She had followed Jake out to town after the snack. His mother had wanted her to stay but Claire had other pressing demands. She needed a job badly and wanted to see what she could find. Although she lied that she only wanted to take a sneak peek around town, she could not help but feel happy when Jake promised he would find her a suitable job. He was certain there would be a good job for her that would not necessarily demand for credentials. Claire felt happy and looked forward to whatever he came up with. Jake left her where he was certain she would know her way around from and went back to his work place. He had pleaded with her to join him and see what his work place was like but Claire said some other time. She wanted to look around the area.
As soon as she was alone, Claire felt empty but had to make up her mind. She took a walk around looking around carefully for any adverts for a job. Claire found one, it was the job for a cleaner at a big grocery store which was not the one she had been at. She smiled and walked inside but was blown away when she saw the man from the other grocery store she had been with talking to the owner of this one. Apparently, they were brothers and each running their stores differently. He saw Claire and recognized her instantly. He had been waiting for her to show up but she never did, he wondered what she was doing at the place. Claire stated she had come to buy a packet of gum and this was the place closet to her from where she was coming. He asked if she still wanted the job as he had taken quite the liking to her. She bit her lower lip as she came up with a defense line. She told him that her father had refused to give his approval for her to work at the place. The man looked at her a little indepth and demanded to know what kind of father would stop his adult daughter from working. He asked who her father was. Claire decided to do something she never had done. She used her father’s name for the sole purpose of defending herself. She told him his name and both men did recognize the writer.
The man however looked at her saying he knew Deanna was no blonde and neither was she fully an adult. Claire smiled and explained that she was the daughter he had from his divorced wife. Both men were wowed and wondered loudly what type of genius she was. She feigned a smile as she went to find gum. In the end, Claire had bought a gum she did not need, reducing her money. She had also blown her chance of coming back there for the job. She learnt that moment, the importance of being honest.
She took a gum piece and put into her mouth as she began walking around. She looked through the area and found nothing that would interest her which was when she saw a children’s playground. She strode over to see a notice sign. It was for an assistant and it seemed there was no need for credentials as it was not attached there. Claire walked inside the area and found a woman working there as both kids and parents moved around the area. She stated her purpose and the middle aged woman asked how old she was, Claire told her. She moved on to ask how good she was with kids, Claire had to think about it. She had not had any really close encounter with children and never gave it a thought. She decided to be honest and told the woman simply she did not have basic experience with children but she loved them. The woman became grumpy and told Claire that she would have to come over for an interview. She asked Claire to drop her number, Claire told her she had none.
Now that seemed frustrating. The woman eventually told her the likely date for the interview and asked Claire to come confirm before the exact date. Claire agreed of course and thanked her so much. She was walking away when the woman asked her to get a cell phone.
“Should make things like this easier.” she said and Claire nodded.
At least she had an interview to come for or maybe not. As she stepped outside, a woman in her early forties stood looking at the advert. She saw Claire and must have mistaken her to be a worker there. She asked Claire where she could go apply as she needed the job. Claire told her where and she walked inside. One thing dawned on Claire, that job was never going to be hers as she watched the excited woman enter. She looked like a mother and after all, what better experience with kids could one have if not the direct one with one’s kids. Claire sighed and walked away.
She still have not had breakfast and by now, her stomach was rumbling. Claire found herself on the way to Tristan’s restaurant as she had grown fond of the place. She had to make due with a little pasta and settled down to her meal quietly. Claire wondered if she had just better give up and take her father’s offer to live in another of his house. Certainly he would take care of her if she moved. She had begun suspecting that was the reason why he had not seen her since she arrived his place. Carefully she finished and began moving away as a worker came to take her plate. Claire had barely gotten to the door when she heard the argument among the staff. There were no more dishes to serve food as the young man whom had been serving and washing them up could not keep up any longer. Seemed they were short staffed and Claire saw the opportunity.
The person carrying her dishes away was still moving away when Claire approached her. She asked if they needed a dish washer and the girl observed her carefully.
“We very well do, you have any recommendations?,” she asked Claire
“No, I need a job myself. I can do it.” Claire said to her.
The girl again observed her obviously disbelieving Claire.
“You sure you’re up to it?,” she asked Claire
“I am.” Claire said to her.
She asked Claire to wait and walked over to talk to the man at the counter in front of the ordering machine. He seemed to be the one in charge and looked up at Claire obviously sizing her up. He waved her over and Claire approached him. Looking her over, he asked again if she really was up to it, Claire agreed. She was told how much she would be getting and Claire could not have been more glad. $250 dollars per month was good enough a start for her. However it would be increased as she progressed. Claire asked when she could start and he stated that they needed her services immediately. He asked Danielle who was the serving girl that had assisted her to show Claire where she would be working. Standing there and looking at the pile of dishes did not bother Claire.
She now had a job at a restaurant belonging to her favourite chef.