Last Stop

Chapter four

I park outside a corner bakery, hopping out and moving around my aunts Land Rover to help Justin out on the other side. The main street is full of family run restaurants, antique shops, clothing shops and a few other convenience stores.

I decide to make my way down, grabbing Justin's hand I lead him into the bakery.

"Table for two?" Another teenager asks, I think she is in my math class, Evelin.

"No, Evelin right?" She smiles and nods.

"Yes,  you are the new guy, Cameron."

It is my turn to smile as I glance around " I was wondering if I could talk to the manager?"

"Sure, she is in her office, I will get her, wait here." I nod as she leaves and I stand in the entrance. Justin walks up to the glass casing that has all sorts of treats stacked behind it. I can almost see his drool.

"Hi, Denis, the manager." I turn to a tall blonde lady with a smile.

"Nice to meet you, I am Cameron. New in town and I was wondering if you are hiring?" I ask, pulling Justin away from the glass.

She smiles softly and I already know what the answer is going to be."Sorry love, we are all fill. Try the clothing store down the road."

"Thanks." She pats my arm before walking off,Evelin smiles at me from behind the counter.

"Can I get you anything to go?"

I watch as Justin looks at the spiderman cookies in awe. "Can In have one of those spiderman ones as well as the horse one." I point and she nice bagging one for me. "Thanks."

Justin jumps with glee when I hand him the blue and red cookie. "Thanks Cammy!"

"See you in Math." With that I walk out with all the intention of going to the clothing store but before I can make it any more steps I hear my name being called.

"Cameron?!" I spin around spotting Anna and the guy from French, Declan.

"Anna, hey." I smile at them "Declan, right? We have French together."

He smiles "yeah man, nice to meet you." I grin as I shake his hand.

"You too."

"You play football?"

"No why?"

He grins with a shrug "you have the build and we are always on the look out for new talent."

Anna grins "Dec is the football captain,ever loyal to his job."

"How do you guys do, the team I mean?" I ask with interest. I always loved watching football back home. It gave me an excuse to stay away from home and feel like a part of something.

"good, not that I like boasting," Declan smirks and Anna shoves him.

"Anyways what you guys doing in town?" She asks nodding towards Justin who already has blue food colouring around his mouth. Not even half interested in the conversation going on above him.

"I am looking for a job," I tell them and Anna nods in understanding.

"Hey man my uncle is always looking for extra hands on the farm, I can give you his number and you can call him." Declan smiles "He will be happy to help."

"Cheers man," I nod as I pull out my phone and he types in the number. "What are you doing here?"

"It is Specks birthday next week so we have gift shopping." I nod in understanding glances at my watch, I only have to fetch Lola in an hour. "See you at school tomorrow." I nod hugging Anna and bro hugging Declan before they head on their way.

I glance down at Justin who is still munching away at his cookie" How about we head to the park?" I ask remembering one on the way in. I decide that I am going to try Declan's uncle before I try the other shops in town.

"Yes!" He nods and so we head back to the car and to the park where I call Declan's Uncle, Jackson Rue, who offers me a trial run this weekend, telling me he will send directions to his farm. He seems friendly enough and I am glad that today was a success even if I do not have a conventional job. But I suppose it is conventional to these parts. 

We end up spending the rest of the hour in the park playing Frisbee and me pushing him on the swings. Using one of the wet wipes I found in the cubby hole I clean up Justin's face before buckling him up and heading to pick up Lola. She is stabling her horse when we arrive and her coach comes over to talk to me.

"Hi are you Cameron?" I nod and she smiles " Jasmine, nice to meet you,  Millie told me you would be picking Lola up?"

"Yes."

"Please can you give these paper to Millie, they are information and forms for the next competition."

"Sure no problem." I say as Lola heads over "Ready to go?" I asks and she nods curtly with her arms crossed.

I smile at coach Jasmine as we head to the car "how was riding?" I ask as I open the passenger door for her.

She doesn't reply as she buckles up. I sigh shutting the door and heading to the drivers seat.

Reaching over to the back of the Car I get the paper bag with her cookie in. "You can have it if you tell me truthfully how  riding was." I say showing her the cookie and I can almost see some of her ice melting. The was to kids hearts, sugar. 

"It was fine, I fell once but managed most of my jumps." I smile in victory as I hand over the cookie. The rest of the drive is filled with the sound of the story teller Justin made me put on. As soon as we get home Lola slams the door and marches inside. And here I thought we were making progress. Millie heads down the porch steps as I help Justin out the car.

"Success?" She asks ruffling Justin's hair as he runs past her inside.

"Yeah, I got a trial job at a farm run by Jackson Rue's farm."

She smiles "of course why didn't I think of that, you will be treated fair by him." I sure hope so.
The only other job I have ever had is in a MacDonald's in NYC, I worked there since I was sixteen to try and make enough money to pay rent and food. My mom kept a job until I was fourteen and her addiction spiked to new heights. I will never forget the moment when I got a call from the station. She had robbed a jewelry store. Luckily the owner didn't press charges but she still had to spend the night in prison. Worse part is that she didn't steal it to cover household expenses. She  lost her job and was searching for her next high.

After that she came home miserable and refused to leave bed for two weeks. It was another of the many trials I had to get through on my own. My aunt places her hand on my arm with a sad smile as if she knows where my mind is. Or at least my facial expression must give away that I am going down painful memory lane. 

"Dinner is ready, come eat and tell us about your day." I swallow and nod. I do not think many teenagers realise what a privilege it is to tell someone about your day and have them listen. Have them care.