The owner of Son&Son looked serious and pensive as he looked at his workers. It was something Ethan quickly noticed; from the moment the man entered the workshop, until it was time to leave, the man had sported the same expression throughout the day. However, Ethan thought nothing of it as the owner was not a person who smiled often, and looked at everybody the same way.
The other temporary workers, like him, did not mention anything either and just silently did their job, with sporadic conversations surging. All in all, it was another day at work.
Little did they know…
The workshop had two permanently employed workers and three temporary workers. Permanent workers had fixed salaries, and also earned commissions for their work; meanwhile, temporary workers were paid daily according to the work they did. How much wood they cut, sanded, painted, nailed, etc. The pay was relatively fair for their work, so none of the temporary workers ever complained.
At least, Ethan had never heard anything. Though, that might have been because he never got along with neither of the other temporary workers nor the fixed employees. He tried, but with the constant problems owner's brother gave him, no one wanted to risk losing their jobs just for associating with him.
It was natural. Ethan did not begrudge them as he would have done the same in their situation, so everybody just focused on doing their jobs.
After a hard day of cutting and sanding – because the owner's brother still resented him and gave him the hardest jobs – Ethan patiently waited to be paid once the assistant of the boss, who also worked as the accountant, finished evaluating his work. If his work was actually worth the coin he was given. That was the uncertainty all temporary employees were subjected to.
"Everything is fine." The assistant nodded, scribbling some numbers Ethan could finally understand.
He looked at what the assistant had written and noticed, relieved, that he was paid more than the others. He feared that after working like a mule all day long, he would be paid the same or less. He was also very proud at himself for finally being able to read what was written in the accounting books.
The owner hummed and pulled out the respective payment. As Ethan was the last temporary worker to be paid, he looked down at the coins, counted them and nodded back at the owner. The amount was correct! As soon as he was about to turn and leave, the owner stopped him.
"A moment, Edris." Ethan had not worked for more than a decade under all sort of people in vain. With the owner's tone of voice, he immediately thought something was about to happen.
Ethan had mentioned the owner his interest in the carving job. He had even begged the owner to give him a bit of time to learn how to write. Ethan really thought it was about that job. Yet, the grim face on the owner made him hesitate.
The owner had actually been willing to wait for Ethan to finish whatever education he was receiving as he knew the man was responsible and hardworking. Maurice, his brother, had whined that Edris was a lazy man and just not good. The owner saw jealousy as it was and never paid attention to his brother. However, with the situation that suddenly came up, he had no other choice.
"It's not necessary for you to come tomorrow." The owner voiced out. Ethan felt as if his soul left him at those words. "Don't take it wrong. It's not only you. None of the temporary workers are returning. My father fell terribly ill, and I need to pay for the doctor's bills and buy medicine. The business has been slow recently, so I have no spare money to pay you or the others."
"I can continue working for free..." Ethan began, but was stopped by the hands that clapped his shoulders.
"No. Never give your work for free." The owner advised him. "Others might take advantage of that, but I won't. Besides, my consciousness wouldn't let me keep you working like that." He sighed.
"What about the carving job?" Ethan continued trying.
The owner shook his head. "We won't be hiring anyone. I'll be the one doing it from now on. I'm sorry, Edris. If things get better, I'll look for you." He reassuringly smiled and patted the other man's shoulders.
Ethan took a deep breath and nodded, thanking the owner for the chance and walked out of the workshop. Those last words, he did not take them seriously. After all, who knew how long that would take? His ailing father could even pass away, and then the family would have to deal with funeral expenses and all that. Working at the workshop was no longer an option.
The coins in his pocket felt extremely cold on his way back.
When Ethan returned home, he immediately noticed the strange mood in the house. Everything looked normal though.
Joseph was watering the flower bed and grumbling about some mad woman. Ethan definitely had to ask about that. Lucas was trying to feed Mrs. Rabbit, yet it seemed she was about to give birth as she never came out of her cave. Felix was tinkering in the kitchen, cooking dinner by the smell. And Isabelle was sewing.
What told Ethan things were wrong was the frown on Lucas' face. Joseph and Felix were clever when they wanted to be, yet they, more often than not, tended to let things slide easily. Lucas, on the other hand, usually overthought a situation which was important to overthink. He was aware something was wrong, he just ignored where it was wrong.
If Ethan wanted some answers, he definitely had to talk with Lucas.
However, he was not going to do it immediately. He was tired. He wanted to relax and rest. He plainly needed some time alone, but it was a hard task in that house with four more dwellers. He was even leaning on the option of taking a walk by the river after dinner to clear his head. With a plan in mind, he calmly walked in.
He greeted his brothers and Isabelle and made his way to the well to wash off the dust from the wood and the road. As he looked at his face reflected on the water, he dazed off. His mind taking him back to that moment he was fired. With things going well for the family, being kicked out was a hard blow for him.
There was also the matter on how to tell his family he was booted. That he was a failure, yet again. The grip on the bucket tightened and he closed his eyes and loudly exhaled. It was not the best time to think so negatively.
He finally reacted and continued cleaning himself. Walked into the house to put his stuff away and sat at the table right as Felix called out that the food was ready.
Looking around, at the subdued mood while eating, Ethan felt his piece of news would just make things worse. Perhaps it was best to lay down and empty his mind. It was not the first time he was booted after all; it had happened more often than he would have liked. Did he truly have to announce his misfortune?
Well, it was him who had grandiosely told them about the carving job and involved the whole family in his writing and reading journey. It was him who claimed he would finally have a well-paid and stable job. But it all came to ashes.
When the plates were taken by Lucas to wash, Ethan thought it was the perfect time to bail out and save himself from the shaming experience of telling everybody he was unemployed, yet another part of himself screamed at him to speak up.
Seeing as his other two brothers stood up to go into the house and get things ready to receive their lesson from Isabelle, he felt his stomach churn. It was a now or never matter. He opened his mouth and let the words shakily come out.
"Can I talk to you?"
They looked back at him. "What for?" Joseph asked, frowning. Important announcements were made while having dinner as everybody was gathered. He did notice Ethan had been completely silent during their meal and chalked it up at his brother being tired, yet it seemed it was a different matter altogether.
"Just sit back. Lucas! Come over for a minute!" Ethan called out to his second brother who looked as lost as the others were by his sudden request. Their undivided attention made him hesitate, but there was no way to back down. More so when Isabelle was silently encouraging him; her eyes saying 'talk to us' so loudly. "Sorry for this. I just wanted to say that I've no job startin' tomorrow."
His slow and pointed words left the others silent for a second. Then, it was as if life returned to them. Isabelle reached over and grabbed his hand, smiling at him. Felix started comforting him, claiming that better chances would be found in the future. Joseph started cursing and demanding to know what had happened, while Lucas explained to the exploding Joseph that it was for the best.
Ethan was stunned.
It was the first time he mentioned his unemployed status. He always kept it to himself, just going to town the following day to look for another job. He never said anything before because he obviously felt ashamed. He had not wanted to be seen as a useless provider for the family. More importantly, there was no need to worry his brothers for the lack of income.
But that changed. His mind changed.
He looked back at Isabelle who did not seem to be that bothered for his sudden unemployment – thing the other women he used to court subconsciously did whenever they realized he was looking for a new job; prickling his pride a bit. Isabelle just seemed to have accepted it.
It might have to do with the fact that Isabelle could also earn money for the family, so she did not mind too much about his meager income. But the comforting thumb that caressed the back of his hand told him that she believed he would get something better for himself and for the family. To not be too sad about that.
Surrounded by his noisy brothers who had started insulting - mostly from Joseph's part - the workshop owner and brother for firing him, Ethan suddenly discovered he was fine.
There was not any urgent feeling for him to look for a job so he could prove himself as a provider, to work for any person who accepted hiring him. He also felt it was not shameful to be unemployed. What was shameful was to feel defeated about it. It had all been a matter of the circumstances, neither the owner nor his father's illness were at fault for Ethan's unemployment.
He only had to look forward and look for another and better job as was his initial goal.
"Do you still want to keep learning how to write?" In the lull of Joseph and Lucas loud conversation, Isabelle asked Ethan. After all, it was because he had wanted to get a job in carving that all the learning how to write and read adventure began.
Ethan ignored the hopeful eyes of Felix, the waiting ones from Lucas and the begging ones from Joseph, each with their own thoughts, and replied: "Of course. We might not be able to use this skill soon, but there's no way we've ta stop."
Isabelle smiled. "You are right. Then, let us do the lesson for today, and then talk about what can be done. Together."
Ethan's chest tightened pleasantly. Yes. He was not alone. He had never been alone. And, he did not have to take decisions alone anymore.