Her Hope

Chapter 4

The smell of leather and new clothes was all I could smell, and the colorful fabric immediately came into my eyesight as soon as I stepped into The Heaven. This immediately took me on a trip down the memory lane to the first and only time in my life when I bought a new blouse. It was the first new piece of clothing I ever wore that wasn't actually a hand-me-down from the older kids in the orphanage. I remember being on pink fluffy clouds for a really long time, for buying this blouse felt like a dream come true, a dream that took ages to come true, as it took me many many years of collecting every penny I managed to get in order to finally buy myself something new.

However, this is not the time to reminisce, it is the time to take care of ever little detail that could help me in my next interview of the day. Instead of hearing the screams of children and the chatter of early risers like I did in the restaurant, I could hear absolutely nothing because there was an eerie silence that floated over the place which along with the lack of movement plunged the store into complete stillness that heavily contrasted with the noise that somehow managed to penetrate the store's walls and make its way inside.

I started making my way around the clothes' racks to reach the store's cashier where I found a teenager boy sitting and reading a book quietly. I really didn't want to utter a word, for breaking this serene silence felt extremely strange, but I had to get this over with if I wanted to eat my lunch and resume the job hunting process again. However, the boy started talking before I could open my mouth.

"Hi, how can I help you today?"

"Hello, I would like to apply for the vacant sales clerk position that you have." I answered.

"Right, you have to fill in this application and the store's owner will contact you after going through it to inform you if you've been accepted in a week." He said while handing me a sheet of paper that he took out of the counter's drawer.

"I broke my phone a few days ago and I still didn't buy a new one, so could I come by in a week to know instead?" and here I go with the lies again.

"Sure, here's a pen that you can use to fill in the application."

This is undoubtedly going better than my interview at the restaurant making me become more hopeful. I know working here won't be as good as working in the restaurant, but anything is better than nothing, and in case I don't get the job at the restaurant, working here won't be too bad, as it will surely be better than having no job at all. These were the thoughts that ran through my mind as I filled in the application with all my personal details.

Filling the application didn't take me long, and in a blink of the eye, I was handing it to the boy and making my way out of the heated store and into the cold unforgiving weather that seemed to drive the people into their warm homes, as the streets were strangely empty although it was still noon. I guess the rain plays a role as well, for there were a lot of puddles, which reflected the image of the dark clouds, everywhere.

I could feel my legs involuntarily taking me to one of the puddles where I stood to study my reflection. All I could see was a splitting picture of the only photo I have of my mother. We both have the same exact features from our muddy brown eyes to the wild curly hair and tan colored skin. I bet if we were to stand next to each other, we could pass as twins. Well, if I could stand next to my mother when she was the same age as in the picture. I sometimes wonder how different my mother looks now, and where she is living, but then I quickly stop for there's no use of wondering that consumes up the energy I desperately need.

I start my journey to the nearby children's park where I decided to eat my lunch. It would be empty right now because the children are all in schools, and I could really use up the quietness to think about what I'm going to do next. I also need to find somewhere where I can take a shower and wash my clothes. If I'm lucky I could wash my clothes in the local laundromat, but that's if I manage to find enough loose change in my bag.

It didn't really take me that long to reach the park that was completely deserted which was just what I needed. I searched the park until I found a dry bench under a magnificent canopy of trees. Taking out my tuna can and what remaining part of loaf of bread, I divided them into two equal servings, one for my lunch now and one for my dinner later.

My thoughts went to what I would do till I get to know whether I was accepted in the restaurant or not. For starters, I am in desperate need of a shower after last night's midnight swim, and the only place I could think of right now would be the bathroom that's beside the beach. I also need to count my money and plan what I would be eating the next week carefully. If there's any remaining extra money, I will use it to wash my clothes; however, if I don't have any extra money, I would have to wash it while I'm showering and then leave them out beside me while I'm sleeping to dry.

I initially didn't plan on using that money, which is mostly what remained from all the money I earned when I used to work last year, at all unless I was in desperate need, and I guess some would say that this isn't desperate, but I need to eat if I want to have any chance of survival. And, if I hopefully get any of the two jobs I applied for, I would no longer have that big of a problem since I would finally get a salary.

I quickly search for all the money I have which turns out to be barely enough to buy my meals for the next week, and that's if I only eat a loaf of bread along with a can of tuna every single day. Guess I will be eating lots of tuna this week and washing my clothes while I'm showering.

Standing up with a sigh, I start heading towards the beach.