Helen wore a black slack and long sleeve white blouse for her job hunting. She likes to project a serious and willing-to-work appearance just in case she will have the spot interview.
She let her caramel wavy hair hung loose cascading behind her back. She was pleased with her appearance in the mirror. She picked up her shoulder bag along with the brown envelope containing six resumes that she made earlier and exited the bedroom excitedly.
She went downstairs, left the house, and exited the gate.
She opened her umbrella to protect herself from the harmful rays of the sun.
She began walking in the busy streets. Glancing at the stores and establishment, looking for any job vacancy posting outside their door.
She saw two job vacancies... but they are hiring male workers, not female.
Sighing she moved forward.
She's been walking in the streets for close to twenty minutes already.
Then she saw a job posting for two salesladies outside the bakery located a few meters ahead. She went to the bakery and inquired about the vacancy.
"Miss...how much is the salary here and the working hours?" she asked.
"The rate is $5 per hour and the work is from 8:00 am up to 6:00 in the evening, Monday to Sunday," the saleslady replied. "Are you going to apply as a saleslady?"
"Yes..." Helen said.
"But you look overqualified. You look like a model. You don't belong here," the saleslady commented casually.
Helen smiled. "Thank you, Miss! Can you please give my resume to your head?" she requested kindly and extended the brown envelope with her resume inside.
"Sure! But she's not here right now. I'll give it to her later," the saleslady accepted the brown envelope.
"Just wait for the call, if they like what they see in your resume they will contact you on your phone number and ask you to come here for an interview," the saleslady said.
"Okay, thank you. I'll take my leave now," Helen said and left the bakery.
She continues walking... looking for job vacancies posted outside the doors of the stores and establishment.
She was approaching the area where the restaurants, food stalls, and eateries were located.
A job vacancy was posted by the seafood restaurant looking for one waitress.
She approached the security guard guarding the front door. "Hello guard, how much is the rate per hour of the waitresses here?" she asked.
"Why are you asking? Are you interested to apply?" he asked her, eyeing her closely.
Helen smiled. "Yes!"
"As far as I know my cousin here started as a waitress last six months ago, she started with $10 per hour. The store hours start from 8 in the morning up to 8 in the evening, Monday to Sunday. I think there is a one day off, that's all I know, Miss," the guard answered.
"Thank you, guard," she said. "Where to pass my resume?" she asked.
"Just give it to me, I will give it to the staff inside. They will pass your resume to our store manager once he returns tomorrow," the guard replied.
"Okay." She handed her brown envelope to him. "Thank you, guard," she said.
The guard smile. "You're welcome, Miss!" he replied.
Helen left the seafood restaurant and continue hunting for a job.
She passed upon a massage parlor that has a vacancy job posted outside. She approached the guard. "Hello guard, can I inquire about the vacancy? Would they accept someone like me who has no experience with any type of body massage?" she asked first because she has no idea what kind of massage they are offering in this parlor, she only knows the basics.
The guard appraised her look from head to toe. "They accept pretty model-looking applicants without experience in massage. They will train you on how to do proper massage to the customers if they like your appearance and you have potential," he replied.
"Ah, okay. I'm interested to apply. May I know how much is the rate here per hour and the work schedule?" she inquired.
"This massage parlor offers $50 per hour, but if you have a good performance and the client is happy and satisfied with your services they can give you an additional $100 up to $200 tip. Your earnings depend on how good you are in pleasing your customers and how satisfied they are with your services. Earnings will differ on days and customers because some give good tips when you give extra service, while others just want pure body massage and don't give tips," he elaborated further.
Helen's brows knitted together. "What kind of extra service that can be given to the customers?" she asked curiously.
The guard laughed in amusement with her innocent question. "You will know about if you are contacted for an interview, just wait for the call of our store manager," he said. "Just hand me your resume and I will give it to our manager when he arrives later," he said.
"Okay," Helen replied. She handed the brown envelope to the guard. "Thank you for answering my questions, guard."
The guard smiled. "You're welcome, Miss! See you soon!"
Helen continues walking, looking at the establishments around her. Then she notices the job vacancy posted outside a nightclub. The club wants to hire models, waitresses, and exotic dancers.
She stopped walking and pondered about the job being offered. She can't be a dancer inside the club and no way she can do pole dancing, but she can do the waitress job, it's an easy job compared to dancing because she will just serve customers their drinks.
Ah, she will apply for the waitress job! She walked towards the guard on duty.
"Hello guard, I would like to pass my resume for the waitress job position," she said.
"Okay, just give me your resume, Miss," he said.
"Ah, wait... may I know the rate per hour of a waitress here?" she asked.
"All waitress will get a flat $120 per day, the waitress can earn more if the customers she was serving is generous enough and give her big tip. It all depends on the customer, but no worries, you will get the basic pay if nobody gives you a tip," the guard reassured her.
"Okay, thanks for the info! Here's my resume, please kindly give it to your manager," she requested humbly.
"Sure, I will," the security guard replied.
Helen finally gets tired of too much walking, her feet are aching painfully wanting to have a rest! She noticed that the sun already sets on the horizon. One hour from now, the night will descend in the entire Crimeald East District. She needs to go back to Sphek Avenue where Peter's store was located.
She walked slowly going back to the store.
She passed one of the restaurants, went inside the first eatery, and bought food for her and Peter. After paying the bills and exiting the eatery, she started walking again.
Half an hour later, she finally reached the compound where the PW Industrial Store was located.
The guard smiled. "How's your job hunting going on, Ma'am?" he asked opening the gate for her.
"Good so far. I pass four of my resume to four establishments," she answered with a smile. "I'll get inside first, my feet are killing me... they're getting painful due to so much walking," she said.
"Oh, you better take a rest now, Ma'am!" he said.
Helen rushed towards the door of the house, grabbed the doorknob, and stepped inside hurriedly.
The moment she's already inside the house, she turned on the lights and rushed towards the couch, she discarded her shoes immediately.
"Ah...so nice! The feeling of getting rid of your shoes after long hours of walking is pure heaven!" she muttered to herself.
She placed the brown envelop and her shoulder bag on the center table and slid her feet into the slipper. She walked towards the table in the kitchen and transferred the dishes into the bowl with a cover.
Done in the kitchen, she went back to the couch and closed her eyes hoping for a few minutes of rest.
Two hours later.
The door opened and Peter entered the house.
He saw Helen lying on the sofa, her shoulder bag and brown envelope were on the center table. She looks like she's in a deep sleep.
He climbed the stairs and entered his room on the second floor. He discarded his working attire and changed into casual clothes and exited her room.
He descended the stairs and checked the dishes on the table. He's getting hungry! He was debating whether to eat solo or wait until Helen wakes up. He likes eating with her.
He went to the couch and touched her arm gently. "Helen...wake up! Time to eat dinner," he said.
Helen's lashes fluttered and looked at him. "Oh, sorry, I fall asleep again!" she apologized and sits upright. She slid her feet into the slipper and grabbed her shoes and put it in the shoe rack outside.
She went back inside and joined Peter at the table. She lowered herself on the chair facing him.
Peter already has the plates and utensils on the table ready.
"Let's eat..." he said.
"Okay," she replied.
They began eating in silence.
A few minutes later.
"So - how's your job hunting going on?" he asked, wanting to have a conversation with her.
"I already passed four resumes to four establishments," she replied.
"Good! So... what kind of jobs?" he asked.
"There's a saleslady vacancy in a bakery store that gives $5 rate per hour. Then there's also a waitress job offering in the seafood restaurant that offers $10 per hour. A massage parlor offered a $50 per hour rate for their massage therapist, training is provided to the newcomers. And there's another job opportunity in The Cherokee Club, they are hiring waitresses," she elaborated.
"You passed your resumes to all of them?" he asked.
"Yeah...all of them have my resume," she answered.
Peter pondered for a moment.
"If The Cherokee Club and that Parlor Massage establishments call you for an interview, don't entertain them, just say you already got a job," he said.
Helen's brows furrowed. "But why? They are the kinds of jobs that give more bucks per hour---?" she asked in confusion.
Peter sighed deeply. He looked at her innocent face. "Helen...have you had a boyfriend before? Have you been into a relationship before?" he asked calmly.
Helen looked at him in confusion. "Huh? What your questions got to do with those jobs?" she asked.
Peter sighed. "Just answer my question please..." he said.
Helen pouted. "I never had a boyfriend before..."
Peter was right in his suspicion, Helen is a virgin. "So - you've never been kissed before? Never been touch by a guy before?"