Chapter 5: Getting a job

The week following Runo's father's inexplicable disappearance brought a pall of sorrow to Runo's household.

The grim reality had taken a heavy toll on the family. Night after night, the sounds of Runo's mother's inconsolable weeping echoed through their home. What made it all the more heart-wrenching was that Runo could do nothing but huddle beneath his covers, a silent witness to his mother's grief, helpless to ease her pain, and often shedding his own tears before slipping into a fitful slumber.

Given the gravity of the situation, Runo's college granted him a temporary leave to address his family's crisis.

One evening, with a heavy heart, Runo's phone on his bedside table lit up. It was Arturo, a friend who reached out with genuine concern.

"Why haven't you been in, is everything alright?" Arturo messaged.

Runo, his enthusiasm diminished, responded, "I am fine, but I won't be in college for a while." "Okay, get well soon!" Arturo offered his polite support.

"I need to find a job," Runo contemplated silently.

The disappearance of his father had gradually drained their finances to a point where making ends meet was a daily struggle, surviving solely on his mother's income. Filled with determination, Runo decided to shoulder part of the financial burden himself.

Runo's first destination was a bustling construction site, a place where the air was thick with dust, heavy machinery roared by with clanking wheels, and bricklayers worked tirelessly, creating walls of brick upon a fresh concrete foundation. The entire place pulsed with ceaseless activity. A makeshift hut stood nearby, and from it emerged three men, each sporting an increasingly disheveled beard, all clad in high-visibility jackets that bore the words 'Project Manager.'

"HEY, ARE YOU LOT BLIND?" the man in the middle erupted in anger, pointing at a group of exhausted and dirt-covered labourers.

"EVEN MY APPRENTICES CAN SEE HOW UNSAFE THAT IS!" the middle man, evidently the senior project manager, continued his rant.

"CAN'T ANY OF YOU HAVE A SINGLE BRAIN CELL TO SEE THAT THE STEEL BEAM HAS A FRACTURE RUNNING RIGHT THROUGH IT!"

"WILL ANY OF YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THIS WHOLE BUILDING COLLAPSES ON ONE OF YOU? ANSWER ME, YOU BUNCH OF IDIOTS!" he bellowed as the labourers cowered in fear.

Runo watched this harrowing scene unfold before him and realized that this man was far more intimidating than Vice-Principal Poppy. This was the gritty reality of the working world. As the project manager continued to vent his frustration, Runo mustered the courage to approach him.

"Who in the world let a boy onto the construction site? Get out of here!" the project manager exclaimed, still trying to temper his anger.

Upon closer inspection, Runo noticed a name tag on the project manager's jacket, bearing the name 'Simon Halstein.'

"Actually, sir, I wanted to speak with you," Runo said, striving to maintain a respectable posture.

Runo shared his situation with Simon Halstein, eventually broaching the subject of a job opportunity.

"Why would I need a college boy like you to work here? You'd be useless," Simon wondered.

"I can work just like the laborers, I won't be any different," Runo replied, determination in his voice.

"I want someone different from these brainless fools!" Simon retorted.

Simon leaned in and said, "Look, I don't need you here, and I don't want you here. However, I know someone who does. Go to this address; my friend needs someone to work at his newly opened petrol station." He jotted down the address on a note, chewing a pen lid as he did so.

"Thank you, sir," Runo said, bowing to show his respect.

"You'd better thank me. I just saved you from turning into one of those imbeciles," Simon said before turning around and releasing a heavy sigh.

"YOU BUNCH OF LOSERS, WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE? REPLACE THAT FAULTY BEAM WITH A NEW ONE!" Simon yelled, getting back to work.

Runo couldn't help but smile and chuckle as he made his way to the exit.

Valen Road, Valen Petrol Station.

From the outside, Valen Petrol Station appeared pristine, painted in a bright blue color and adorned with vibrant flowers. A sign in the window boldly proclaimed it to be 'The Best Station in Soralia,' a claim that suggested it was the top petrol station in the entire country.

As Runo entered the building with a determined mindset to secure a part-time job, he was taken aback by what he saw. Behind the front till stood none other than Simon Halstein. Runo stood there in a daze, staring at the man.

"Hello there, are you the young man my brother sent over? Did he forget to mention we're twins? I apologize for his behavior; he's, shall I say, a bit eccentric," the man, who looked like a carbon copy of Simon, chuckled.

Runo noticed that his name tag read 'Stuart Halstein.' These were indeed twin brothers, but their personalities couldn't be more different. Stuart exuded kindness, calmness, and collectedness, a stark contrast to Simon's fiery temperament.

"I heard about your situation, and I'm willing to offer you a position here. I don't want you to miss college, so I'll hire you part-time. Is four hours after school acceptable, along with six hours on Saturdays, at a rate of 8 Kunas (the currency in the lower continent) per hour?" Stuart inquired with genuine sympathy.

"Yes, that's perfect. Thank you so much!" Runo expressed his gratitude.

"No problem," Stuart replied, and in that moment, Runo's path took a new and hopeful turn, as he embarked on this part-time job that not only would help alleviate his family's financial struggles but also provide him with an opportunity to regain some control over his life during this challenging period.