Fool's Gold

Chapter 1: Part 1

“I’m sorry, Collin.” I say, the weight of the hammer increasing in my hand as I stand up. Memories of my mom handing Collin to me rush to my mind, save up and buy something nice.  I stare at my other hand glumly, my life’s savings: two dollars in dimes, is all that was left of my piggy bank, Collin. “Or not.” I mutter, walking into the kitchen. My parents must have taken the majority of it back when I lived with them; they had a habit of spending any money they “found.” Sighing I hand my brother the coins and try to look cute.

“Caitlin. If you can’t come up with the rest by the end of the month I’m kicking you out.” He stares off absentmindedly as he speaks, and puts the dimes in his pocket. I nod lacking enthusiasm although he has already walked away. Why do I have to be so unlucky with money? I guess I should explain: I live in an apartment with my brother, since one day, at the beginning of the summer, I walked home to find my parents’ house had been repossessed by the bank. Nick, unlike our parents, is very stingy and says I can only live with him if I can pay my rent. But I can’t argue with him or I’ll get stuck in child protective services, yikes. Unfortunately this means, at the moment, I’m ridiculously poor. The only good thing about my parents running off is that at least I don’t have to worry about them withdrawing my scholarship money to buy lottery tickets or gas. Speaking of school, I’m late. I pull my shoes on and grabbing my backpack I run out the door.

School is basically the only thing I’m good at, which I have recently learned has no meaning in the real world. Yes, you can solve math equations and write history papers but that doesn’t mean they’re going to hire you to wait tables or flip burgers. What I needed was an intellectual job that pays really well. I laugh to myself as I open the front door of the school, we used to have a doorman but he quit after one kid locked him outside on the coldest day of the year. I skid past the lockers, my feet barely reaching the marked up tile, and slide through the doorway of my homeroom class. The bell rings as I open the door and the rest of the overachieving class looks up.

“Just barely making it again missy.” My teacher, Mr. Wallis gives me the formal disapproving glare as I clank and clutter to my seat in the last row. I don’t bother to answer him. Being late is part of my usual day since I can’t pay for the bus and have to run ten blocks. Let me be clear I’m not complaining about running; it’s good exercise to run with ten pounds on your back. I’m being sarcastic of course.

After class I walk by the bulletin board, sometimes there are odd jobs listed there. I notice the first few, which all look pretty bad, but today one catches my eye. “Dangerous and Thrilling Job: need female willing to get dirty. Price: at the request of the employee.” I look at the rest of the jobs quickly but decide on that one. Being a maid was way better then a dog-walker or a librarian’s assistant, and I actually enjoy cleaning since it doesn’t involve any real skill, plus I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone while dusting. Apparently there’s an interview, but that shouldn’t be a problem since I would just say; “I like to wash, shine, and mop.” I scrawl down the room number quickly on my hand and head to the cafe for lunch.

Luckily, I was smart enough to bring the leftovers from dinner last night. I usually end up eating in history class, which is after lunch. I make dinner for my brother and me, but I always end up making too much since Nick never comes home. Or when he does, he won’t eat what I make. So today’s lunch is risotto, peas, and shrimp. I can’t say I’m a great cook, but the concept seemed like a good idea at the time. Well at least before I added a cup and a half of mayonnaise and maybe a few too many spices that I don’t know the names, or purposes, of. Anyway, as I walk into history class, my lunch still bubbling from the microwave, I notice something. The teacher isn’t here yet, they only get ten minutes for lunch but whenever they’re late, the class can get really riled up.