Gus

How I Planned To Live the Rest Of My Life

Just as I had promised myself, once I graduated high school when I was 18, I didn't apply for any college. While all my classmates got into the posh Ivy Leagues and prestigious schools around the country, I started looking for a full time job.

My mother worked as a sales lady in a clothing store, but that didn't get her too much pay. I decided to help her out for once.
The first job I applied for rejected me because I never went to college and was held back a year.
The second job rejected me because they didn't want anybody under 21 working for them. When I walked out, I thought about how much vodka was stashed in their storage room.
The third job said I was too short. I was 5'8.
The fourth said they were full. When I came in the main room, there were 4 people working stations.

At this point, I was done trying in person. After leaving the business of the fourth job, I spent that night on the computer looking through job applications. But, alas, all that was available was out of the city, and I didn't have that much money to travel when we didn't have a car.
The next morning, I was eating my cereal when my mother came in with the paper and plopped it on the table I was eating on. There was a box in the paper circled in sharpie. "I know you've been trying hard to get a job lately," she said to me, "I thought this might help you." She closed the sharpie cap and walked out of the kitchen. I took the newspaper and read the box:
Window Washer for Buildings Downtown
No experience needed
If interested, please visit Mr. Sasonbury on Locust Street
He does not have a telephone or computer, so you must meet him personally

*************
"But sir, you said 'no experience' was needed!"
"Yeah, but I need something better than a poor college dropout."
"Sir, if you would just give me a shot for a few days, I think you could see..."
"Give you a shot?" Mr. Sasonbury laughed. "Why should I give you a shot, young man?"
I took a deep breath. "I had to walk two fucking miles to get here. I've been trying to get a job for months, now. Everyone rejected me, sir. My mother, she can barely pay our rent and buy us enough food to last us the week because she's always wasting it on her precious bottles. The reason I didn't go to college is 'cause my grades were so bad the teachers pretty much encouraged me to drop out. I don't know anybody in this neighborhood that could help me. Sir, you are my last shot at getting myself together before I completely fall to pieces. If you don't give me this job after all I've been through, I'll.... I'll fucking sue, that's what I'll do! I'll sue your ass off! Do I make myself clear, sir?"
Mr. Sasonbury sat in silence and wide eyes. He stood up and reached out a wrinkly hand. He smiled so I could see his rotting teeth.
"I like your attitude, kid. It's the kind of stuff we need these days. Welcome to the business."
I shook his hand, and I began on Monday.