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My phone rang before I could do anything else and I sighed when I saw it was my mother again.
“Yes, Mom?” I knew I sounded annoyed, but I couldn’t help it.
“I’ve just been looking in the newspaper and I saw a number of jobs that I think you would enjoy.” She sounded nonchalant. “Have you seen anything you like?”
“I’ve seen one that looks promising.” I reluctantly told her about the housekeeper position. “But I just don’t know if I’d be qualified—.”
“You never know unless you try dear.” She said, sounding pleased with herself. “It never hurts to try.”
“I suppose.” I was surprised that she was encouraging me, seeing as she’d complained most of my childhood about me being messy. “Anyway, I need to make some calls. I’ll speak to you later.”
“Alright, dear, and good luck.”
“Thanks.” I hung up quickly and stared at the number for the job again.
I took a deep breath and dialed the number before I could chicken out. I could not afford to be choosy about jobs right now, seeing as I had zero other options. My life was crumbling around me, and I didn’t know what else I was going to do. I pictured that grumpy, arrogant asshole’s face who’d gotten me fired and took a deep breath.
“Thanks for nothing, Mr. Jackass. Look what you’ve done to my life,” I said as I listened to the ringing phone. If I ever saw him again, I’d slap him and maybe put him across my lap.
ChapterFour
Checking Account Balance: $220
Savings Account Balance: $10
Boyfriend Count: 0
“Hello?” I said when someone answered the phone. There was silence on the other line. “Hello? Is anybody there?” I paused and bit down on my lower lip. Had I called the wrong number? Had the newspaper messed up and printed the wrong number and my not-quite-dream job was now out of my reach? Let’s be real, it was the job of my nightmares, but it paid well, and all I could think about was receiving a paycheck with that many zeroes.
“Hello,” an elderly lady said, her voice reminiscent of someone from Alabama or South Carolina. “How may I help you?”
“Hi. I saw the ad in the newspaper for the housekeeper position.”
“Oh, yes.Myposition.” She sniffed.
“Oh,” I said, disappointment flooding through me. “Has the position already been filled, then?”
“No, no. Iwasthe housekeeper. I leave in a few days. I suppose he’s put an ad in the paper to find someone, even though I told him my sister could come down from Massachusetts and… Well, I suppose you don’t really want to hear the story.” She paused as if waiting for me to tell her to continue, but I had no interest and no patience.
“I don’t really know,” I said, not wanting to say, “I don’t give a shit about your sister.” I didn’t want to be rude, but I was calling about getting the job myself. I didn’t care to hear about what this lady’s sister was going to do.
“So what are your qualifications?” she continued, her tone haughty. Seemed like I’d upset her by not asking her to continue.
“Qualifications?” I asked in surprise. What sort of qualifications did you need to be a housekeeper? Was there a degree you had to get to figure out how to smooth down a blanket?
“Yes, qualifications. How many years have you been in a similar position?”
“Oh, well, a number of years,” I said vaguely.
“Okay, and a number of years is how many exactly?”
I bit down on my lower lip. “Well, like, four years,” I said. Technically, I hadn’t been a housekeeper for anyone else, but I’d been keeping my own house since I’d moved out of my parent’s house to go to college. So that kind of counted in my eyes.
“Okay. And your cooking skills?”
“My cooking skills?” I asked.
“Yes, you do understand as part of your duties, you will be required to make breakfast, lunch, dinners, host dinner parties.” My eyes widened at her words.
