" You say you looking for work? ," Keisha Duncan asked as she wiped down the counter in the front of the cafe.
Jimmy nodded at her and brushed his shaggy blond hair from his green eyes. "Yes, ma'am. "
She looked him over from head to toe. " How old are you? "
" Seventeen. "
" You still in school? I don't like to hire kids. You all belong in school. Not running around working and all that stuff. I got three kids of my own. Eighteen, seventeen and twelve. My kids are devoted to education which is how it should be. "
Jimmy felt like this was going to be another raw deal like all the other places he had went in. Just more dumb shit from people looking down on him in his faded jeans, old heavy metal tee shirt and combat boots.
" I'm not in school. "
The tall lean dark skinned Black woman shook her head at him and then the rag. " Get your ass back to school, little boy. I ain't hiring anyway but like I said I don't hire kids. Now you want something to eat ? You look like you going through something. "
Jimmy didn't want food. He wanted a job. He felt completely discouraged right now. He might as well be still locked up. He shook his head. " I ain't got no money on me. " Nope. No money. No phone. No nothing. Until he was eighteen.
Keisha laughed. " Did I say anything about paying? What you want? I can make you up a grilled cheese sandwich. A smoothie. So are you hungry? "
Jimmy thinned his lips. He wasn't taking charity from anyone. His grandmother never had. Of course his grandmother never hung around with people robbing and shooting either. " I'm fire. No big deal. Thanks for your time. "
Jeremiah Duncan was sitting at a nearby table nursing a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper but he still caught every word of their conversation. " You want a job? ," he asked casually.
Jimmy glanced over at the man in the fancy suit. " Yeah. What's it to you? "
Jeremiah said," I'm looking for a couple people for the mailroom at my new law firm at Volkouv Enterprises. I'm only paying fifteen a hour for part time but I don't care about high school diplomas or GED. Can you read ? Can you write ? Can you lift heavy shit ? Can you show up ready to work without complaining ? That's what I care about. What's your name , kid? "
Jimmy swallowed hard and Keisha looked hard at her little brother. " Jimmy Klein. "
Keisha's head snapped back abruptly and her eyes narrowed. " The boy that shot that college professor in a robbery at Miss Mabel's? That's you ? I thought you were still locked up. "
Jimmy was about to explain that he had not shot anyone. Well , not the professor anyway. The cop yeah but she shot him too so they were even. He was prevented from offering his side because a customer turned up the wall mounted tv to hear more about a breaking news story.
Apparently there was an escape of two patients from the mental health ward at St. Paul's Hospital. One was , the reporter said excitedly on the tv , considered dangerous since she had already killed twice.
Keisha said brusquely," Shit ! And , Jamal is running around outside ! Jeremiah, get off your behind and go find your nephew. Now. "