When I Found You by Hyde Catherine Ryan

Author:Hyde, Catherine Ryan [Hyde, Catherine Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Published: 2011-10-09T05:00:00+00:00

Merino came back around about ten crates later.

“Boss says you can quit at five today. Tomorrow — and every weekday after — get here by six in the morning. And get off at three.”

“Yes, sir.”

“He also said if Nathan McCann told you to take that W-4 form home with you, then you take it home.”

“Yes, sir. That’s what I figured he would say.”

“Is that a smart-ass comment?”

“No, sir. Not at all. No disrespect intended at all.”

• • •

By the time he got to Little Manny’s one-room apartment, it was after six.

He was out of breath from running all the way from the bus stop. The muscles in his lower back and between his shoulder blades had locked into painful spasms. His biceps ached and stung from lifting those heavy crates all day long.

And tomorrow he’d have to start all over again. Six A.M. Six in the morning till three in the afternoon. Imagine how his back and arms would feel by quitting time tomorrow.

He knocked, hearing the dull drone of a Gilligan’s Island episode from behind the door. Nothing else. No movement. No answer to his knock.

Well, he’d get used to it. He’d get in shape to do the work. Maybe it would even help him in his training. That is, if he still even had an offer of training.

He knocked again.

Little Manny opened the door. His hair looked wildly disheveled, as if he had been asleep. The smell of stale tobacco smoke practically slammed into Nat’s face, making him cough.

“You stood me up, kid.” His voice sounded gravelly with sleep.

“I know. I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

“I thought you wanted this more than anything.”

“I do. I do want it more than anything.”

“Nope, you just showed me you don’t. Obviously you don’t. Obviously whatever you were doing all day, you want more.”

“I have to work. I don’t have any choice. I have to hold down a job to live where I’m living. I need a roof over my head. I’m off on the weekends. Couldn’t I just come over on the weekends?”

“Weekends? I kind of like to keep my weekends free.”

“For what?” Nat asked. And then prayed it hadn’t sounded as rude to Little Manny as it had to him.

Long silence.

“Well, that’s a point, I guess. OK. Saturday morning.” And he slammed the door shut again.

• • •

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