Carolina's POV:
After an unsuccessful job hunt, I return home and meet my mother, Lilian Edmond, at the front door.
"Carolina, you are 26 years old, yet you have no work or a boyfriend to support you. You cannot continue to eat in this house. Take your things and go back!" my mother shouts, as she refuses to let me in.
"Mom," I say, looking at her face. She is a 48-year-old woman. She is wearing a blue dress and black slippers, and she is of average height.
"Carolina, you are not entering this house tonight. Go back and look for a job. If you do not find any job, then do not come home. 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 slams the door in my face and goes back into the house.
We live in a rental apartment in this neighborhood. I am wearing a yellow faded top, an old brown frayed skirt, and a pair of black slippers.
Sighing, I turn to walk out of the gate. I had graduated with a degree in business management, but so far, I haven't secured a job. The city is hard, and finding a job is futile.
My parents have five children, and I am the eldest child, having two younger sisters and two younger brothers.
I am 26 years old, yet I have nothing serious going on in my life.
When I turn to walk up to the road, I catch the eyes of some neighbors on me.
My mother shoulders the family responsibilities, as my father is just there. He doesn't truly care. He comes home to eat, and we might not see him for days.
When I arrive at the roadside, I stand, looking at the fleet of cars that are driving by on the road. As I peer at my phone screen, I see that it is 8 p.m. There's no agency shop that I haven't gone to apply for a job.
As I shut my eyes painfully, I reach 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 say once she picks up her phone.
"Carolina. What's wrong?" Lucy asks me, as she can hear my broken state.
"I am homeless, Lucy. Can I come and stay at your place?" I ask her, trying to fight back my sob.
"Why? What happened with your family again? Your mom sent you out again? This is 8 p.m. How can she send you away in the night?" Lucy asks, and I try not to sniffle.
"I cannot blame her. The economic situation is tough, and Mom is trying her best. I need to get a job. If I can find any job for tonight, I do not mind," I say, sobbing at last.
"It's alright, Caro. Actually, I'm 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 like a local and speak professionally 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 says.
"Really? I must do all this if I want to get the job. Will it involve kissing or what?" I ask her, my heart pounding.
"No. What's wrong with you, Carolina? 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 says, and I think about it.
"Fine. I don't have any problem with that. What matters is that I earn money. Even if it means selling my body, I feel like a failure right now," I tell her, sobbing at last.
"It's okay, Caro. You're not a failure. Where are you? Start coming over. Do you have your transport fare, or should I lend you some money? Besides, I don't have money to give you right now. My elder sister's wedding is next month, and I need to make preparations for it," Lucy says.
"Alright. I'll pay you back. Please, help me, Lucy. You're the only best friend I have," I tell her, and she laughs over the phone with her contagious laughter.
"Don't mention that. I'm sure I'm not your only friend. Anyway, I'll send the money to you. Get here quickly," Lucy says, and she knows how I have been trying to get a job with no success.
Sighing, I pace about the road and get a bank alert of 5000, and I smile. The money is more than I need, but I know that I have to pay Lucy back.
Looking ahead at the traffic sign, I hail a taxi and tell the driver, "To The Blues Club."
The taxi driver looks at me from head to toe.
"Are you sure you're going to the Blues Club dressed like that?" He eyes me suspiciously, and I frown.
"Why? I'm going there to meet a friend of mine," I tell him, and he shrugs.
"Get into the car. That's not my problem. But your fare is 1500," he says.
"Why? Isn't it 500?" I ask him, and his eyes darken at me.
"You can trek. Why get in a taxi?" he yells at me coldly, and I frown.
"It's fine. Take me to the club," I tell him, and he nods as I sit in the car. After that, he starts the car and drives off to The Blues Club.