None of us had beds or any type of furniture. All we had were our suitcases of clothes and such. Moving would be interesting. I had no idea if the apartment had furniture and appliances or not. So during small breaks in customers, I decided to make a list of all the things we'd need, whether they were already provided or not.
1: Beds of some sort. Maybe air mattresses.
2: If we got air mattresses, we'd need a pump
3: Sheets, blankets, and pillows
4: Cooking stuff, pots and pans, utensils
5: Food
6: Shampoo, conditioner, soap
7: Towels
8: Chairs and a table
9: Maybe a couch
10: Possibly a phone
My pathetic list grew as the day went on.
I wondered where we could get a cheap couch....
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
12. A rocky landing on a mountainside
“Hey guess what?” Payton came rushing into my work the next day.
“What?” I said giving someone their order.
“I found an apartment!”
“What?" I almost spilled the customer's coffee. "Where?”
“It's a small apartment several blocks away from here. It had two bedrooms and one bathroom, but it's almost a thousand dollars a month. They usually charge like three month's rent in advance, but I explained that we didn't have that kind of money yet but we really needed the room. Then I mentioned that I could maybe help him out with anything to help pay for rent, and he decided to hire me as his mechanic for the whole apartment building!”
“Payton that's awesome! When do we get to move in?”
“Next Tuesday. So we'll have to stay in the hotel until then.”
“Well, at least we found a place! When do you start working for him?”
“When we move in. Hey I got to go tell the others. Catch up with you later!” He said heading for the door.
“Alright. See ya!” I called after him.
“What?” I said giving someone their order.
“I found an apartment!”
“What?" I almost spilled the customer's coffee. "Where?”
“It's a small apartment several blocks away from here. It had two bedrooms and one bathroom, but it's almost a thousand dollars a month. They usually charge like three month's rent in advance, but I explained that we didn't have that kind of money yet but we really needed the room. Then I mentioned that I could maybe help him out with anything to help pay for rent, and he decided to hire me as his mechanic for the whole apartment building!”
“Payton that's awesome! When do we get to move in?”
“Next Tuesday. So we'll have to stay in the hotel until then.”
“Well, at least we found a place! When do you start working for him?”
“When we move in. Hey I got to go tell the others. Catch up with you later!” He said heading for the door.
“Alright. See ya!” I called after him.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
11. Tell me everything will be alright
Just then Payton walked in. The look on his face told us all he hadn't found anything either.
“Hey guys,” he said. “what are we doing for lunch”
“Whatever you want, man,” Derek replied.
“How much money do we have?” Jade asked.
“Well, we figured we'd stay at the hotel for 4 days, so that was about 150 bucks. So we only have like 30 bucks left. Jamie, when do you get paid?” Payton asked
“Friday.”
Today was Wednesday.
“I'd say let's stick to McDonald's.” Jade said. “Dollar menu is good. But even that's not gonna last us till Friday.”
“Nope, so what should we do?”
“Skip lunch.”
Nobody wanted to do that. This wasn't apart of our plans when we originally started. Nobody really had any plans coming out here. None, except, living the good life. Now we were paying for our lack of organization. Who knew how many meals we'd have to skip in the future. We still had to find an apartment or something. I wondered how much that would cost around here.
“So, we're not eating?” Cameron asked?
“Well if we skip lunch now, for dinner we can each get two things on the dollar menu. Then we'd have $20 left. Then tomorrow, we'll eat two meals the same way. Then on Friday we'll just wait till Jamie gets paid.” This was Payton's plan anyways.
“Uh, so when are we going to look for a place?” This was now my biggest fear.
“I guess I'll look around tomorrow.” Payton didn't look to happy about it. “So tell me Jamie, how is it that you found a job right away, and all of us are on day two of job hunting? Did you bribe your employer or something?”
“No. I spent like 5 hours walking around this freaking city looking for a job. And on foot too. I don't know how I got the job. I just asked, and they gave me a chance.”
“Jeez, don't get your shirt in a knot. I was joking.”
“Hmph.”
“Well I was!”
“Just don't make fun of me like that. At least I have a job. Anyways, my shift is over, let's get out of here.”
So we all got up and walked outside and started walking aimlessly around town. What a pathetic bunch we were. My stomach growled in agreement.
“Hey guys,” he said. “what are we doing for lunch”
“Whatever you want, man,” Derek replied.
“How much money do we have?” Jade asked.
“Well, we figured we'd stay at the hotel for 4 days, so that was about 150 bucks. So we only have like 30 bucks left. Jamie, when do you get paid?” Payton asked
“Friday.”
Today was Wednesday.
“I'd say let's stick to McDonald's.” Jade said. “Dollar menu is good. But even that's not gonna last us till Friday.”
“Nope, so what should we do?”
“Skip lunch.”
Nobody wanted to do that. This wasn't apart of our plans when we originally started. Nobody really had any plans coming out here. None, except, living the good life. Now we were paying for our lack of organization. Who knew how many meals we'd have to skip in the future. We still had to find an apartment or something. I wondered how much that would cost around here.
“So, we're not eating?” Cameron asked?
“Well if we skip lunch now, for dinner we can each get two things on the dollar menu. Then we'd have $20 left. Then tomorrow, we'll eat two meals the same way. Then on Friday we'll just wait till Jamie gets paid.” This was Payton's plan anyways.
“Uh, so when are we going to look for a place?” This was now my biggest fear.
“I guess I'll look around tomorrow.” Payton didn't look to happy about it. “So tell me Jamie, how is it that you found a job right away, and all of us are on day two of job hunting? Did you bribe your employer or something?”
“No. I spent like 5 hours walking around this freaking city looking for a job. And on foot too. I don't know how I got the job. I just asked, and they gave me a chance.”
“Jeez, don't get your shirt in a knot. I was joking.”
“Hmph.”
“Well I was!”
“Just don't make fun of me like that. At least I have a job. Anyways, my shift is over, let's get out of here.”
So we all got up and walked outside and started walking aimlessly around town. What a pathetic bunch we were. My stomach growled in agreement.
10. We wasted all our hopes on a whim
“Hey!”
Arms went around my waist, my feet came off the ground, and I was being spun in circles.
“What are you doing?” I twisted my neck around to see who had picked me up. “Derek you scared the crap out of me!”
“Haha. Sorry. How's the working girl?”
Hmph. He didn't look very sorry.
“I love it!” I beamed. “Any luck with you?”
“Nope. Hey are the others here yet?”
“Uh, no why?”
“We're supposed to meet here for lunch, remember?”
I quickly glanced at the clock. My face must have mirrored my obvious surprise because he started laughing.
“Wow, I didn't realize it was already 12:30. It'll take me two seconds to finish emptying these garbages.”
When I finally finished that, Jade and Cameron were walking towards us, arm in arm. A slight twinge of jealousy hit me.
“Hey, how goes it?” Cameron asked.
“Pretty good. Really fun.” I smiled.
“Awesome. Man, I wish we could find jobs like yours.” Jade said. “Or even any jobs at this point.”
“I'm guessing you guys haven't found anything yet?” I asked
“No,” Cameron sighed. “But we will soon!”
I took a sip of my ice water and listened to them talk amongst themselves. They obviously weren't too worried that no one else had found a job yet. I kinda felt guilty about finding a job so soon. I hoped it hadn't given them false hope that jobs were easy to find.
“So what kinds of places did you guys apply at?” I asked.
“Well, I read in one of the newspapers that this group of kids needed a lead singer for this band they are starting, so I went and tried out. They said my voice was terrible. Like hello! I'm a really good singer, everybody has always said so!” Derek vented his frustration with elaborate hand gestures and pathetic face expressions.
I almost choked on a piece of ice in my throat. I had to pretend like I was coughing to mask the fact I was laughing. I once heard him sing, and it wasn't pretty. I guess his friends were too nice to give him their real opinions.
But seriously, did he think he was going to come to California and just suddenly become famous?
“Aww, that's too bad.” Cameron patted his arm. “I applied to all the clothing stores around, but nobody is hiring. They said they'd let me know if they had any positions that open up.”
I mentally snorted. It's great to apply to stores you like, but let's be practical. Everybody wants those jobs. When you're in desperate need of a job you can't be extremely picky.
“I just applied to any place I could.” Jade said.
That's the way to do it! I felt bad for her though. She had done the same thing that I did, but wasn't having any luck with it. I secretly feared that I had taken the last available job in Newport Beach.
Arms went around my waist, my feet came off the ground, and I was being spun in circles.
“What are you doing?” I twisted my neck around to see who had picked me up. “Derek you scared the crap out of me!”
“Haha. Sorry. How's the working girl?”
Hmph. He didn't look very sorry.
“I love it!” I beamed. “Any luck with you?”
“Nope. Hey are the others here yet?”
“Uh, no why?”
“We're supposed to meet here for lunch, remember?”
I quickly glanced at the clock. My face must have mirrored my obvious surprise because he started laughing.
“Wow, I didn't realize it was already 12:30. It'll take me two seconds to finish emptying these garbages.”
When I finally finished that, Jade and Cameron were walking towards us, arm in arm. A slight twinge of jealousy hit me.
“Hey, how goes it?” Cameron asked.
“Pretty good. Really fun.” I smiled.
“Awesome. Man, I wish we could find jobs like yours.” Jade said. “Or even any jobs at this point.”
“I'm guessing you guys haven't found anything yet?” I asked
“No,” Cameron sighed. “But we will soon!”
I took a sip of my ice water and listened to them talk amongst themselves. They obviously weren't too worried that no one else had found a job yet. I kinda felt guilty about finding a job so soon. I hoped it hadn't given them false hope that jobs were easy to find.
“So what kinds of places did you guys apply at?” I asked.
“Well, I read in one of the newspapers that this group of kids needed a lead singer for this band they are starting, so I went and tried out. They said my voice was terrible. Like hello! I'm a really good singer, everybody has always said so!” Derek vented his frustration with elaborate hand gestures and pathetic face expressions.
I almost choked on a piece of ice in my throat. I had to pretend like I was coughing to mask the fact I was laughing. I once heard him sing, and it wasn't pretty. I guess his friends were too nice to give him their real opinions.
But seriously, did he think he was going to come to California and just suddenly become famous?
“Aww, that's too bad.” Cameron patted his arm. “I applied to all the clothing stores around, but nobody is hiring. They said they'd let me know if they had any positions that open up.”
I mentally snorted. It's great to apply to stores you like, but let's be practical. Everybody wants those jobs. When you're in desperate need of a job you can't be extremely picky.
“I just applied to any place I could.” Jade said.
That's the way to do it! I felt bad for her though. She had done the same thing that I did, but wasn't having any luck with it. I secretly feared that I had taken the last available job in Newport Beach.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
9. Cloudy nights bring sunny mornings
It was about 6 when I woke up. Before I fell asleep, I had decided that I would head out as soon as I could so I could find a job and maybe rest my mind a little.
I left a note on the mirror in the bathroom telling everyone I'd be back around noon. I got dressed, grabbed one of the room keys, and headed out. Thankfully I had taken a shower the night before, or else I would've had to skip it so I wouldn't wake anybody.
I stepped outside and took a breath. It was beautiful. The morning sun was dancing on the rooftops, and everything felt new. Maybe everything would be all right....
First I headed into the restaurant across the street from the hotel. That was a dead end. Then I tried the toy store. Also a dead end. I tried about 20 more places, and none of them had any work available. Finally I went into a Barnes and Nobles.
“Excuse me. Can I speak with the manager?” I asked a worker.
“Sure hold on,”
“Thanks.”
I waited for about five minutes, and finally she came back with the manager.
“What can I help you with?” he asked.
“I was just wondering if you had any job positions open. I'm looking for a job.” I replied.
“Well, the only help we need is in the Starbucks coffee shop, but I don't know if you'd be interested in that.”
“I've never worked at a coffee shop, but I would really like to try. See I just moved here and I'm still in a hotel until I can find my own place.”
“Well, I guess we could give you a shot at it. No promises though. What time can you start?”
“Anytime.”
“Well how about you come around at 7:30a.m. tomorrow and we'll have someone show you what to do.”
“Ok, thank you very much. See you tomorrow!”
I practically skipped all the way back to the hotel, even though my feet hurt from walking so much. But it was good to finally be walking instead of just sitting in the car.
I looked at my watch. I still had a half an hour before I said I would be back. I sat down on a bench and just watched what went on around me. Everybody seemed so laid back. And tan. Guess I stuck out like a sore thumb. What else is new...
After about 10 minutes, I started heading back. I wondered what I was going to do for the rest of the day.
When I got back, and they were all waiting to go have lunch. My stomach growled. I had forgotten about breakfast.
“Hey where've you been?” Derek yelled. “We've been waiting forever!”
“Not quite,” Cameron laughed. “So tell us, what were u doing?”
“I got a job,” I said.
Nobody was expecting that. The all just stared at me with their mouths open. I laughed out loud.
“For real?” Jade was the first person to speak.
“Haha, yeah.”
“Whoot! Good for you!” Derek cheered.
“Looks like Jamie's the winner!” Cameron squeeled.
“Huh?”
“Your the first one to get a job!”
“Oh, yeah, well I just wanted to get that over with.”
“Hey let's all get some lunch, and then the rest of us can go look for some jobs.” Derek said. “Maybe Jamie can help us out since she's a pro at this.”
“No trust me, I felt stupid. I never was good at the whole job hunting thing.”
“Eh, whatever.”
I was finally starting to feel like part of the gang. And it felt good.
I left a note on the mirror in the bathroom telling everyone I'd be back around noon. I got dressed, grabbed one of the room keys, and headed out. Thankfully I had taken a shower the night before, or else I would've had to skip it so I wouldn't wake anybody.
I stepped outside and took a breath. It was beautiful. The morning sun was dancing on the rooftops, and everything felt new. Maybe everything would be all right....
First I headed into the restaurant across the street from the hotel. That was a dead end. Then I tried the toy store. Also a dead end. I tried about 20 more places, and none of them had any work available. Finally I went into a Barnes and Nobles.
“Excuse me. Can I speak with the manager?” I asked a worker.
“Sure hold on,”
“Thanks.”
I waited for about five minutes, and finally she came back with the manager.
“What can I help you with?” he asked.
“I was just wondering if you had any job positions open. I'm looking for a job.” I replied.
“Well, the only help we need is in the Starbucks coffee shop, but I don't know if you'd be interested in that.”
“I've never worked at a coffee shop, but I would really like to try. See I just moved here and I'm still in a hotel until I can find my own place.”
“Well, I guess we could give you a shot at it. No promises though. What time can you start?”
“Anytime.”
“Well how about you come around at 7:30a.m. tomorrow and we'll have someone show you what to do.”
“Ok, thank you very much. See you tomorrow!”
I practically skipped all the way back to the hotel, even though my feet hurt from walking so much. But it was good to finally be walking instead of just sitting in the car.
I looked at my watch. I still had a half an hour before I said I would be back. I sat down on a bench and just watched what went on around me. Everybody seemed so laid back. And tan. Guess I stuck out like a sore thumb. What else is new...
After about 10 minutes, I started heading back. I wondered what I was going to do for the rest of the day.
When I got back, and they were all waiting to go have lunch. My stomach growled. I had forgotten about breakfast.
“Hey where've you been?” Derek yelled. “We've been waiting forever!”
“Not quite,” Cameron laughed. “So tell us, what were u doing?”
“I got a job,” I said.
Nobody was expecting that. The all just stared at me with their mouths open. I laughed out loud.
“For real?” Jade was the first person to speak.
“Haha, yeah.”
“Whoot! Good for you!” Derek cheered.
“Looks like Jamie's the winner!” Cameron squeeled.
“Huh?”
“Your the first one to get a job!”
“Oh, yeah, well I just wanted to get that over with.”
“Hey let's all get some lunch, and then the rest of us can go look for some jobs.” Derek said. “Maybe Jamie can help us out since she's a pro at this.”
“No trust me, I felt stupid. I never was good at the whole job hunting thing.”
“Eh, whatever.”
I was finally starting to feel like part of the gang. And it felt good.
8. Somber words would feign contentment
When we reached Newport, it was too late to do anything, so we rented a hotel room. Five in one room wasn't too bad, but there were only two beds, and so at least one person would have to sleep on the floor. I had a feeling it was going to be me. I didn't really mind, because I hated sharing a bed. I was always afraid I was going to move around in the bed too much and keep the other person awake, or kick them.
We all counted how much money we had, and together we had a whooping 200 hundred dollars. How the heck were we supposed to live off that? That wasn't enough to rent an apartment AND buy food. I wanted to voice that question, but I was too scared.
So I just asked “Um, so what kind of a place are you guys thinking of?”
“Well, I guess we were thinking we'd all share an apartment or something. You know to save money.” Jade answered.
At least they had done a little thinking, but still....
“Oh. So are we gonna head out first thing?” I pushed.
“Eh, we have all day,” Derek said
Honestly, how exasperating could this guy be? At least I finally knew I wasn't going to be dropped off by my little lonesome. But there was still an underlying fear that wouldn't go away, and it was growing. I couldn't put my finger on what it was though.
We ordered pizza and a liter of Pepsi. That set us back about twenty bucks. We needed to find jobs ASAP. I wondered what kind of job I could get. I didn't really know what I was good at. Back in Bowie, I was a cashier at The Home Depot and I babysat for the people I knew.
My mind was running at about 200 mph, thinking about everything and worrying over it all. But I knew one thing for certain. I wasn't going home. I couldn't and I wouldn't. I would stick it out even if it killed me.
We all counted how much money we had, and together we had a whooping 200 hundred dollars. How the heck were we supposed to live off that? That wasn't enough to rent an apartment AND buy food. I wanted to voice that question, but I was too scared.
So I just asked “Um, so what kind of a place are you guys thinking of?”
“Well, I guess we were thinking we'd all share an apartment or something. You know to save money.” Jade answered.
At least they had done a little thinking, but still....
“Oh. So are we gonna head out first thing?” I pushed.
“Eh, we have all day,” Derek said
Honestly, how exasperating could this guy be? At least I finally knew I wasn't going to be dropped off by my little lonesome. But there was still an underlying fear that wouldn't go away, and it was growing. I couldn't put my finger on what it was though.
We ordered pizza and a liter of Pepsi. That set us back about twenty bucks. We needed to find jobs ASAP. I wondered what kind of job I could get. I didn't really know what I was good at. Back in Bowie, I was a cashier at The Home Depot and I babysat for the people I knew.
My mind was running at about 200 mph, thinking about everything and worrying over it all. But I knew one thing for certain. I wasn't going home. I couldn't and I wouldn't. I would stick it out even if it killed me.
Monday, October 27, 2008
7. The girls and boys making too much noise
I jumped awake and realized I was still in the car. I looked around. Payton was driving normally, Jade was sleeping, and Derek and Cameron were still talking. I took a deep breath then let it out again. I always had bizarre dreams when everything in my life was crazy or when I was stressed. This was one of those times. Never before had I had such a realistic dream though. I hoped this wasn't one of those dreams that would actually happen in real life. I had heard that the stuff in some people's dreams actually happened after they dreamed them. Scary.
The rest of the day was pretty boring. I'd never been so bored and I was seriously ready to kill someone.
At about 7:30, we crossed into California. We all stopped to take pictures and eat dinner. California seemed pretty nice so far. I could feel excitement racing through my veins. We were finally there! The full effect of my leaving and having my own adventure was starting to kick in, and I couldn't stop smiling. Independence felt so good, I wanted to scream. I don't think anyone would have minded if I did scream, Cameron had screamed several times and no one took any notice. Of course, Cameron was Cameron. We all knew her by now to do those kinds of things. Now me on the other hand, that's a different story. I'm sure they thought I was an emotion-less blob. They probably would've went into shock if I screamed. Haha. That made me laugh and want to scream even more. However, I restrained myself.
“So what part of California are we planning on staying in?” I asked
“Hm. Not sure. Hopefully closes to the water.” Payton said.
I was shocked. How could you not know where you were going to live! Why had they not planned out this stuff? I was slightly annoyed, but I didn't let it show.
“How about Newport Beach?” Derek suggested?
“Sounds good to me.” Payton said and everyone agreed.
I was in flabbergasted. They were going to decide their future just like that? It was madness! I didn't want to be the party pooper, so I agreed with them, even though it killed me.
So Newport Beach it was. That was to be our new life. I wondered what would happen if we couldn't find places to live or work. The scariest part was: what if they all went their own merry ways? Or they were all going together, but didn't want me around? Where would I go? Panic set in, but I tried to appear nonchalant...
The rest of the day was pretty boring. I'd never been so bored and I was seriously ready to kill someone.
At about 7:30, we crossed into California. We all stopped to take pictures and eat dinner. California seemed pretty nice so far. I could feel excitement racing through my veins. We were finally there! The full effect of my leaving and having my own adventure was starting to kick in, and I couldn't stop smiling. Independence felt so good, I wanted to scream. I don't think anyone would have minded if I did scream, Cameron had screamed several times and no one took any notice. Of course, Cameron was Cameron. We all knew her by now to do those kinds of things. Now me on the other hand, that's a different story. I'm sure they thought I was an emotion-less blob. They probably would've went into shock if I screamed. Haha. That made me laugh and want to scream even more. However, I restrained myself.
“So what part of California are we planning on staying in?” I asked
“Hm. Not sure. Hopefully closes to the water.” Payton said.
I was shocked. How could you not know where you were going to live! Why had they not planned out this stuff? I was slightly annoyed, but I didn't let it show.
“How about Newport Beach?” Derek suggested?
“Sounds good to me.” Payton said and everyone agreed.
I was in flabbergasted. They were going to decide their future just like that? It was madness! I didn't want to be the party pooper, so I agreed with them, even though it killed me.
So Newport Beach it was. That was to be our new life. I wondered what would happen if we couldn't find places to live or work. The scariest part was: what if they all went their own merry ways? Or they were all going together, but didn't want me around? Where would I go? Panic set in, but I tried to appear nonchalant...
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