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Scene Two

The next morning I woke up feeling like I had been out all night. The first thing that came to mind was the words my mother had said last night. My own words ran through my head as well, all of my time searching for a job. That meant now.
I sat up, my head was swimming and dizzy. I got up anyway. I could hear movements in the laundry-bathroom area and I imagined that mom was working. She spent most of her time in the laundry room cleaning clothing, cleaning the bathroom, or mixing up something to make the house smell fresh. Usually made from highly scented flowers she had my sister collect. Travanni really was her favorite. I gritted my teeth at the thought, and then stopped thinking about the topic.
We had a yard, about the same size of our bathroom/laundry. It contained my mother’s cannabis, naranjilla, langsat nuts, Brazos blackberries, Guava fruit bushes, cinnamon bushes, white sapote, and a wild Carambola tree. It was a tight fit, all of the plant seedlings had been given to us by Yamato shortly after my father’s death and mother now spent about as much time with the plants as she used to with my father.
I heard steps scuffling from the other side of the living room behind my sister’s curtain. Travanni was awake.
I was tired, and I ached everywhere, but I wanted to leave the house before either Travanni or my mom could say anything. I felt guilty for a few moments as I went through the door. I had heard music from the inside, but now I could hear the neighboring shack’s music clearly, a radio was playing, “If want to commit suicide, cause you've been denied your nine to five: you're in too deep. And if you're over ten, and watch CNN and believe everything: you're in too deep. And if your thirty-five, and you still survive, idle upon a corner side: you're in too deep.”
I didn’t watch CNN, there wasn’t a TV for me to watch it on, and I didn’t work a job or think about suicide, but sitting doing nothing on a corner side was just about what my mom was accusing me of the night before. I liked a lot of Damein Marley’s music, but not that particular song so much. I looked around the garden beside the shack for something to eat, but there wasn’t anything ready to be picked, and I figured Mom had already had her breakfast earlier that morning. I left the shack in the same clothing I fell asleep in.
For some reason I had in mind that I was going to Sensai, but thinking it over, no, I was supposed to looking for a job. I had been job hunting before, but never very seriously. It was time for me to become an adult. I knew that. I had known that for about a year, but my training has always been my first priority.
I set out down the street, stopping at a street vender’s stand.
“Hello Sir.”
“Hello.”
“It’s a nice morning, isn’t it Sir,” I said.
“Mmm... Yeah, are you here to buy something?”
“Actually, I was wondering if you have a job available. I can clean, and take care of plants. I can watch your stand too...” I stopped, he had been shaking his head, but you can always hope.
“No, I have no job you.”
“Well.. Have a nice day Sir.”

The rest of the day went on the same way. I had gone all the way through every part of the area, and was now in a much richer part of town. The first place that appealed to me was a bar with extravagant signs illuminating the front. I went inside and went right up to the bar.
“Excuse me... I’m looking for a job.”
“I don’t speak English,” the man replied in Patois.
“Oh, right,” I continued switching language, “I’m looking for a job.”
“One moment, I’ll get my manager.” The man returned a few minutes later with another man. The manager had a big grin to match his big belly. He sat down at the bar next to where I stood.
“Sit down,” the man said in English. I sat.
“I have an opening for a dancer.”
“A dancer? What about bar tending or –”
“No, no, I have no openings there. But I do have a spot for a dancer.”
Me? Strip in front of people? This is the first job offer I’ve had all day. I should take it. I don’t have a choice, do I? What will mom do if I don’t come home with dinner?
“Okay, I’ll take the job. But can I ask one favor?”
“Sure honey, what?”
“I need to bring home dinner for my family tonight.”
“Yeah, sure, I can make up some meals for you and your family. But you’ll have to start work tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“How many are you and your family?”
Should I tell him three? If I tell him more he’ll make me more food.
“Five.”
“I’ll be back in about an hour. Why don’t you help yourself to something to drink in the meantime.”
He left. I waited. I didn’t accept a drink, coming home drunk would not be a good thing. I had no intention of telling my mother where I had been hired.

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