“Polo shirts are to be worn when you’re doing inside promotions, and the t-shirts are when you’re outside at the pools, bars, etc. But, don’t worry, you’ll hear all about that next week at orientation,” the womansaid.
“Give him a few more of each,” Steven instructed. “He’s a college kid,” Steven smiled and told us how that last thing he had wanted to do was go to the laundromat everyweekend.
Honestly, I didn’t care if I had to go to one each night. I had a job that would pay for school, which would keep me away from L.A. andhome.
“Are you staying with friends or family?” Stevenasked.
I laughed and shook myhead.
“I literally got off the Vegas Party Bus Saturday morning. I came out just for this job fair. I’m staying at the Vegas Motel Inn across thestreet.”
I could see the way the three of them looked at one another, and I quickly tried to make it seem like it wasn’t sobad.
“The motel is close to the fair, and they have apool.”
“Steven,” the two women said inunison.
“Come on, Mr. Hudson,” Steven said as he grabbed his cell phone off the table. “Ladies, will you be able to finish out theday?”
“Yes, we have it,” they both waved himoff.
I grabbed my MGM Grand tote bag with my shirts and followed Steven out of the ballroom. Once we were out in the hotel, he asked me how long I had paid for at the Vegas MotelInn.
“I’m doing day to day withcash.”
“Okay, let’s go get your stuff, and I’ll get you situated at the MGM for a few weeks. That will give you some time to get your housinghandled.”
Fuckyeah!
I was set up really well. Steven arranged a mini suite for me and reminded me that the two meals a day could be used in the café or buffet. I set all my stuff down on the coffee table, and took a look around the hotel room that would be my home for the next fewweeks.
Steven glanced at his watch and asked if I was interested in going over to UNLV and get that ball rolling for a few summer school classes. I jumped at the chance, not wanting this dream day toend.
It took a few hours, but with Steven’s help, UNLV officially requested my transcripts from USC. They also helped me pick out two classes for the summer. Steven gave UNLV a corporate card to charge the classes to as soon as they received my transcripts. The registrar sounded confident that everything would be in place for me by the first day of summer class, which was in threeweeks.
“When you go to the orientation next week, we’ll ask everyone to put down any days of the week and times they’re not available for work. Make sure you set aside time for school and studying,” Steven advised as we walked over to the student housingoffice.
We gave the paperwork from the registrar to the guy at the housing office. I hoped that I could get campus housing because it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than an apartment right now. The campus was only a twenty-minute walk to the MGM Grand, so the location wasideal.
The guy checked the availability for us and said that nothing was currently ready. He said that a single unit for upperclassmen would be available at the end of nextweek.
“That’ll work, Ryan, right? You’re at the hotel for two weeks, and the campus unit will be ready a few days ahead of two weeks,” Steven confirmed withme.
I nodded, “Yes, this sounds great. It’ll all workout.”
Steven picked up the housing cost with the corporate card for summer andfall.
“Technically we can only do partial housing costs unless it’s an extreme circumstance,” Steven admitted on the drive back to thehotel.
“I understand. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. I can’t thank you enough for taking a chance on me,” Isaid.
“It wasn’t taking a chance. It’s providing an opportunity. What you do with that opportunity, is up to you,Ryan.”
“I won’t disappoint you or the hotel, Ipromise.”
“I am sure you won’t. Besides, you’re a Trojan. Well, a Rebel now, but Trojan atheart.”
That night I had a hard time sleeping because I was so excited about how everything had turned out for me. Hopping aboard the Vegas Party Bus turned out to be the best decision that I could havemade.
