THE HEADMASTER FROM HELL

Part 85 - THE JOB

Sean was having fun in the United States and was busy spending the last of his money, the small amount he had left after paying the men to arrange his escape. He had also paid them a lot for the explosives that blew up the monastery and demolished the tower block so there hadn't been much left in the end. Just enough to keep him going for a few weeks once he got to the states.

After a few weeks indeed the money was almost gone and now Sean new it was time to snap out of ''fun mode'' and think about ''serious/work/future mode'' He knew he would need to start small and modest at first and build up to something bigger over time

First he would need to find a job somewhere. So he began to search for job vacancies in Florida, the state he was in, and he was distressed by the lack of what he considered acceptable vacancies. Sean was not prepared to work in Wendy's or Walmart no matter how much he needed a job. He could not possibly deal with rude customers all day long!

Then he saw an advert that caught his attention. It was for a live-in handyman and gardener. The ad said

We are an elderly couple currently seeking a Live-in Handyman/Gardener to help them maintain their property in an exceptionally clean environment for 72 hours per week. The handyman/gardener will be responsible for taking care of the garden and outdoor maintenance.They will also carry out maintenance inside the property Growing vegetables and watering plants will also be part of the duties.

Working hours: 6 days per week, 12 hours per day

Accommodation: live in

Duties include:take care of the household, outdoors maintenance, growing vegetables, watering, plants maintaining an exceptionally clean environment

This lovely elderly couple needs someone who is available as soon as possible. This job would be ideal for a young and healthy man. We will consider all healthy male applicants between the ages of 21-35

Sean was very shocked by the long hours, 72 a week over 6 days was a lot and he was daunted by this. But somehow he thought this job would be ideal because he could also live in with this couple so it would help him to remain hidden. He certainly fitted the criteria being male, healthy and over 21 and under 35. So he rang them to arrange an appointment

An elderly man answered the call ''Hello?'' he said

''Hi there I'm calling about the live-in handyman and gardener job'' Sean replied

''I see and are you young and healthy? Are you over 21 and under 35?''

''Yes, I am, very''

''What experience do you have with gardening and general house duties and handyman jobs?''

Sean answered honestly and had bad flashbacks, to his mothers abuse and his slavery to her, while he said it ''A fair bit as I helped my mother for many years, when i was a teenager and younger man, with the garden and house. I carried out many many jobs for my mother and I am good with my hands. I can build and repair things''

''Excellent, well in that case I'd like to invite you for a face-to-face interview'' the old man said

''Thank you'' Sean said with delight

''Can you come over right now?''

''Yes no problem''

''What is your name?''

''I am Sam'' Sean now had false identification and was using the name Sam

''Well i'll give you directions''

Excited Sean wrote down the directions to the house and left for his appointment. When he got to the house an elderly lady answered the door

'You must be Sam?'' She said

''Yes ma'am that's right''

''I'm Edna it was my husband Albert who you spoke to on the phone. Come inside''

Sean went into the house and Edna took him into a living room where the old man Albert was sitting

''Take a seat boy'' Albert told him

Sean sat down

''So you know this job is live in and it's 72 hours a week Monday- Saturday?'' Albert asked him

''Yes'' Sean replied

''Before we continue I need to tell you something. You don't reply with just yes, you reply with Yes Sir. Every time you talk to us you will be expected to address me as Sir and Edna as ma'am because we expect you to show us respect understood?''

Sean was very surprised, alarmed and dismayed by this but if they were going to hire him he would have to obey their rules ''Yes Sir, sorry Sir'' he said

''Now we will show you where you will be sleeping'' Edna said and they took him into the garden. It was a very big and pretty garden. They walked down to the far end of the garden and they arrived at a shed

''You will sleep in here'' Albert told him and noticed the look of surprise and horror on Sean's face ''I have to sleep in a shed Sir?'' he complained

''Oh don't worry it's really very cozy inside, it has heating and electricity. We'll show you''

They took him inside and he had to admit that it was somewhat nice shed, nicer than the shed he had made Matthew and Liam sleep in anyway, but hardly all that ''cozy'' certainly not his idea of cozy. The house they lived in looked big, like a mansion, and it did appear as though there was only the two of them there. So Sean was quite confused and bitter as to why they would not let him sleep inside as he was sure they had plenty of room and spare bedrooms so why make him sleep in a shed? 

''When you need the toilet we have an outside toilet you can use'' Edna told him ''Meals will be provided for you''

''Are you happy with this accommodation?'' Albert asked him bluntly ''You have to agree that you are satisfied living here first before we proceed''

''Yes Sir I guess so'' Sean said and was trying hard to hide his horror and anger

''You guess so?''

''Ok Sir sorry I know so''

''Next, we'll put you to work for a few hours and see how you do. If you do well then the jobs yours''

Sean was surprised by how quick and easy this was ''Don't you have any other applicants Sir, ma'am?'' he asked

''Well, none that were suitable'' Edna told him ''Just boys wasting our time really. Most of them didn't get past having to address us as Sir and Ma'am they said they wouldn't do it so they left. Then the rest either didn't like the shed or were useless at their work so they were dismissed. We hope maybe, at last, we've found the right boy and so far you've given us a good impression of yourself''

Sean again wasn't liking something. He wasn't liking being described as a boy and it seemed odd that they would describe him like that at his age. This couple did seem very odd anyway but Sean still wanted this job for now. It was not looking too thrilling so far but it was better than nothing and he really needed to work so he couldn't afford to be to picky.

''There is just one thing I wanted to ask please?'' Sean said anxiously. This was surely the most important question

''Yes go on boy what?'' Albert replied

''Well, Sir, how much will I be paid?''

''We will pay you $50 a week pocket money'' Albert told him ''bear in mind that you won't pay rent or for food, and there are no travel expenses either we think $50 is enough''

$50 for 72 hours of hard work? And only 1 day off a week This must be a joke Sean thought

''Is this a joke Sir?'' he asked

''No it is not a joke'' Albert told him

''We consider this a generous arrangement'' Edna explained ''You will be living here and we will provide you with food so we think $50 pocket money a week is adequate enough''

''Its enough for you to buy your sweets with!'' Albert said

Sweets?! Sean didn't need pocket money for sweets! He needed proper wages so he could save money. He needed to make a lot of savings. The thought of working here for nothing, for peanuts, was outrageous. Totally not what he had in mind. Very long hours for so little pay was a joke and like total slavery and exploitation but then again they had a point about the other stuff. They were providing his accommodation and food and he didn't have to commute every day. He could also hide here and make plans to leave later

''So this is acceptable to you or not?'' Edna asked him

''Yes Ma'am I accept it'' Sean said, bitterly and reluctantly, and he was thinking he would definitely not stay here for long, maybe just a couple of months. Long enough to get some experience so that they could give him a reference when he eventually applied for a new job. And long enough to save enough slowly to move on somewhere else. It would take a lot longer than he hoped but he wouldn't be spending his $50 a week ''pocket money'' on sweets he would be saving it all up until he had enough to leave. Yes it was going to be slow and annoying but it would do for now. It would have to

''Well then now it's time to put you to work'' Albert told him and took him and showed him the garden. ''Today you will work for a few hours in the garden and do a bit of housework too and after that, if we are happy you can go and pack your things and come back here to sleep tonight and start your first 12-hour day tomorrow''

''I don't need to leave and pack my things Sir'' Sean said ''My house burnt down recently i have no possessions left. All i have now are the clothes i am wearing and the few possessions on my back pack''

''Even better boy. We wanted someone who won't clog the shed up with pointless possessions! Boy you appear to be perfect for us. We just need to see you work and check that you are a hard worker then we can confirm you for the job!''

''Yes Sir'' Sean got to work. The work was back breaking. Edna and Albert had a huge garden and they grew many trees and fruits and vegetables

''We are entirely self sufficient here'' Edna told him ''But its a lot of work Every day the crops need looking after to make sure they don't die. Then we have tons of work needs doing inside the house too''

Sean worked hard and sweat poured off him in the roasting Florida sun. So eventually he stripped his shirt off.He was exhausted after two hours of extremely hard work. But he had worked hard and completed the jobs he was asked to do very well so Edna and Albert were satisfied

''Well boy the jobs yours if you want it'' Albert told him

''Yes Sir i'll take it Sir'' Sean said. Even though he was unhappy about just about everything about this job and this strange couple. The long hours, the tiny pay, the shed he would sleep in, having to call them Sir and Ma'am. It all sucked but he was sure he could cope with it for a short while while he saved $50 a week and planned for something better. After all he had put up with the monastery and being in prison for a while so he was sure he would put up with this now too for a while