05

She shook her head, smiling at me as the record player began buzzing, signalling that there would be no more songs playing. « Don’t you worry about it, Dani-love. It’s been like that ever since they moved away. I should move to live with them in Ohio, but I love New York. This is where Noah and I lived most of our life. » A tear rolled down her wrinkly, freckled cheek and she quickly wiped it away, « I feel that if leave, I will be letting go of the only thing I have left of him. Every time I walk downtown, I feel him. I can hear his laughter in the big crowds and feel his caresses when I sit down to enjoy a sunny day in the park. I can’t just leave now ; I’m not ready. »

I quickly stood up, hugging her tightly and whispered, « You don’t have to go anywhere, Mrs. Maggie ! Your sons are dicks and they’re going to get an earful from me ! Just you wait, by the time I’m done talking to them, you’ll be tired of the amount of times they’ll call you ! »

That got a small chuckle from her. She returned my hug, sniffling a bit and blinked her blue eyes rapidly until there were no more tears in them.

« I’m going to take care of you, Mrs. Maggie ; I promise, » I murmured quietly, « just like you took care of me when I first moved here. If it hadn’t been for you, I don’t know where I would have ended up. You’re literally an angel sent from the heavens to keep me in my place. »

She nodded, grinning. « My Noah would have loved you, Dani-love. He’d treat you like the daughter we never had. »

« It would have been an honour to meet him, » I whispered, trying to keep my tears at bay. She didn’t know just how much she meant to me. She was literally the mother I never had. She took care of me like no one else did.

« Okay, » she breathed in, smiling brightly – the sadness over her son not calling totally gone, « you need to go to bed now. You have a very important job to do tomorrow. »

I frowned, tilting my head to the side. « I do ? »

« Yes ! » She patted my hand, sternly.

« What ? »

« You need to go see that cleaning agency tomorrow ! Make me proud tomorrow and wow them for that job ! »

I pouted my lips. « I’ll be cleaning toilets, Mrs. Maggie, » I deadpanned, « there doesn’t need to be a lot of wowing for that. »

Mrs. Maggie laughed, tsk’ing as she shook her head and stood up. « Go rest up, Dani-love. I’m going to sleep now. Tomorrow I want to hear all about your interview. »

« Don’t I need to apply ? » I muttered, sounding as unhappy as I felt about the idea of having to go clean toilets.

She shook her head. « No, it says no experience needed. Just to go to the address on the flyer and they’ll help with the rest. »

« Doesn’t that sound a bit sketchy, Mrs. Maggie ? » I pouted my lips, batting my eyelashes for better effect.

« No, » she laughed, « go rest now. »

I sighed, sagging my shoulders in defeat and bent down to kiss her cheek gently. « Bye, Mrs. Maggie. I’ll see you tomorrow. »

« Good luck, Dani-love ! »

~*~

As I stood in front of my mirror, contemplating what to wear for an interview, I realised that I had nothing to wear. Most of my clothes were very tight and revealing ; not something that you’d wear for an interview. Then again, this wasn’t an office job, so I didn’t really have to wear a suit…

I glanced over at my closet for the third time and sighed. A red halter top with black tights and black wedged boots would have to be my outfit. It was one of the very few outfits I had that didn’t scream « let’s party and get so drunk I won’t remember this night ! »

Since I was already wearing a type of partying outfit, I decided that my make-up had to at least match. I wouldn’t go too hardcore on it, though. I’d just leave it very natural and match my lips with my top. Red wine lipstick had a way of making me feel extra confident.

I just had to make sure that it wouldn’t smear on my teeth because then I’d look like I bit into someone and didn’t floss. I flashed a cheeky grin at my reflection and made sure that my teeth weren’t stained.

I had washed my hair last night, so now it was in a mess of long ringlets and tangles. I really should have braided or did something with it last night because now I just looked like I had a black mop on my head.

After I managed to tame my lion hair into something and said my goodbyes to Toby, I rushed down the flight of stairs to catch a taxi and hope that the last $24 in my account lasted me for the day.

Maybe it was just me, but movies always made it seem like it was super hard to catch a taxi driver’s attention. If it wasn’t during the holidays, then the streets were flooded by the yellow cabs trying to take your money.

All you had to do was step out into the street, raise your hand and you’d have cabs fighting to get you to drive them somewhere. If I had known exactly where the agency was, I would have taken the subway, but since I didn’t know, I just gave the taxi driver the address and I’d find my way.

The moment I walked into the building, my skin began to feel like ants were crawling all over it. I had the creepiest feeling, but I had a creepy feeling to any place I first visited and I happened to be living in one of the creepiest buildings in the Lower District of New York.

The place had a strange scent to it. It was a strange combination of strong detergent and bleach ; it reminded me of a hospital. If this is what they expected me to clean toilets with, they had another thing coming.

I was a Latina ; Fabuloso and Listoil were what made up our cleaning supplies – at least mine.

« Good morning ! » The brunette sitting behind the desk chirped in my direction, smiling widely. « Welcome to Hanson and Hannagan Cleaning Inc. How may I help you today ? »

She was way too chirpy for my liking. My eye fücking twitched as I tried to contain the snappy attitude. You’re here to make Mrs. Maggie proud ; not rip out Chirpy Chanel’s extensions.

I forced a smile. « I saw that you were hiring in the newspaper and-« 

« Oh, we’re not hiring, » She shook her head, grinning widely. Her lips were coloured a bright bubble gum pink and it was smeared all over her fang tooth. If she hadn’t interrupted me, I would have told her to clean it up, but she interrupted me ; so, she’d keep the stain all day.

« Cool, » I popped my lips, « thanks. »

« But ! » She chimed in, « We do help you find a job ! All you have to do is fill this application right here and Mrs. Hannagan will be with you as soon as I give this to her. »

I raised an eyebrow. « You just said you’re not hiring ? »

The secretary gave a squeak of a laugh, almost sounded like a mouse running for some cheese. « That’s because we’re not hiring in the company, but we help you find jobs. »

Pendeja, ¿eso no es lo mismo ?!

I breathed in deeply and snatched the paper from the desk. « Thank you. » I didn’t wait for her to answer, I just sat down and began answering the stupid questions. I was honestly just doing this because Mrs. Maggie made me promise to make her proud. If I didn’t finish out the purpose of coming here, I’d disappoint her and that was the last thing I wanted to do today.

Once I was done filling out the application, I gave it to Chirpy Chanel and around two minutes later the woman in charge walked out. This was one of the quickest places ever. I wonder if it was a cover up for something much darker, like a whorehouse.

I didn’t know if it was sad, that I’d consider looking into that if I didn’t find anything else. I mean, desperate times call for desperate measures !

« Ms. Rodriguez ? » The woman smiled, the pounds of caked up make-up adding a couple of years to her appearance. Poor woman needed a new wardrobe and a new makeup artist ; they were not doing her justice.

« That’s me. » I stood up, smiling and raised my hand to shake hers.

She glanced down at my hand momentarily and I swear that a flash of disgust crossed her eyes. She forced a smile, looking back at me and said, « My name is Ms. Hannagan ; I’ll be giving you the basics of the job. »

There’s a reason why you’re not Mrs. Hannagan…

« Uh, I don’t have any experience. »

She snorted, motioning me into her office. « You don’t need any experience to clean, Ms. Rodriguez. We’re not completely affiliated with you and the people you clean for. We’re merely a third party. We put you in contact with the people that need cleaning and give you the basics. After today, you will have a job and a manual to read from and learn everything. »

Weirdest fücking job interview ever, man.

« So, » I frowned, clearing my throat, « I already have a job. »