Chapter Four

Another day and I was ready to face a different kind of challenge today. I got up quickly to perform all my duties.

I was going in search of a job and Laurie was accompanying me. I had to inform mother Pamela about it first.

I went to her room, I knocked on the door first but there was no response and so I knocked again before I heard her faint voice from inside.

"Who is that?"

"It is Arya"

"Oh Arie... come in"

I opened the door and walked in. It was really warm inside but yet she had herself covered up with a very thick duvet.

"Mama are you okay??"

"Yes my child"

"Why are you so covered up?"

"I like it this way, I feel extremely warm"

"Okay."

"Is there any problem?"

"No mama. I just came to let you know I will be going out of the orphanage in search of a job"

"With who? You don't know the city of Salamanca so well."

"I'm not going alone. I'll be going with Laurie"

"Be careful my Arie"

"I will mama"

She pulled me in for a hug and pecked me on my forehead. And then I left her room. On my way out of the room, I met Ma'am Gina and her countenance was not so bright but I had to still greet her.

"Good morning Ma'am Gina"

I felt I was not too loud enough because there was no response from her and so I repeated myself.

"Good morning ma'am Gina"

"Keep your useless greetings to yourself. You think reporting me to mother Pamela will make things easier for you??"

"I will make sure you regret coming to this world" I had begged mama not to scold her, but now I had to deal with her.

"Arya!"

"Yes, Laurie..."

"We will be late if we don't get going on time"

"I'm sorry for the delay. Had to tell mother Pamela"

"Have you done that?"

"Yes, I have... we can go now. But what about your job? Today is my day off."

"Oh okay."

We got on the train that took us to the city. I had not come out to the city, and even when I did I was in the company of ma'am Gina and she didn't let me look around. It was just a few times.

Now I had the opportunity of exploring the city with Laurie on our terms.

"There's a notice over there, let's read what it says"

We walked over to a shop that had a notice up. "WE ARE HIRING".

"I think we should go in and ask"

We entered the shop and we met a lady at the reception. She was a young woman but she had her face covered up in paint and it made her look way older.

She looked at us like peasants who had come begging for money. She halted us as we moved closer to her.

"Stop there!! I have no money to give you. Try the next building"

"No... we are here for a job" The lady looked at us from our heads to our toes.

"We don't hire beggars, so please leave" At this point, Laurie has pissed already.

"You don't have a right to talk to us in that manner doll face"

I tried to stop her from saying more but she was angry. I pulled her till we left the store.

"How could she talk to us in such a demeaning manner? Who does she think she is?"

"Ignore her..let's check other places we will find somewhere"

We continued walking around trying to find a place.

In most of the places, we found the pay was way too small, some were not looking for new workers. I even considered working as a maid but no one was hiring.

At this point, I was already discouraged. I know finding a job is difficult but I never thought it would be this difficult.

Laurie on the other hand was still energized, she was the person still giving me the courage to continue on the job hunt. Each time I tried to give up she'd remind me of ma'am Gina and I'll be re-energized. I wanted to leave the orphanage so bad.

We continued the search till we came to a bookshop. It was not so old but I believed it had existed for a long time. I wanted to walk past it but Laurie pulled me back.

"I think we should try this book shop"

"But they are not hiring, let's forget it and go back home"

"That orphanage is no home, we need to get you this job so we can move out quickly"

After much convincing from Laurie, I decided to try the book shop.

We entered but there was no one in sight.

"Hello!"

"Hello! Hello!!"

And then a middle-aged man walked out.

"Do you want a book?" He asked

"No we don't" Laurie answered

"What do you want then?" He asked, looking a little irritated.

Laurie had been the one talking and so at this point, she pushed me further to speak up.

"I want a job," I said.

"There's no sign showing that we are hiring, and I am yet to put up a sign, so how did you know?"

"Hope I guess"

"Can you work? Are you competent?"

"Please sir I could clean, help arrange anything for a pay" I pleaded

"I'll hire you, a receptionist is needed here"

"You can start tomorrow"

"Oh thank you so much"

"Your pay will be $50 daily"

"That's great but for how many hours?" Laurie asked

"She'll have to work every day for 5 hours and she would be paid at the end of the month"

Compared to all other places this was the best and I loved it. I could not hold my excitement anymore. I finally got a job. I turned to hug Laurie and she hugged me back.

"When you come tomorrow we will do the official paperwork"

"Thank you, sir, I will be here early" And then Laurie and I left.

Laurie and I went back and took the bus back to Cattagana. We walked from the bus station and then I noticed a man lying on the floor, I wanted to rush over to him but Laurie held me back.

"It could be a trap. You know?"

I doubted it. The person was looking really lifeless. I pulled my hand away from her and rushed over to him.

I checked his pulse and it was weak.

"He is alive but was injured badly. We can save him" I said but Laurie was not having it.

"He could be a thief or something. You should be the last person thinking of such after what you have been through" Laurie said but I insisted.

Something about this man drew me to him. After much persuasion, Laurie agreed and we carried him.

I thought of where to keep him but none came to my mind and I couldn't take him to the orphanage.

I carried him to an empty hall by the walking path back to the orphanage. And kept him there. He was unconscious and so I pulled off his blood-stained shirt.

I had nothing on me to cover him up with and so I pleaded with Laurie to get something to clean him up with and a new shirt while I watched over him.

I pulled his shirt and noticed a tattoo on his chest. It was the head of a lion. It was also the same as the ring on his finger.

"Who was he?" I thought

Laurie came back a few minutes later with the new shirt and some other things.

I was able to clean his wound and wrapped it up with a new bandage and put his shirt on him.

"He will be better by morning, we should get going," Laurie said

I wanted to stay a while longer but it was already late.

Laurie and I left and went back to the orphanage and I couldn't take my mind off him. I hoped he got better.

I took my clothes off and then something fell to the ground. I checked and noticed the ring. I didn't know how I had carried it here. I picked it up, put my clothes back on, and rushed out of the orphanage so I could place it in his pocket or something. But when I got there he was nowhere to be found.

Strange. And so I had to keep the ring with me till I saw him again.