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*Italic indicates thought
Chapter Thirty-One: New Life Goals
A/N: Hey guys! Time for an update! Yay! Hope you like it. This one is lesa depressing then the last one. Promise!
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." -Robert Frost
Ok," Lorrie told Jayden. "There's not a lot of jobs you're qualified to do. Majorly none. Unless you want to like, teach martial arts or something. I knew you're good at that."
Jayden shook his head. He wanted to get as far form his old life as possible. "No."
"Ok. So, most of the jobs open to you will be manual labor jobs. Long hours, low pay, and lots of physical labor."
"Perfect! That's just what I want."
"You have strange needs in life."
"I've lived my whole having just about everything done for me. I what start form the bottom and work my way up."
"In that case you should have no problem. So, the way this should work is you can stay here unlit you've saved up enough money for a place of your own."
"Ok. Sounds good."
Lorrie smiled and spread a newspaper out in front of them. "Ok. Since we don't have internet, you'll have to do this the old fashioned way. These are wanted ads. Most people don't even know they still exist. But they're prefect for finding the type of job you want." Jayden helped her scan the page for potential jobs. "How about dock worker?"
"Like a fisherman?"
"Mmm...not from the looks of it. Looks like you'll just be doing stuff like hauling nets and crates all day for a commercial fish company."
"How about a maybe. My best friend is an independent fisherman, and working for his competition feels like a stab in the back."
Lorrie nodded. "Fair enough. We'll put a question mark next to that one. Factory worker?"
"Making what?"
"Um...doesn't say."
"Ok. We can try that I guess."
"Prefect."
"What's this?" Jayden asked, pointing to one ad. "Drywall company?"
"That's like a construction type job. They hang sheet rock and drywall in buildings. That's a good choice."
"Think so?"
"Yes."
"Ok."
Lorrie grinned as she tapped the number. "Now you have to call them."
"I do?"
"Yes Jayden. Getting a job does require human interaction you know."
"Oh, ok." Jayden took his samuraizer out, I need to get a real phone too, he thought as he typed the number in. I can add that to the ever growing list. He waited somewhat patently as the phone rang.
"May I help you?" someone one the other end asked.
"Hi. My name is Jayden Shiba and I'm calling because I need a job and I saw that you're hiring a worker." He glanced at Lorrie, who gave him a thumbs up.
"Yes, we are. You can come by a fill out an application."
"O-ok. Thank you." Jayden hung up and looked at Lorrie. "I need to fill out an application."
"That's good," she told him. "At least there's till an opening. Come on, let's keep looking, then we'll head out and I can show you how to fill out a job application."
-Samurai Ranger Life-
The smell of the sea was enough to ease some of Antonio's spirit. He smiled as he continued to lean and gut the fish he wanted to sell. Some fish he sold whole, others he sold in pieces but gutted and cleaned already. He had a good day of selling ahead of him. Summer was coming, wich meant the tourist season was going to boom. And tourists meant money.
He chuckled as he worked. I finally have the chance to start working for my fish restaurant. The money my abuelo left me should be enough a good starting point. Thinking about his Costa Rican relatives made him think about the offer to run his grandfather's business. He continued cutting the fish, thinking. I don't think I could move all the way there, he reasoned.
Why not? a voice in his head asked.
"I have reasons to stay," Antonio muttered.
Like what? Lauren? She doesn't love you, remember? The others are moving on. You saw on Saturday. You'll never really be one of them.
"I know," Antonio sighed. "I know." He sorted his fish into piles and started to collect his stuff. "Maybe it is time to move on. My time as a ranger is over now. Maybe I should go."
He stood up and put the fish into his cooler. He put his fishing poles away and went to look for a place to set up shop. He stopped momentarily and took a piece of paper out of his bag. He looked at it while he leaned against his fishing cart. "Hm...let's see. What's going on in town today?" He always tried to keep track of events going in in the city. Big events equaled more people, which equaled more customers. "There's a farmers market! Perfect! People will be shopping anyways. And there's a outdoor urban art expo tonight." He smiled. "Looks like a busy day buddy-" He stopped short when he realized he was about to talk to his Octozord.
"Oh, that's right. I disabled him and all our other zords." He sighed. With the nighlocks gone they'd decided disabling their zords would be best, since there wasn't a need for them anymore. "Well, no matter. I'm off to sell some fish."
-Samurai Ranger Life-
When Mike walked into work on Monday he knew something was up. "What's going on?"
"What makes you think something is going on?" Jason asked.
"Well, you guys are in here," Mike gestured around the office. "Instead of out there, getting ready for the afternoon classes."
Tommy laughed. "Nothing gets past you, huh?"
"Apparently not. So spill. What's going on?"
His boss sighed. "Mike, have you given any thought about what you what from your life?"
"Is this another intervention?"
"Yes," Jason nodded. "It is. So tell us, do you know what you want from life?"
"Well...not really. I've never really thought about my future too much. When most people my age were trying to figure that stuff out, I was trying to save the world. I didn't even know if I would live to see next week, let alone thinking of a future."
Tommy nodded. "We understand. However, we think you should have some serious thought on what to do with your life. You won't be young forever kid."
Mike nodded as he sat back in his chair. "I know."
"So you have no clue what you want to do?" Jason asked.
"I take it I can't just work here forever?"
"No," Tommy chuckled. "You don't want that. Trust me."
"But," Jason smiled. "If you want to continue teaching, you could consider opening up your won dojo."
"Me? Own a business?" Mike asked. "No way."
"That's what I said at first," Tommy said. "But I'm doing ok."
"Only because some of us woke so hard," Jason replied. He caught the paperweight his friend threw at him. "He is right though. You already teach martial arts great. I'm sure Tommy can give you pointers on how to run a business."
"And you can continue working here while you try to get your business off the ground."
Mike nodded. "My own business. Boy, my dad and friends are never going to believe this."
"So I take it that's yes then?" Jason asked.
"Definitely. I love teaching already. I can open up my own dojo, maybe even teach samurai sword work."
"There's an idea," Tommy nodded. "Now, as you've said, we need it get ready for the afternoon classes."
"Right." Mike got up and went to go get ready.
Jason sighed contentedly as he got up. "I told you he needed help."
"I know. But I don't like interfering too much in the lives of others."
"Yeah right. Seriously though, career counseling. You'd be surprised how many former rangers need it."
Tommy nodded. "They spend their prime teenage years fighting for the world, and have no idea what to do after that."
"I'm glad we helped one lost soul today."
"I wouldn't say he's a lost soul."
"True. More like an annoying green."
"Get out there before I fire you!"
"That's ok," Jason grinned. "You don't pay me enough anyways." Tommy threw another paperweight at him and Jason caught. "If you're gonna throw stuff at least make it a challenge."
"I'm sure nothing could hurt that thick skull of yours anyways."
"Hey!"
-Samurai Ranger Life-
Kevin came home and smelled fish cooking as soon as he walked in the door. "Antonio," he said. "It's almost midnight. What're you doing up?"
"Making sure you get a good meal in you," Antonio replied. "You didn't throw me out on the street, so I figured it's the least I can do."
"Oh Antonio," Kevin sighed. "You're my friend. I wouldn't let you sleep in an alley."
"That's good to know. Sit and eat."
Kevin wanted to protest, but the food did smell really good and he was hungry. He shrugged. Sleep is for the weak anyways, he decided sitting down. "You know," he said after inhaling a couple of pieces. "You can stay here as long as you want."
"Thanks," Antonio replied. "I appreciate it. I-I was thinking of going to the Shiba House tomorrow and getting my things."
Kevin saw the look on his face and sighed. "It sounds like a good plan to me, no matter how hard it will be. Do you what me to go with you?"
"No, don't be silly. You have to go to work and swim training. I can do it by myself."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. I've faced worse stuff before than an...an ex."
Kevin nodded. "True."
Antonio decided it was time for a change in subject. "Have you decided what to do about the baby?"
Kevin groaned. "No. I mean...I think adoption is probably best. I mean, I'm not really equipped to be a parent. And I'm so young, I'm only twenty-one."
"If it helps my parents were around nineteen when I was born."
"Really?"
"Yes. They got married when they were eighteen."
"At least they were married when you were born."
Antonio chuckled. "I don't think that matters too much these days Kevin."
"Not when you're a samurai. Our family's reputations are everything. And a child conceived in wedlock, in an affair no less?" He shook his head. "That's not good. Really not good."
"Guess I won't have to worry about that."
"Don't think like that. The Kīpā will be convinced someday."
"If you say so. I'm gonna go to bed. I've had a very buy fish selling day."
"Ok. Good-night Antonio."
"Night Kev."
