Castle On The Hill

Chapter Twenty-Five

My hands started shaking as I locked my bike to the pole. After months of tirelessly filling out applications, I got a call from Family Dollar and have an interview. I hope I can get this job so I can get an apartment and truly make Dansville my home.

I took a deep breath and walked into the store. I hope I get this job because Mana Tina said I need one by the end of August. She and Mr. Pete work full time, so I don't get why money is so tight. They must spend it all on partying. I shook my head to get those thoughts out. They made my senior year the best I've ever had. A cashier saw me standing still and studied me.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

"Yes. I have an interview with Tracy." I replied while walking over to her.

"Stand here like I'm cashing you out so I can call her."

"Okay."

I stood at the register and she pulled her phone out of her pocket and called her.

"Hey Tracy, there's a girl here for an interview...Okay, I'll send her back." She hung up and looked at me. "In the back by the bathrooms is the break room. She's in there."

"Thanks."

The cashier nodded and pointed towards the back. I followed the directions of her finger as a customer came up to get cashed out. When I got to the back, a woman with long birth blonde hair was standing there.

"Are you my interviewee?" She asked.

"Yes ma'am." I replied.

"Good! I've asked three different people and they looked at me like I was crazy."

I laughed and she smiled. She waved her arm and I followed her to the break room. We sat at the table and she sighed. She had my application printed out and in front of her.

"Tara Kellie?" She asked.

"That's me." I smiled.

"You've never had a job before?"

"No ma'am."

"Can I ask why?"

"Yes ma'am. I was a foster child and spent my childhood moving around."

She cringed. "You're eighteen. You out of the system?"

I smiled. "Yes. The family I'm with has let me stay with them, as long as I find a job."

She sighed and smiled. "You plan on staying here?"

"Yes. The family I'm with is great, I have a best friend and things are serious with my boyfriend. We want to get an apartment."

"Ah. Young love is so sweet. Need a job to seal the deal and make it an official home?"

"Yes."

She pushed her hair behind her ear. "I was in that system for a few years too. Let me guess, you're with Tina?"

My eyes went wide. "Yes."

She smiled. "I was her first and put her and Pete through the ringer. Ran off three days before eighteen with an older boyfriend who had a place. I need to make amends with them."

I smiled. I'm going to use this as my way to snag a job here. "Well, maybe if I get hired, we can set it up where you come over on a night we're both off."

"Nights?"

"I have open availability, but I guess I was hoping I could close."

"Most people want to work mornings."

"I figured as much, that's why I don't mind working evenings."

She smiled. "I like you."

I blushed. "Thank you."