“That sounds much cooler. Okay, what’s next?” Rafe skimmed Eamonn’s application. “Dishwasher. What did youdo?”
“I washeddishes?”
“And?” Rafe gestured for him to keepgoing.
“I soaked dishes in water and washed off food and rubbed them clean. There really isn’t much toit.”
“There had to have been other stuff you did. Think in terms of management andleadership.”
“I trained this other dishwasher theyhired.”
“Perfect!” Rafe clapped his hands together. “And did you come up with any new methods orsystems?”
“Well, I recommended they use a different dish soap because I reckon the one they had had a weirdsmell.”
“Love it!” Rafe typed away on the computer. “Keepgoing.”
“And around the holidays, I would save some food that went uneaten and give it to these homeless kids who hung around by the dumpsters. I even got the chefs to cook them a meal to send over to theirshelter.”
“That’s really nice,” Rafe said, genuinely touched. And he was staring at Eamonnagain.
He snapped out ofit.
“How does this sound: Developed three-step system for cleaning dishes, trained and supervised new employees, lobbied management for a greener, less-chemical-based soap which helped improve diners’ experience, spearheaded partnership between restaurant and local shelter to feed homelessyouth.”
Eamonn sat up straight. “I reckon I’m quite impressive. I should beCEO.”
Rafe and Eamonn worked on filling out his résumé with more jobs and other volunteer experiences. Eamonn found ways to help others no matter his job, whether that was feeding the homeless, donating extra newspapers to an old age home, and even bringing boxes to an animal shelter so cats should rest inthem.
“Have you thought about applying for jobs in the non-profit sector?” Rafe asked him. “Your résumé has a very strong altruistic angle to it. There are non-profits that are working on things like homelessness and hunger on a global level. I think you would love working for one ofthem.”
“I don’t know how to even go about getting one of thosejobs.”
“I know people who intern for non-profits and government organizations and parlay that into full-timework.”
“I can’t afford to get an internship after Igraduate.”
Rafe pointed at the computer screen. “You have a great résumé. There are lots of organizations outthere.”
“I’ll consider it.” Eamonn cracked a smile. “Thanks for yourhelp.”
This time Rafe caught him staring, and it made his pantstighten.
Here would’ve been a good time to have The Talk about what happened, about how they should be friends and not let things get awkward. But there was this understanding in the air between them that didn’t need to beverbalized.
Rafe helped him answer the rest of the questions for the box company’s application. Eamonn poured them another cup of tea and broke out the tea biscuits. He challenged Rafe to come up with professional descriptions for the oddest of jobs. (“The guy who shovels elephant shit at the circus.” “Leads waste managementinitiative.”)
Eamonn got up from the table and swung open the kitchen door. “Hey.” He held the door. “I’m glad we’refriends.”
Friends. The F word. Rafe didn’t expect it to feel like the kick in the nuts itwas.
“Me, too,” Rafesaid.
