Chapter 1 The Job That Changed My Life

Waking up has always been a challenge for me. It’s pretty much the reason why I was always late for school, why I got expelled twice in high school. Everyone had just gotten used to my very abnormal late disorder, it’s really what they call African time. You tell me to meet you at 11, I'll arrive an hour later. I'm not punctual at all. I was supposed to be at work about an hour ago but I'm still quickly driving there but traffic is just not on my side today. After a long exhausting 15 mins I get to work and quickly put my apron on and rush to the workers room so the manager won't see me.

Manager: Shanty! Shanty!

Shit, he saw me and he looks furious.

Me: I'm so sorry, my cat died this morning and I had to go bury it and I lost track of time.

Manager: Didn't your cat die last week?

Argh! I've used this line before!

Me: I had two cats, they both are dead now.

Manager: Go to the head office, the boss is waiting for you.

I've never even seen the boss ever since I started working here about a month ago. I know the procedure, I'm going to get fired again. I've been fired so many times it doesn't even hurt me anymore. I bump my head on the door and curse.

Boss: You're such a mess for a beautiful lady like you.

I smile while I rub my forehead.

Boss: I'm sorry this has to happen but you're fired Shanty. You're always late for work, you're clumsy and break almost every equipment there is. Trust me, You're a good cook, best we've ever had but you're more of a curse than a blessing. This is the salary you were going to get this month. Please leave with immediate effect.

I took the money and slowly walked out, I didn't even say goodbye to any of my colleagues well ex-colleagues. Well bye bye to my chef job that I had. I failed to be a librarian, I failed to be a waitress, I failed to be a chef and what's next? There has to be something cause I need a job. I'm damn 25 years old, I need a good job. Thing is, I don't even want to work but my parents have cut me off. They said its time I knew how to take care of myself. I don't blame them, I've been spoilt since I was born. I couldn't even do my own laundry till the past few months. I only knew how to cook when they tossed me in some apartment in Glenwood and took my BMW and they gave me a small Kia. Its a three bedroom apartment which I had to pay for on my own till I got a roommate which is my cousin and I pay for the fuel in my car. Mind you, I still need to buy groceries and my personal stuff. How am I going to do that without even having a job? Even if I call my parents my father will say, Shanty, find yourself and find your purpose in life. What is my purpose in life? I'm just clumsy, disorganized, lazy and boring young lady. I'm thick and short, very dark in skin colour and I have long hair, I call it my natural weave. I'm 25 years old, born on the 1st of January and the only child whom her parents have left in the woods to struggle while they enjoy life in Capetown and I are in Glenwood. My name is Shantel Leaster and this is my story.

I had to spend the rest of the day yesterday being shouted at by Loveness, my cousin, about not having a job. Its not my fault that I've hardly kept a job for a month or two weeks and she's been on one job for two years while studying. I didn't have any degree, when I finished high school I was literally done with school. I failed Matric and put no effort into upgrading or whatever. Not all of us are academically gifted, I failed grade 11 and I had to repeat it, that was the worst year of my life. I hate school with everything inside of me. I did my morning routine and took my CV, I know I won't get a job I'm just doing it for the sake of doing something and I'm hoping a miracle happens cause I also wouldn't hire me if I saw this CV and called previous employers as references cause they have nothing good to say about me. I drove around restaurants and the first one I went to, they were hiring but the manager asked me "Are you seriously looking for a job, people who are serious about jobs don't come looking for one at this time and dressed like that." Like what was wrong with looking for a job at 1 pm and wearing air force sneakers, gucci tshirt and prada bag? These are my normal everyday clothes. He made it seem like I'm some snob. And I would never wake up at 6 am just to look for a job, I'd rather not work. Most resturant I went to, they judged me or my CV and some just didn't even let me speak.

Me: This is the last one and I'm done!

I was starving and tired. I parked my car and went in, this time I decided to leave the expensive bag in my car and walked in. It looked like a very beautiful and high standardized restaurant.

Waiter: May I help you Mam?

Me: Hi, I'm looking for your manager or your boss. Someone who does the hiring around here.

Waiter: Let me take you to the office, follow me.

I thanked him and followed him to the office when we got there, there were two men in black suits both wearing black shades and the other one was standing next to the one sitting on the chair. Maybe its the boss and his bodyguard.

Me: Good Afternoon gentlemen

Silence... Silence... Silence...

I cleared my throat and still they didn't respond. Could my day get any worse than it already is? I stood up but the guy sitting down spoke.

Him: Sit down

Guy 2: You heard the boss, sit down.

I sat my ass down and looked at these idiots.

Boss: What do you want young lady?

Me: I'm looking for a job.

I handed over my CV and the bodyguard took it and went through it, it's not much. Its just a single page.

Bodyguard: It doesn't look good at all boss.

Boss: What do you want to do?

Me: Be a chef here, I was a chef on my last job.

Boss: And how long did it last?

Me: A month.

Boss: Why?

Me: Lets just say I'm a bit too clumsy but I'm good at what I do.