“Don’t I need special clearance or something?” I ask.
Bear folds his hands on the table, careful with the space he takes. “You’re more than qualified.”
That catches me off guard enough that I look over at him. “You can’t know that.”
“I do,” he says. “You’re organized. You pay attention to detail and follow directions. You ask questions prior to getting knee deep in a situation you’re not sure about.”
Rick grins. “We’ve been paying attention to how you operate. We like what we see and think you’d be an outstanding employee.”
I feel my cheeks getting warm. I haven’t gotten a lot of praise in my life and I’m not good at taking compliments graciously yet.
Rick shifts gears. “You’ve got a driving license, right?”
“Yes, of course. It’s a useful skill to have when you’re taking care of children who have to get to medical appointments, school and extracurricular activities.”
“How long have you had your license?”
“Three years,” I say. “Since I was sixteen.”
“How’s your driving record?” my brother asks.
“Clean. I’ve never been involved in an accident.”
“Can you follow navigation apps?”
“Yes. I used them all the time.”
“Ever been in trouble with the law?” Rick asks with a grin.
“Nope,” I say.
“Are you good with paperwork?”
“I’m a fast learner,” I respond. “If you teach me, I’ll make sure it gets done every single time.”
Rick looks pleased with my responses.
As I think over their offer, the waitress drops off plates, the smell of carne asada filling my nostrils. The men start eating immediately. I pick up my fork, shove a bite into my mouth and chew slowly.
I can’t help but think of all those applications I’ve been filling out. I’ve completed forty-eight of them and haven’t gotten a call back yet. I’m young. I have no job experience, therefore no prior job reference. This will likely be my only opportunity to get some much needed experience that isn’t just taking care of kids.
“What’s the catch?” I ask.
Rick blinks. “The catch?”
“Every opportunity comes with a catch. I don’t mind if there is one. I just want to know what it is upfront, so I can be prepared for it.”
Bear answers without hesitation. “There is no catch. You’re looking for a job. We have one if you want it. If you take it, we expect you to get up every morning and do your job. In return we’ll make sure you get paid a fair wage every Friday, just like we do.”
“What if I say no?” I murmur. “Will you get mad and ask me to leave?”
“Then we hire someone else,” Rick cuts in. “This isn’t some power play to control you or get you to work for free. We’re not your foster parents.”
“Thanks for not getting mad that I ask.”
Rick leans forward. “All three of us were raised in the system. We know how bad it can be. That’s why we created our own business, so we can have some control over our own lives. If you come to work with us, I promise that we’ll treat you right.”
For the first time in my life, work feels voluntary and valuable enough to be paid instead of demanded and taken for granted. I love everything about this situation.
