Carolina's POV:
After an unsuccessful job hunt, I returned home and met my mother, Lilian Edmond, at the front door.
"Carolina, you are not entering this house today. You are 26 years old. Yet, you have no work or boyfriend. You cannot continue to eat in this house with us. Take your things and get out!" My mother shouted.
"Mom," I stood in front of her as she blocked the door entrance and refused to allow me entry.
"Carolina, go back and look for a job. If you do not find any, then do not come home again. If your father and I knew that sending you to the university was a waste, we wouldn't have wasted our money and saved it for your younger ones. How do you expect us to continue to feed a grown woman like you? If you do not want to work, then remain outside there!" My mother slammed the door in my face and went back into the house.
I stood outside the house, looking at the closed door. I had graduated with a degree in business management, and so far, I haven't been able to secure a good job. The city was hard, and finding a job was unsuccessful too.
My parents had five children, and I am the eldest sibling, having two younger sisters and two young brothers. I am 26 years old, yet I have nothing serious going on in my life.
I was wearing a faded yellow top and an old, frayed brown skirt that I have had for ages.
Sighing, I turned to walk back to the road. My mother shoulders all our family responsibilities, as my father was just a deadbeat. He doesn't truly care. He comes home to eat, and we might not get to see him for days.
As it was Friday evening, I was busy looking at the busy road, thinking of what to do next. There's no agency shop that I haven't gone to apply for a job.
Blinking my tears away, I reached for my phone to call my best friend, Lucy Campbell. She works in a club, and I am sure that she can help me get money to take care of my bills.
"Hello, Lucy," I said once she picked up her phone.
"Hi, Carolina, what's wrong?" Lucy asked me, her voice barely above a whisper, as I knew that she was at work. I could hear the loud sound of music over the background.
"I am homeless, Lucy. Can I come and stay at your place?" I asked her, trying to fight back my sob.
"Why? What happened with your family again? Your Mom threw you out? This is 8 pm. How can she send you away at night?" Lucy asked, and I tried not to sniffle.
"I cannot blame her. The situation of the economy is too hard now, and Mom is trying her best. I need to get a job. If I can see any job for tonight, I do not mind doing it," I told Lucy, sobbing at last.
"It's alright, Caro. Actually, I am at work now. Can you come to The Blues Club? It's the biggest club in town. I will try to speak to my boss and see if he will accept you. But you must quit speaking 'big English' and speak like a local like me. That way, my boss can employ you. Also, you must be friendly with the male clients. You will have to endure their touch and how they interact with you," Lucy said.
"Really? I must do all this if I want to get the job. Will it involve kissing or what?" I asked her, my heart pounding.
"No, Carolina, what's wrong with you? You will just have to put on a smiling face, that's what I mean. Well, you know that you're a pretty woman, so some of the men might want to ask you out," Lucy added, and I thought about it.
"I don't have any problem with that. What matters is that I earn money, even if it meant selling my body. I feel like a failure right now," I told my best friend as I sobbed.
"It's okay, Caro. You are not a failure. Where are you? Start coming over. Do you have your transport fare, or should I lend you some money? However, I don't have much money to give you right now. My sister's wedding is next month, and I need to make preparations for it," Lucy reminded me.
"Alright. I will pay you back. Please, help me, Lucy. You are the only best friend that I have," I told her, and she laughed over the phone with her contagious laughter.
"Don't mention that. I'm sure that I'm not your only friend. Anyway, I will send the money to you. Get here quickly," Lucy gave me a final ultimatum, and she knew how I have been trying to get a job all to no avail.
Sighing, I paced about the road, and I got a message alert of 5000, and I smiled. The money was more than I needed. But I knew that I had to pay Lucy back.
Looking ahead at the road, I hailed a taxi and told the driver, "To The Blues Clubhouse."
The taxi driver looked at me from head to toe.
"Are you sure that you're going to the club dressed like this?" He eyed me suspiciously, and I frowned.
"Why? I'm going there to meet a friend of mine," I told him, and he shrugged.
"Get into the car. All that isn't my problem. But your fare is 1500," the taxi driver said.
"Why? Isn't it 500?" I asked him, and his eyes darkened at me.
"You can trek. Why get on a taxi?" he barked at me coldly, and I frowned.
"It's fine. Take me to the club," I told him, and he nodded and started the car, driving off to The Blues Clubhouse.