A Tale of Two Carnies

19 - Jason Makes A Deal

The week crawled by in anticipation of seeing Cozbi again. Working twelve-hour shifts at Perrypen Farm preserved my sanity by keeping me distracted. I fell into a routine. Work, return to my room at the Inn, eat dinner, go to bed, stay up half the night worrying about Cozbi, and then I'd wake up to start the cycle all over again.

When Saturday morning rolled around, I was up and dressed by seven, sitting in the dining room eating one of Jill's breakfasts. Since I was a regular, Jill learned how I liked my eggs scrambled and my bacon crisp. The plate of French toast she set in front of me was a departure from the routine.

She wore a contemplative expression. "What time is your visit to the prison?"

"Ten."

"Are you doing anything this afternoon?"

I wondered why she wanted to know. "I'm meeting up with Cozbi's lawyer after the visit. Then I'm free. Why?"

"Did you mean what you said about replacing the compressor in the cooler? The new part came in this week. If you can't do it, Trevor will have to call someone."

"Yeah, sure, I can do it this afternoon."

"Good." She walked away.

Raya appeared from the back of the inn pushing a laundry cart. The girl wore a determined expression. She struggled to pull the empty cart up the staircase.

I set down my fork and got up to help.

She waved me off. "It's not so bad. I can get it."

"I admire your attitude but let me."

She scoffed. "I'm not helpless. I do this every weekend."

"And today you're going to let me help you." I grabbed the cart handle.

Raya stepped aside. When we got to the second-floor landing, I handed the cart back over to her.

She began making her way down the hall with the cart. "Since you helped me with the cart, I suppose you want me to clean your room first."

"It doesn't matter. Do you like doing housekeeping?"

"Mom and Dad give me an allowance, and I only have to do this during the summer break from school."

I had an idea. "Do you launder the sheets and towels on the premises?"

"Yeah, the laundry room is behind the kitchen."

"How would you like to increase your allowance?"

She stopped walking and shot me a suspicious look. "What do you mean?"

"I work long hours and don't like spending my Sundays at the laundromat. Can I pay you to do my laundry?"

The girl came back with a quick response. "How much will you pay me?"

"It costs me about ten dollars a week to buy detergent and feed the machines at the laundromat. I'd rather give that money to you."

"Make it twenty, and I'll fold your clothes for you."

I chuckled. "Folding should be included and not an add on."

She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I said twenty."

"Fifteen."

She paused to consider it. "Okay, fifteen, but if your underwear is gross, I won't touch it."

"Got it. No gross underwear. When you change the linens in my room, you'll find my dirty laundry under the bed."

She rolled her eyes. "God, you're a slob just like my brother. Why don't boys use a clothes basket?"