve been allocated, and I have the broadest smile on my face that you could imagine. Even my cheeks hurt with it. This, I hope, is going to be a tremendous step up for me and my circumstances. It’s going to be tiring working two jobs and from morning to nearly midnight, but I need it and that’s all that matters.

Parking the van, I climb out, lock up and turn to walk towards the house when I hear my name called. Turning, I can’t hold back the frown that flashes onto my face. Yax! What the hell does she want now?

“What do you want?” I ask, standing with my back to my front door because no way am I going to have her get inside.

“I need you to give me money for Franklin.”

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