"Shit! Just stepped on a used condom", I exclaim as I lift my foot up. "Be careful, you might have a foot baby", Leilani tells me as she looks at the condom hanging off my shoe.
J starts laughing. "Do you want to help me scrape this off my shoe love", I ask him. "I love you, but my love has it's limits", he tells me. He goes back to his sweeping while I scrape the condom off my shoe with the broom in my hand.
Lenny gives out a big sigh and holds his hips. "We've been cleaning this dump for about a week now and it still looks like a dump" he complains out loud.
"Just because you wipe your ass twice, does it make it clean enough to eat from", J tells him.
"How does that apply to our current situation", Lenny exclaims while looking at me with a confused look. I look down as I start sweeping again and state, "get married to him and you get used of such". Lenny looks at Trevor next. "Don't look at me. I know he's my friend, but there's some things I still don't get", Trevor tells Lenny.
"The point being, that you can't expect this place to be looking good after a few cleans", J tells Lenny. "You could of said that in the first place, instead of talking about my ass", Lenny says as he starts sweeping again. "That's Jahmal for you", Eric exclaims as he throws some rumble onto the floor.
"Where's Davey", I ask the group. "Wife", Eric says while making a phone gesture with his two fingers. "Are we ever going to meet this wife of his", I ask around the group. J laughs and says, "you should be happy that his wife is a real human being and not his hand".
"Still could be", Lenny says. "Come on guys! Leave Davey alone", Leilani tells us in a serious tone. She looks at Lenny with an eye and he tells her, "sorry".
"You guys act like you're married already. Is there something you need to tell us", I ask Leilani and Lenny. "We've been going out a few times, but nothing serious yet", Leilani tells me. "Why not", I ask her. "Baby here is too scared to go any further than just two people casually hanging out", Trevor exclaims. "What sex", J asks. "No. A title baby", I tell him.
"Oh I see", J says. "But seriously Lenny. You and Leilani are practically girlfriend and boyfriend by now", J tells him. "I just don't want to rush into anything okay", Lenny exclaims. "Like Heather. Tiffany, Samantha", J starts listening names.
"Betty, Kathy, Linda and Patty Hill", Trevor adds onto the list of names. "Boy you have some serious history", Eric exclaims. "They were just friends", Lenny states. "Right! Friends that all complained that you're as blind as a bat when it comes to obvious signals", J tells Lenny.
"Your problem is you get too afraid when it comes to the opposite sex. Like a great man once said to me, don't let fear hold you back from doing something worth the effort", J says while looking at Trevor. Trevor points at him and says, "that's an extremely great man there". J winks at him while giving him a thumbs up.
"The point is you don't want to miss your shot when the hoop is wide open. And Leilani is wide open", J tells him. "Unless you plan on dying a virgin", Trevor adds on.
I look at Lenny and tell him, "listen Lenny. These fools are actually right. Leilani is a could catch, so don't be afraid to get hooked". Lenny looks at Leilani and smiles at her. "Leilani baby. Will you be my girlfriend", he asks her. Leilani starts blushing, and exclaims "yes, I'd be honoured to be your girlfriend".
"Yes finally", Trevor and J yell out with their arms in the air.
"Finally what", Davey asks as he walks back into the room. "Lenny made the move on Leilani", J tells him. "Son of a bitch. You finally found your balls", Davey exclaimed.
"So how was the call with wifey", Trevor asked Davey with a cheery smile. "She's fine. She said hie", he tells him. "When are we going to meet the Mrs", I ask him. "Soon enough", Davey responds.
"With your luck it might turn out to be Ashleigh", J exclaims to me. I laugh and say, "not with her constantly spread legs".
My phone starts to ring, and of course it's Ashleigh calling. "Son of a bitch! What does this woman want from me now on a Saturday of all days", I ask out loud in a very annoyed voice.
I answer the call and Ashleigh tells me, "I need you in the office like yesterday". "Okay I'll be there", I tell her. I cut the call and J looks at me with a smile. "The beast has summoned you", he asks me. "My misery never ends. I'll have to excuse myself guys", I tell the group as I put down my broom.
"Bye April", everyone says. I kiss J goodbye, and he tells me, "good luck, you're going to need it". I head off to the office.
I walk into my boss's office and find him and Ashleigh waiting for me there with their arms folded. I felt uneasy the moment I seen their faces.
"Mrs Baston, I'm not going to waste any time because I have a pregnant wife to love and kiss at home. So I'm going to let Ashleigh break the news to you", the boss told me.
Ashleigh cleared her throat and started saying, "April. You've really been an asset to this team for the longest time. You've shown commitment and heart for this job.
I've enjoyed working with you, but that run has reached it's finish".
My heart started to race. I could feel the sweat send cold chills down my spine. I wasn't ready for the next thing Ashleigh had to say.
"I'm afraid my time here is done. I'm retiring April", Ashleigh told me. I was lost for words after hearing that. "You're face might not show it, but I know you're jumping for joy inside that I'm leaving.
But of course there's the matter of who gets to take up my position", Ashleigh stated.
"That's where you come in April", my boss added on. "What do you mean", I ask him.
"We've been watching you closely April and we are in awe of you. This job needs someone with heart, commitment and a lot of patience. And you've shown all of that through the time you've been with us.
I've never known anyone who has the energy to put up with Ashleigh like you have. Especially with all the shit she's put you through", the boss said all of this.
"It's all been a test to see if you could put up with all of it, and all I can say is well done A", Ashleigh said, afterwards clapping her hands. "Congratulations April! You've been promoted. You're no longer an apprentice", Ashleigh told me while walking up to me to shake hands.
"By the way. I've never slept my way to the top. I've worked blood and sweat to get to where I am Missy. So please don't get it twisted"; Ashleigh whispers in my ear.
I awkwardly laugh and tell her, "I'd never think or say that". She smiles and walks off by saying, "I bet you haven't".
"So of course this new promotion comes with a pay raise. But can we sort all that stuff on Monday.
My wife hates it when I leave the house too long on weekends", the boss exclaims while looking at the both of us.
"Fine with me. How about you April", Ashleigh asks me.
"That's fine with me", I say with a cheery smile.