The Truth in the Stars

Part 4: Work

For the next few days, all I could think of was getting a guitar. I talked to my dad about it last night and I didn't get the response I thought I'd get. When I told them I would pay for it myself they couldn't find a reason to say no.

Since it was Wednesday, and I didn't have track, I would be able to go talk to Eddie's dad after school about getting a job. The only problem would be that I'd only be able to work on weekends and Wednesday.

"You're coming to my house, right?" Eddie asked.

"Yeah," I replied over the phone. "As long as your parents know I'm coming."

"I told them. Don't worry."

"Okay, see ya at school."

I hung up. I laid on my bed for a few more minutes glancing at my alarm clock. It read six ten in the morning. I sat up and looked at my plain white walls. My oak dresser definitely needed to be cleaned off soon, since my school papers were scattered all over the place. Actually there were papers everywhere; on the floor, dresser, and at my matching desk.

I looked at my watch. I still had plenty of time to clean up before I had to meet up with Eddie for school. I started picking up papers and sorting them into folders I found. I sorted them into Algebra II, Chemistry II, English, History, electives, and papers the school gave to us (like old report cards).  I looked at my ninth grade report card and compared it to last year's. I still maintained a eighty-eight percent average in school, which isn't something I was proud of.

I picked up another paper without looking and went to place it in my folder, but before I moved on it caught my eye. It was for this year's talent show on the seventeenth of May. I put the paper back in the folder and threw my newly organized folders in my bag, just in time for Eddie to ring the doorbell. I threw on my jacket grabbed my bag and ran down the stairs to meet him.

"Hey. Are you ready?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied throwing on my shoes.

"I told my dad you were looking for a job, but that's all I told him."

"Thank you, again. You're an awesome friend."

"Just trying to help you out."

We went to school and the day flew by quickly. I met Eddie outside of school and we walked to his house. When I walked in his dad was ready for me.

"Hey, Eddie. How was school?" his dad asked like it was a habit.

"Good. I got homework to do so you can talk to Mark."

"Okay, keep those grades up!" as Eddie ran up the stairs to his room.

His dad was standing in the kitchen which I could see from the doorway. The kitchen counters were white with a granite counter top. The kitchen made a U shape and had a bar in the center. The stove was in the center of the counter top and the fridge was to the right side.

After taking my shoes off I pulled out a brown bar chair to sit in. His dad sat beside me. His black hair and chiseled face gave him a superior look.

"Mr. Jay, I want a job. I mean if you want me!" I assured.

"I know Eddie mentioned it to me."

"Is there anything I can do to show you I deserve the job?"

"Oh. I'm giving you the job! I just need to make sure you don't get hurt while working for me. You won't be able to be paid much since you'll be more of an errand boy, but when you turn eighteen next year you can work on the roofs."

"Wait, really! I'll only be able to work on Wednesday afternoons and weekends though."

"Not a problem. You're just gonna be there to speed up the process a bit. Say, why did you want a job in the first place?"

"I want to buy a guitar."

"Oh. I'll be paying you about ten dollars an hour to work for me. You'll have that guitar in a few weeks."

My own guitar. I didn't think I'd ever be able to get one.

"Thank you, Mr. Jay. This means a lot."

"I figured as much. You'll do fine with that kind of motivation."

I went home with my newly raised spirits and a new job. My first day would be on Saturday and after four weeks I would finally be able to buy that guitar.