Job Vacancy - 1. JV Chapter 1

In just a single week, I was a total wreck, my family had discovered that I am gay, and they had not only thrown me out of the family home, but also financially disowned me, which meant that with the approaching end of the semester, I would no longer have the funds to continue my university studies, or to stay at the residential college, making me homeless and no longer a university student.

The only things that I did have as my only possessions are a few suitcases of belongings, a laptop computer, an iPhone, and I graduated with a Diploma in Project Management at TAFE two years ago, and I am currently attending University, in my second year in studying for a double degree in Arts, Media and Communication.

Although our family was fairly well off, and with them helping to pay for my higher education, with my father being a very successful Barrister, I had insisted on getting part-time jobs to pay for my basic expenses.

Now, I would be forced to leave the university accommodation and my studies at the end of the semester in two weeks, as that is when my father had withdrawn all support for my education, and after sitting down in the corner of the small restaurant, where I worked, taking a meal break, after the busy lunchtime rush, I was thinking about what I would do to survive.

This was a new concept for me, having to worry about where I am going to sleep, when am I going to have my next meal, and what am I going to do for money to live. My job as a kitchen hand and a waiter at the restaurant had been great, I managed to get the job before I started my double degree studies, and in the past 18 months, I had been able to put aside a little bit of money for a rainy day, although, I knew that my savings would quickly disappear once I am homeless and unemployed.

It is a 4-kilometre bike ride from the university residential college to my place of work, in the western suburbs of Perth, which on a good day only takes me less than twenty minutes to cover that distance. The restaurant owners have a staff locker room, which includes a separate shower room and toilets, so I can store fresh clothes, and have a shower after the bike ride and before I commence work.

“What is it mate, you look troubled?” Alberto, the restaurant boss and owner asked me, as he sat opposite me. “Si, grosso guaio,” (Yes, big trouble) I responded in broken Italian, which I had been learning since I started working at the restaurant. “Oh, tell me about it, maybe we can come up with a solution” Alberto replied, preferring to stick to English.

“I doubt it, boss, it is a big family problem, and in two weeks, I will be without a place to live and no studies to continue,” I said sadly, and there was a long period of silence as I started to get visibly upset at the thought.

“My… my parents have disowned me because they have discovered that I am gay. I am no longer welcome at home, I am not to contact them, or any of my younger siblings, and at the end of the term, I will no longer be able to study at the university or live at the residential college” I added.

“I see, that is indeed a big problem, but apart from that, you still have your job here, and I will see if I can adjust the roster, so you can get some more hours, instead of the basic 16 hours that you do a week at the moment,” Alberto said to me.

I looked up and gave a small smile in appreciation, thankful that I have a supportive boss, as I watched a tall man in his mid-50s exit the restaurant, who I have been a regular customer this past few days. “Oh, what an idiot,” Alberto said, which startled me, as he jumped up and rushed to the door, and I watched through the window, as Alberto stopped in front of the man who had left the café and spoke to him.

A few minutes later, the man frowned, looked in my direction, before nodding his head to Alberto and walking off, and I waited for Alberto to come back inside, but instead of returning to the table, he went straight to the kitchen to resume work.

I was a little disappointed, as I had hoped that maybe Alberto had come up with an idea to assist me, but this was not to be, so I finished my drink and went back to work, clearing the tables, wiping them down, and heading to the kitchen to wash all the dirty dishes.

When my work shift ended, I said goodbye to Alberto and grabbing my bag of sweaty clothes, I started my bike ride back to the college. I was about halfway when suddenly the clouds went very dark, and I was soon drenched with rain by the sudden downpour. “Just flaming great, just what I need” I grumbled, when I finally arrived at the college and locked my bike, and made my way to the laundry to start a load of washing.

In the laundry, I stripped down to my boxers, added my wet clothes to the load, and started up the washing machine, before heading for my room, with several students telling me to get some clothes on.

Sometime later, after a long hot shower and a fresh change of clothes, I tried to relax, when there was a loud knock on my door, and I groaned in annoyance at the intrusion, as I opened the door, to find the college Manager standing there, not looking too happy.

“Davies Walker, I have had a few residents complain that you were walking around the college in your boxer shorts” the manager said to me angrily, “I am sorry about that sir, I was caught in that shower of rain, coming back from work on my bike, and I placed my wet clothes in the washing machine, so as not to drip all over the college” I replied.

“I see, well in future, I suggest that you be a little more organised, and carry some spare clothes and a towel with you, as we can’t have students walking around half undressed. Let this be your first and last warning” the college manager said to me. “Yes, sir” was all I said in reply before gently closing the door.

When I sat down on my bed, I realised something, and I laughed. “Yeah, last warning alright… I will be out of here in two weeks” I said softly to myself, and I decided not to tell anyone about my current predicament, as it would just get me more stressed, and I had to concentrate on my end-of-semester exams, which I was determined to do well in, to be able to have the subject credits for the course.

Two days later, when I arrived at work, there was no sign of Alberto, when I entered the restaurant from the back door, I went straight to the locker room, to have a quick shower and get changed. When I opened the door of my locker, I was shocked at what I saw, and I stared at the new items inside.

The sound of Alberto clearing his throat, brought me out of a daze, “She came in last night and brought them in for you, and there is a small suitcase as well in my office” Alberto informed me. “Oh, ok. Did she say anything?” I asked, “Only that she loves you, but she has to go by your father's wishes. She looked like she had been crying a fair bit too,” Alberto responded before leaving.

I looked at the two suit bags hanging in my locker, and I knew that inside them would be the three suits that I own, all of them tailored to my exact size, and were fairly new. At the bottom of the locker were two sets of black dress shoes, and two pairs of casual shoes, that I had left at home, while at university, and forgetting about them for now, I quickly dressed, and prepared to start work.

During the lunchtime rush, the same middle-aged man entered the restaurant, and I took his usual order, two rounds of a chicken salad sandwich, with a light sprinkle of pepper, on mixed grain bread, and a cup of Earl Grey Tea. When I delivered the cup of tea, the man looked up and smiled.

“Please sit young man, don’t worry, your boss has arranged this,” the man said to me, and reluctantly I sat opposite him. “Now tell me a bit about yourself please?” the man added after I was seated, and for the next ten minutes, I explained that I come from an upper-middle-class family, that lives in Albany, but we have an apartment in Cottesloe where we are in Perth.

I said that my father is a successful Barrister, my mother is a stay-at-home mum, and I have three younger siblings, who are still in high school, while I have completed a two-year diploma in Project Management at TAFE, and I am in my second year of a double degree in Arts with Media and Communication being my major.

“Alberto has informed me that due to a family conflict, you will no longer be attending University after the end of this semester?” the man said to me, “Yes sir… may I ask what all of this is about?” I replied, and the man chuckled. “I am sorry, my name is Preston Wright, and I am interviewing you for a job” the man responded.

“The Preston Wright, a prolific author on a gay website, and now famous and award-winning author?” I squeaked in surprise, and the man gave a short laugh, “The the same, I am pleased that you are familiar with my work” Mr Wright said to me.

I blushed a little at this statement, “Well yes, I have been reading your stories since early 2012, when you joined the website, and I have read every book that you have published, so what is this job?” I replied.

“I have been using the restaurant as a neutral place to interview candidates for a job as an administrative personal assistant, as I am so busy now, that I can not manage everything on my own anymore. Now one last question if I may. Do you have a driver’s license and a current passport?” Mr Wright said to me.

“Err, driver’s license yes, but no passport sorry” I replied, sounding a bit disappointed, as I knew this may put an end to this job. “Never mind, we can fix that, do you have enough identification to apply for a passport?” I was asked, and I sighed and looked down in disappointment, knowing that my Birth Certificate would be at home down south.

Alberto appeared and handed me a large yellow envelope, which was not sealed closed, and I looked inside, before tipping the contents out, and much to my surprise, there was my original birth certificate, and immunisation card, which recorded all of the immunisation needles that I have had in my life, and now with my driver’s licence and Medicare card, I now had enough ID for a passport application.

“They came with your luggage, that your mother dropped off last night” Alberto explained before he walked back to the kitchen. “Well, it appears, that I have all of my formal dress and footwear and documentation that I need,” I said still a little shocked at all of this.

“So, it seems, right I need you to go to the post office and submit an application for a ten-year passport, with a priority service, this will assist you with the costs” Mr Wright stated as he handed over an envelope, which contained some $100 and $50 bills inside.

“It is $295 for the passport, and $215 for the priority service, I have added a little more, so you can get a haircut, before you have your photo taken, just short and neat, nothing over the top will be fine, I recommend the hairdresser in this building just around the corner” he added, as I pocketed the envelope for safekeeping.

“Here is your lunch sir,” Alberto said as he delivered the meal, before facing me, “You have the rest of your shift off to go and do what you need to do for Mr Wright, just come and let me know when you need to finish up your job here,” Alberto said before leaving again.

“With that said, Davies, I am offering you the position, with a one-month trial, all expenses paid, and that includes all meals and accommodation. Your annual income will be $69,000, which is $5,750 a month, paid into your bank account monthly. I am based here in Perth, as I have a small office in Dalkeith, and I own two modest apartments, both of which are very close to the office. One is my home, the other will be your residence” Mr Wright stated.

“Wow, I am deeply grateful for this opportunity Mr Wright, and I won’t let you down” I stated, still shocked that my life was no longer in ruins as I thought. I was handed a business card, which I accepted and I shook my new employer’s hand. “Be at my office at 9 am on Saturday, and we will go through what your job duties will be?” Mr Wright said to me, and I dashed out back and out the back door, where I shouted “Yippee”.

Moments later, Alberto appeared smiling, “You better get going, you have to get a haircut and put that passport application in before the close of business today” Alberto reminded me, and I nodded my head before heading to the locker room to change out f my work gear, before heading to the hairdressers around the corner.

By 4 pm, I was neatly trimmed, and returning to the locker room, I dressed into one of my suits before heading to the post office, which was also close by, to get my photo taken and passport application lodged. Changing yet again, back into casual clothes, I caught a taxi back to the college, with the bike in the back, and my two suit bags, to start studying for the approaching exams next week.

With it being Friday afternoon, I didn’t have much time to study, especially when I have an appointment to see my new boss the next day, so I decided to put in a bit of study before dinner, and I would study till 10 pm, so as not to get too tired for the appointment in the morning.