"Living in the limelight the universal dream, for those who wish to seem. Those who wish to be must put aside the alienation, get on with the fascination. The real relation, the underlying theme...the real relation...THE UNDERLYING THEME!" loud guitar sounds blared from Joey's alarm clock as it attempted to get him up for Five AM.
"and that was Rush with Limelight. Before that we had the latest from Gourmet Scum called Drowning In Anarchy from their Scum Suburb album and Glass Tiger with their latest hit, Watching Worlds Crumble. It is now 5:03 on this cold, Sunday April Morning...we are going to take a quick commercial break but when we return, we'll hear the latest from Malcolm Burn as well as Red Rider and more here on CRA-Z Radio. Stay tuned."
Joey still remained in his bed, completely unfazed by the blaring radio as he wrapped himself up tight within his blankets and placed the pillow over his head to drown out some of the noise.
"Joey, are you up yet?" his mother called from down stairs.
When there was no response, she went up to find him still in bed, wrapped up like a tight cocoon.
"Joey, it's time for you to get up now, come on. You've got a job to do in half an hour, you need to be there. There's no turning back from this one!"
"Nooooo" Joey moaned, struggling to keep his blankets where he wanted them as his mother tugged to get them off.
"Joey, don't do this. If you don't get up, then I may have to call Louella Hawkins to come over and I doubt she'll be too thrilled having to get your sorry butt out of bed as well, I'm sure."
"Alright, alright, I'm up...ugh, this is so ridiculous. Why does it have to be so early in the morning?"
"It's all part of the job as a custodian, Joey. This is what Louella and her crew do every single day...it's how they make their living, and you're going to experience it all first hand for the next two weeks. Now come on, get dressed and come downstairs for breakfast. You're going to need it for what is in store for you today." Mrs. Jeremiah replied as she began to close the door. "And don't even think about going back to bed either, Mister!"
"Oh man...this sucks. Why couldn't they have just given me a suspension instead of this?" Joey sighed as he turned off the radio, got dressed and groggily began to make his way downstairs for breakfast.
"It's way too early for this...and on a Sunday too."
"Now Joey, don't start getting miserable. It's only what is asked of you in exchange for what you had done to Louella on April 1st. She only wants you to have a clear understanding of what she goes through on a daily, day to day basis."
"You know Mom, they could have just handed me a two week suspension instead of going through all this trouble to set me up as a 'temporary' custodian."
"Louella and I have talked about this and she thought it would be in your best interest to learn and see first hand what she has to go through...there's more to being a custodian than just basic cleaning. What you did to her on Monday, Joey was completely uncalled for. You nearly almost threw her and the rest of her crew under the bus. They have a very strict schedule to maintain...everything has to be done in a certain amount of time. The school-board simply won't allow them to do any overtime. What isn't done on the day will have to be done first thing the following morning which will eventually throw them off. They're use to having a routine and they stick with it. You'll soon realize that when they get you to work. Now, get eating cause we only have less than thirty minutes left. Remember, you have to be at the school by 5:45 AM. No exceptions!"
Joey poured himself a bowl of cereal, making sure he had lots of sugar in there before pouring the milk.
"Got enough sugar in there, Joey?"
"I hope so...I'm going to need it if I'm going to be able to get through the day. Trust me!"
Just as Mrs. Jeremiah got her coffee done, the phone rang.
"Hello? Good Morning, Louella! Yes he is...and he's raring to go. Alright. Yes, yes I will let him know, we'll be seeing you soon. Bye-bye."
"Shesalreadyattheschool?" Joey asked with his mouth full.
"Joey, don't talk with your mouth full...I didn't understand a word you just said."
"I said, she's already at the school?"
"Yes, she's right now in the process of writing out your routine schedule for the next two weeks. Also she just told me to tell you to bring your book bag. You're going to need that as well. Make sure you don't have any books in it through...you're not there to do school work, you're there to clean."
"OK, but why do I need to bring an empty book bag with me? That doesn't even make any sense!" Joey replied as he finished up his breakfast and then proceeded to get his book bag, emptying out it's contents. "There, completely empty...where should I keep my books then?"
"Just set them down on the table there...that way when your two weeks are up, you can put those books back into your bag when you are ready to return to school. Well, we better get going..."
"We're still a bit early thought, aren't we? It's only 5:20!"
"Yes, but it'll take a while for the car to warm up...Now let's go. Ready to start your first day on the job as a janitor?"
"Not really...to be truthfully honest, I already want this day to be over and done with!"
"Joey...once you get going, you'll find it's not really that bad!"
"Yeah, right..." Joey sighed as he closed the door behind him.
"Now you behave yourself today Joey. Remember, Louella Hawkins is the boss and you listen and do what she tells you. Also, have respect for her most of all. Got that?" Mrs. Jeremiah asked as she pulled up to Degrassi Junior High School.
"Yeah, I guess so...I seriously cannot believe you're allowing this to even happen in the first place!" Joey grumbled as he got out of the car.
"And I seriously cannot get over what you had done on April 1st to Louella! Now, you better head on in there...it's almost close to 5:45 and I am not leaving until I know you're in that building!"
Joey sighed as he began to make his way to the main entrance but then stopped.
"Wait? What if these doors are locked?"
"If Louella is already in there, then chances are they're not...go on! She's expecting you."
"Great..."
Joey continued up the main steps towards the door, placing a hand upon the handle and pulling it towards him.
Sure enough it was open.
"Man, I was hoping the door was locked..." he muttered to himself as he went in.
As soon as Joey was clearly out of sight, Mrs. Jeremiah headed back for home.
Once down in the basement, Joey saw there was a note taped onto the Boiler Room Door just underneath the sign that ironically enough told students to stay out, that only personal authority were allowed beyond that point.
"Joey, do not heed what this sign says. Please come in, I am expecting you! Louella'. Alright it's showtime! Morning Louella, I am here!"
"Good Morning Joey...so nice of you to be here and on time too! That's good. It's what I like to see in a potential employee! Now, I see you brought you book bag as well...good, good."
"I don't know why you asked me to bring it through in the first place."
"You'll soon find out why in a second. Now, first things first, you cannot wear that outfit. You are advised to wear a full on uniform and only your uniform at all times. You are not allowed to modify it, style it, make it look hip, cool, whatever you kids prefer. You have to be re-presentable at all times. Here is your uniform Joey. You can get dressed in the bathroom here in the office."
"You have got to be kidding me?!"
Louella shook her head. "Nope, I am not kidding you Joey. This is the outfit you must wear every single day. We're not allowed to wear anything else other than our uniforms. Now go on and get dressed. We've got a lot to cover and no time to waste!"
Without any hesitation, Joey did as he was asked.
Once he was in his janitorial uniform, he looked in the mirror at himself.
"I look like a broomhead." he muttered as he then made his way back out into the office again.
"Joey, you look wonderful!" Louella commented. "But, there's one thing you've got to do...tuck your shirt into your pants!"
"Really, Louella?"
Louella just raised her eyebrows and that was enough for Joey to get the message loud and clear, tucking his shirt into his pants.
"That's it. Good...your clothes are in your bag?"
"Yes, I guess that's why you wanted me to bring it in the first place?"
"That's correct. Now, here is your name-tag. Again, you must always wear it at all times."
"I look like a broomhead, Louella!"
"Broomhead? What is it with you kids calling each other as well as yourselves broomheads and what's the other one I hear constantly...oh yeah, Narbos."
"How did you know that?"
"Joey, there are a few perks to being a custodian. You may not know this but, we go through your notes, listen to your conversations, go through your lockers. We are the eyes and ears of this institution my friend! We know which clocks are faster and which ones aren't, we know who's dating who within the student body as well as the staff. We know a lot of things! Now, here is your chore schedule. Each chore should only take you about five to ten minutes to complete. Follow me and I'll get you started. Now every single day we start off with what truly needs to be done first...most of it consists of doing the washrooms, disinfecting the drinking fountains, freshening up the classrooms, dust, sweep, occasionally mop if possible, that even goes without saying the hallways too. Vacuuming rooms that have carpets such as the Resource Room, remove any trash that are in the waste baskets, making sure you replace with a clean, fresh bag every time, and take out any garbage that maybe laying around down in the basement. These chores are mandatory and have to be done BEFORE 8:00 AM. Even on a Sunday. OK, any questions Joey?"
"Yeah, does Billy Idol know that you raid his hairstyle?"
"Very funny, Goofball! Now come on. We've got work to do! Follow me."
They headed out of the boiler room, back up the stairs to the back hall leading up towards the gym.
"Now, your first line of business...the boys washroom. I'll be doing the girls washroom. In this broom closet are your supplies...several rags, a bucket, toilet cleaner, toilet brush and this spray bottle. Now, a very important rule, use a separate rag for toilets and sinks. Do NOT use the same rag for both. That would be cross contamination and that's something you simply DO NOT WANT. Toilets carry a lot of bacteria that can be extremely harmful to humans, reasons why when you clean the sinks, you don't use the rag you used to clean the toilets! Got that?"
"I think so Louella."
"Good, now remember Joey, each job should only take five to ten minutes tops and I will get one of my co-workers to do the inspection when you are finished! Now, let's get to work."
Louella headed into the girls washroom while Joey stood in front of the boys washroom door.
"I seriously cannot believe I am actually doing this..." he muttered to himself as he went in and turned on the lights. "I don't even know where to start..."
He once again headed out into the hallway and knocked on the girls bathroom door loud enough to hopefully gain Louella's attention.
Thankfully, Louella had heard the knock and came out to see what's up.
"Yes, Joey?"
"Where exactly do I start?"
"I'd suggest you start with the toilets first, spray the rim and inside of the bowl with disinfectant then using a brush, scrub around the rim and inside of the bowl until clean. Flush, then switch to a rag and lift the seat, spray disinfectant around the seat on both sides, wipe clear then proceed to the outside of the toilet, spraying the tank down around the underside of the bowl, wiping it clear as well. Continue that with the other toilets as well. Once the toilets are done, move on to the sinks. Again, I make this perfectly clear to use a separate rag so we do not cross contaminate. Spray disinfectant onto the sinks and wipe clear. When they're done, proceed to sweep and mop the floors, making sure to get in and around each toilet stall. You got all that?"
"Yeah, I think so..."
"Alright, you better get to work then...remember, you only have five to ten minutes tops. You have now just wasted at least three of those five/ten minutes. Don't rush through, make sure everything is done thoroughly." Louella exclaimed as she went back into the girls washroom.
"Great..." Joey sighed as he once again went back into the boys washroom. "Now I know this is going to be a very long day!"