The Greedy Heart

Chapter 3 - Working

Around 3:00 pm we were given a small 15-minute break, I was already sweaty again as the warehouse didn’t have any AC. I take a mental note, not to pick up this job, ever again. Our duties entailed, unloading the truck of boxes, ranging from 10 to 50lbs and stacking them on to the provided pallets. It was back breaking work, other than one other girl that worked on another line, most of the people that worked the dock were all men. Most of them young ranging from their early 20’s to early 40’s. Granted, a lot of the men thought that I was frail and always offered a hand to help me, but I wouldn’t take any charity and did my fair share of work.

Taking a bottle of water with me outside, I lit up a cigarette and pulled out my phone. Taking a drag of my cigarette, I was just about to make a call when one of the guys from my line, came up to me. “Hey!” he greeted, “Your new here. What’s your name?”

“Jessie,” I responded about to turn around and walk away, when he says, “I’m James, are you with the temp app or did you hire on permanently?”

“Nice to meet you,” I tell him not answering his question and continue to walk away, to call Frankie to check on him. He should be home by now. Hopefully, taking a hint I walk towards a tree that had some shade and called Frankie on his cell that I got for him for his birthday last month.

After the third ring, he finally answers, “Hey sis!”. Hearing his voice, brings a smile to my face, I take another drag of my cigarette and blow it out.

“Hey Sweetie! How was your day?” speaking somewhat loudly, hoping that the James guy would assume something else and leave me alone.

“Sweetie?” my brother laughs on the other end and asks, “Some dudes up there hitting on you huh?” laughing in his small laugh, making my day as I always worried about him.

“You know it!” I tell him. “Did you just get home or something?” I ask.

“Yep, I came right home and locked the door behind me. I just didn’t get to my phone quick enough because I was in the bathroom.” He tells me.

“Okay, don’t forget I left you a snack in the microwave. What do you want for dinner? Pizza, burger, or do you want me to make something?” Silently, hoping that he would rather I order us food, I hold my breath.

“Ohhhhh…..lets do pizza!” he tells me excitedly. Thank God! I breathe out. Laughing to myself,

“Perfect! I’ll order pizza as soon as I get home and then we can go over your day too. Alrighty, sweetie, I gotta head back in. I’ll see you in a little while. Ok? I love you.” I tell him and wait for his response, “Okay, sis. I love you too. See you shortly.” I hang up the phone and then I schedule to have an Uber pick me up at 6:05 pm.

I finish up my cigarette and I head back in to finish my day. Thankfully, I didn’t see the James guy anymore that day. Most likely, I won’t ever see him again, as I didn’t plan on ever coming back to this hell of a place.

There were some gigs that were okay, but those were always harder to find as other people liked them, just as much as I do, and would snatch them up as soon as they were posted. Unluckily for me, I was just never fast enough and could only settle for what was available to me. Then for gigs like this, a job from hell, that didn’t pay you enough, there was no way I was ever going to pick this gig again.

I really did like the app though because I could pick up what I wanted and work when I wanted, then after completing a gig I would get a direct deposit into my bank account within 2 to 3 days. Considering, how many gigs I would pick up a week, plus my evening job I had a steady enough income to support Frankie and me. My income could range from $500 to $1,000 a week from both jobs if I wanted, which in my opinion wasn’t so bad for an 18-year-old. There were some nights, where I didn’t know how I could do it, but for Frankie, I would do everything and anything.

Once, I had more of a savings and maybe even a car, I can start looking for something more permanent, but until then I’ll just continue to do what I do. I could afford whatever Frankie needed for school, our bills, and eating out each day if we wanted, and even saved some cash on the side that I keep in a safe in my room along with my firearms. I don’t dare to touch Frankie’s college money as I wanted to make sure that he had at least that after he graduated from high school.

Granted, there was a small possibility that we may have to run again, but I really didn’t want to think about that. Hopefully, nothing like that will ever happen and we can just move forward. I really should put more cash into the safe for an emergency run fund. If that were the case, I would have to think about the money that’s being saved for Frankie’s college fund too. What will happen to that if we must pick up and run again? Ugh, so much to think about!

Walking back to the dock, to unload more of the back breaking boxes, I begin to daydream. Thinking of how life was before my parents passed away. I wasn’t popular by any means, in school I was the quiet girl, sticking to myself mostly. Chatting and catching up with school mates every now and then, just the typical teenage schoolgirl. I was smart too, I made A’s all throughout my high school years, and I was just about to apply for colleges when Dad burdened us with caution. He trained me even harder those last few months, so college was out of the question until things cooled down. I always wondered if Dad thought about just all running together if it was that bad. I will never know.

I remember how I would go to the range with my father on his days off from work and we would kill some time before having to come home for dinner with mom and Frankie. There are times where I feel sorry for myself, where I just wish that I had done more when I had a normal life, maybe go on a date or two, make closer friends that would worry about me, attend a party, but I didn’t do any of those things. None of that really mattered at the time. Sigh, this year was supposed to be my last year of high school and sometimes I wish could enjoy the last of my teenage years like any normal teenager.

Attending, prom would have been nice too. There were some guys that I had some minor crushes on, hoping that they would’ve noticed me and maybe even ask me, but even if they didn’t, I would have still gone to prom even by myself if I had too. Just so that, on that one day, I could dress up and be a pretty little princess, just like any teenage girl would want to do and, in the future, I could at least say that I did attend prom.

Mom had brought up prom to me a few times, but I always shrugged it off, but secretly I was excited about the prospect of the whole ordeal. Picking out a pretty dress with mom, maybe have a mom and daughter date, pick out some matching heels. I imagine that day, would’ve been perfect. Mom would help me with my long black hair and my makeup, slip on my dress and heels. Take lots of pictures with the family, but nope all that was squashed when the doorbell rang on Christmas Eve.