~ work-seeker ~

The sun shone on me as I got off the bus and looked around. I found myself in a huge city, one of many that I had visited, always looking for a safe base.
I pulled the old suitcase behind me and sighed heavily as I looked at my plan. It was a few hundred meters to the next hotel. So I pulled the suitcase on and looked around, large gray blocks were lined up to the right and left of the street and clearly showed me where I was, in a lifeless neighborhood, somewhere.
A light wind came up and kept blowing my hair in my face, I ignored it, like so much in my life.

Finally I stopped. I was standing in front of an old house, it looked dirty and I grimaced before entering. Nothing awaited me inside but empty spaces. Nobody was standing at the counter and there was a smell in the air that made my stomach turn. But it was my only option to stay here. I had hardly any money and what I earned from time to time during my stops was just enough for what I needed most. I stopped at the bar and shouted loudly for someone, nothing moved, everything remained absolutely silent. I called again.
Then a very soft rustle, a door opened and steps dragged themselves down an old wooden staircase. I stared at the old man, he was unshaven and smelled terribly of alcohol and cigarette smoke. "What can I do for you?" he asked me and the smell of putrefaction met me.
I tried to look him in the eye. They lay deep and hidden behind a thick thicket of hair. I couldn't hold his gaze long, those old, empty and hopeless eyes. “I want a room.” My voice was low and rough, it was used so seldom.
The old man gave me a quick look. I guess I didn't make a very good impression on him in my ripped jeans, old tattered shoes and dirty jacket.
"I don't know what you are looking for here, madam, but you will certainly not find it. Get out of here." Again a smell of putrefaction wafted towards me. “But sir,” I tried the polite way, “Please, I need a room, I can pay too!” I took out my old wallet and rummaged around for some money.
He was watching me. Then he sighed deeply. "It's okay, give me a fiver for today, you can have the room upstairs on the left," he mumbled, turned and handed me an old key. I thanked him quietly and crept up the stairs with the suitcase. There was actually better air upstairs and I sat through before I unlocked my room and entered it.

A room painted in light yellow awaited me. The paint was a little faded and there was a layer of dust all over it, but otherwise it was clean. I let out a sigh and dropped my suitcase on the floor, which immediately creaked suspiciously. I walked around looking around, a bed, a closet, a bedside table and a door into a white, clean bathroom.No more, but it was enough for me.
I put my few clothes in the closet and a few things in the little chest of drawers. I changed, grabbed my valuables, and left the room.
The old man was still downstairs. "How long do you want to stay?" he asked suddenly politely and I frowned. “As long as my money lasts, I'll look for work.” I answered him as politely as I could and smiled slightly. He nodded.
I left the building and went looking for work. Something that was so grueling. Again and again a silent shake of the head, a cold "no" or I was even thrown out. I knew that so well.

When I entered my 'hotel' in the falling darkness, the old man was sitting in an old armchair that I hadn't noticed until now.
He looked at me carefully. "Not lucky?" he asked, pointing with one hand to another old armchair. I was torn, I didn't want to talk to this old man or be alone in my room. The loneliness tore at me.
He sighed. "Come on, I won't bite." And then he smiled. His teeth were streaked with black teeth, but that smile, it seems so open to me. So I flopped in the old chair and found it very comfortable.
"Finding work here is almost impossible." he said and looked around. I followed his gaze and saw the old rotten wood and the soot-stained walls.
“There are so many unemployed here, miss. It's hard to stay afloat, so why are you here?” Suddenly he didn't sound nice anymore.
I froze and bowed my head. "I'm passing through, and this is the only place I can survive in." I mumbled softly. He gave me a piercing look and for a moment it felt as if he could see my desires, longings and fears. He cocked his head. "What is such a young girl doing on the move?" asked he.

I looked down. “Failure.” The worst word there was, it hammered into my brain over and over again. "Well, I couldn't take it at home anymore." I muttered barely audibly. “You have to excuse me.” Already tears shot down my face. I lowered my head even further.
"Mh." I didn't dare look up. What a failure he must have thought I was. "You are very brave to travel around alone." he said after a long silence. I looked up and his old eyes suddenly seemed to glow.
He smiled again. "Maybe I can help you," he muttered softly, straightening up, "There's a bar around here, it's always way too busy, people are wasting their money there. Hendrick, I know him from before. He. He always needs help and you don't seem to be squeamish because drunk men are not child's play. "

I looked at him and my mouth fell open.The old man no longer had them all, I wouldn't survive the first week. “Take it easy, little one.” How did I get from miss to little? "It's not that bad either." he growled and got up heavily.
Pulled a pocket knife from a drawer behind the counter. He threw it to me. "Use it in an emergency, and now go to" Rickys "and tell him I sent you." I looked at him quizzically.

And he chuckled softly. "Excuse me." He held out his old scarred hand to me, I took it and mine looked so tiny in his. "I'm William Martins. Just call me Willy, like everyone else and you are?" I still looked into his glowing eyes. "Olivia Stone. Shortly Livi." I almost grinned at him while he shook his head. “Now let's go with you girl.” So I was on my way.
Thanks to Willys, personally I found the name to be way too naughty for the old man, directions I found the Rickys quickly. It was already packed, and it was just six o'clock. I went down the stairs and pushed my way through the crowds to the bar.
There was a man standing there, about fifty years old, and seemed very busy. I caught his gaze with my eyes and tried to hold it while I smiled. That did not fail to have its effect. “What can I do for you, baby?” I wasn't little, damn it! "I'm looking for a job," I yelled at him, the volume in here was almost unbearable. His gaze slid over my body and he grimaced. "This is not for you, little one, you'd better go back to school." I raised my eyebrows.

I glanced back at the crowd, then swung myself over the counter and stood in the serving room. His eyes flash angry. I took off my jacket, threw it on a small stool and started pouring.
The whole thing happened so quickly that he barely had time to react. After that we didn't have a break to talk until Hendrick, at least that's what I found out, dimmed the lights and stopped serving.
"So, little one, what's the point?" he asked, his voice hissing. “Willy, send me.” Given his age, I chose the nickname instead. Hendrick looked confused. "Aha and why?" he finally asked. "He said you needed someone to help you and as I see it urgently." He looked me over again.
“You're not even 18, do you think you can compete with a crowd like that?” “I'm 21 and yes, I think so, I've seen worse.” That was actually true. I had seen a lot worse, and yet Willy's stories had frightened me a lot.
"Mh and you think you could help me? And earn a golden nose?" I looked straight into his dark brown eyes. "I can help, you have already noticed and I don't need a golden nose, I need something in my stomach and a room." I replied, not avoiding his penetrating gaze.The crease on his forehead deepened as he eyed me again. "Well, you can pour it. You get 6 dollars an hour. You come punctually at four and leave when everything is cleared up, that should be at four in the morning. On the weekends we open at six and close later. And. And now go, don't expect any wages for today. " he hissed.
Such exploitation, it crossed my mind. But it would be enough. At least for survival. I ran back to the hotel through the cold air.
And when I went to my room, I noticed a light in one of the rooms. Willy was probably still awake, or another guest. I threw my clothes in the closet and lay down. Tomorrow it would be exhausting.

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So that was the first chap;)
Hope you liked it!
Let a picker there: D
LG coca