Cap 4 English

Gumball was looking at his cell phone confirming if this was the correct place where he would have a um…interview? Or would he start working? It wasn't very clear. It never occurred to him to tell Larry if this is where he would start working or where he would be interviewed. He shrugged, took a deep breath, nodded to himself, and decided to enter the building.

Looking around him, he only saw a woman sitting behind a desk in front of a computer monitor. He approaches her causing her to turn to see him.

Gumball: Excuse me, I come from Larry and. - couldn't finish

Secretary: you are Gumball Watterson, correct? He just nodded. – The boss is waiting for you on the 7th floor, room 32, you can use the elevator that is in the corridor.

Gumball: oh, thanks. – He said simply and headed towards the elevator. I select the seventh floor and the doors closed. He remembered some advice that Rocky Robinson gave him. His neighbor's son, Mr. Robinson, who was a custodian at Elmore High School, about cleaning supplies and ways to practice good hygiene. He didn't know if Rocky was suspicious or not why he was asking that since he was mostly wearing headphones listening to music that put him in a good mood. He wasn't entirely sure.

The sound of the elevator door bell brought him out of his thoughts. The doors opened, starting to walk towards room 32. It was just at the end of the corridor. He took a deep breath trying to calm his nerves. Would it always be like this when you meet for an interview? Gumball knew perfectly well that he didn't want to go through this again. He knocks several times and hears a voice behind the door.

?: Forward. -he opened and saw a man, in fact a folder man, sitting looking at some pages.- make yourself comfortable, I'll take care of you right away. He – I didn't know if he recognized it or not. So he sat in some armchairs that were to one side against the wall. In front there was a small table and on the other side another chair. He sits down and just closed his eyes trying to calm down. He jumped a little when he heard a noise, he opened his eyes and looked at the boss who was sitting in front of him. – My name is Gerard. I suppose you are Gumball?

Gumball: y-yes sir.

Gerard: Easy, kid. I see you're nervous. Here. He – throws a canned drink at him and he catches it. did you have this at all times? Maybe he never noticed. He just looked at him a little doubtfully. - sugar will calm your nerves. He nodded and took a sip releasing a sigh that he didn't know he was holding. - better?

Gumball: Yes, thanks.

Gerard: ok. Let's start with this. -he settles in the chair hitting his back with the back. - Larry told me that you want to work at whatever it is. And I happen to have a cleaning position.

Gumball: Yeah, he told me about work and I don't care. In fact, I asked the janitor at my school for advice. - the man smiled

Gerard: I see that you come somewhat prepared, I like that. But first I want to know something about you.

Gumball: What do you mean, sir?

Gerard: Larry never mentioned why you want the job. And it's not normal for an almost 17-year-old to want a job even while in high school. I know young people who work because of economic problems. But you… you don't look like them. He arches his eyebrows. – for example, your shirt is made of good silk and your trousers are of good quality. I don't see that you are wrong in terms of money.

Gumball: wow… he notices everything.

Gerard: When you have a position like mine you have to pay attention to the details. That's the world of an adult, kid. Having a job requires GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. Sometimes you will even have to work while sick. Errors are not accepted or you are out. – He saw how the young man took another big drink making him laugh a little. Don't worry, I'm not going to eat you alive. So answer. Why do you want the position?

Gumball: well… *sigh* look, I'll be honest. - put the drink aside on the table. – you are somewhat right. I'm not bad in terms of money… yet. He arches an eyebrow at that. – My mother is the only one who works in the family. We are a family of 5 including me. And she takes care of everything. Expenses, utilities, and she makes sure we have food on the table and a roof over our heads.

Gerard: your father? You haven't mentioned it.

Gumball: He…it's a complicated subject. He doesn't have a job and, to be honest, I highly doubt he'll have one in the distant future…even in the rest of his life I mean.

Gerard: Sounds a bit like when Larry was a slacker.

Gumball: hehehe, actually. He was the one who snatched the title "the weakest"

Gerard: oh, now I understand.

Gumball: she fights with everything and I would like to support her. At least a little.

Gerard: mmm… the way you say it she doesn't know about this.

Gumball: No, none of my family knows. I want my siblings to stay focused in school.

Gerard: I liked your honesty, boy. And, between the two of us, I think that what you do for your mother, even though she is behind her das, it's something moving and inspiring.

Gumball: Thank you, sir. - He just stared at him, making the young man start to get nervous. He decided to finish his drink waiting for the adult's response.

Gerard: Where do you live? – He blinks several times. – I am not saying the exact place, but rather your neighborhood, where does your mother work and what school do you attend?

Gumball: oh, she works at the Rainbow factory. he-takes out his cell phone for a moment showing him the factory where her mother works, then her school and the neighborhood where she lives.

Gerard: fine. Back in a moment. - He just nodded, the boss got up and went to the computer that was on the desk. He didn't just sit, he was typing on her and dragging the mouse around clicking several times. He stopped for a moment looking at the young man and back at the monitor. - tell me, can you start right now? He - he finished typing and went to a door that was in the room taking out a bag.

Gumball: I have the job! –

Gerard: easy, easy. – She sits in front of him again. – You don't have the job yet, it's just training. A test to see if you are fit.

Gumball: oh, sorry.

Gerard: don't worry. Look, there are three buildings. They are all apartment complexes and are 8 stories. The only thing you have to do is clean the corridor, the windows, the elevator and the stairs. Obviously, if you see a fault or something broken, remember it for later. Don't worry about cleaning products. The owner of the buildings has the responsibility of supplying it.

Gumball: yes sir! – He said in a military style making the adult smile.

Gerard: ok, soldier boy. Here is your uniform. - He hands him the bag, the teenager looks inside noticing that it was his work clothes. I don't know if it's your size. But for now that will do. Let's exchange our cell phone numbers. There I will send you the addresses of the buildings today. he-quickly takes out his cell phone, he didn't know if it was out of excitement or nerves, but he did it pretty quickly. –

Gumball: Will someone come with me?

Gerard: It won't be necessary. With the uniform, the guard will know that you belong to us and will let you pass.

Gumball: Isn't that bad security?

Gerard: heh, I see you're attentive. I like that. But you don't have to worry. They are informed of the characteristics of our employees and only they know who they are going to.

Gumball: oh. - The adult gets up accompanying him to the door.

Gerard: a piece of advice. He starts from the top floor to the first. It is the fastest way to start. First through the windows and then the corridor. And to go down, he does not use the elevator. He comes downstairs and you clean him up on the way. You will save a lot of time by following these steps.

Gumball: top floor, windows, corridors and stairs. I have it.

Gerard: fine. he-opens the door letting the young cat out. – good luck, boy. I'll message you the directions right away. He nodded happily and closed the door.

The blue cat decided to go down the elevator and, taking advantage of the time, he quickly changed inside it, leaving the clothes he had before in the bag. Looking at himself in the elevator mirror, he noticed that he had something big left on him. He heard the sound of his cell phone, turned it on looking at 3 notifications. He opens them noting that they were the addresses. He nodded to himself and the elevator doors opened.

Gumball: Okay, time to work.

XXXXXXXXX

How many hours had passed, he did not know. But he was sure that it had been quite some time since he left the building where he was interviewed. Since he was getting late. The sun was setting, giving the sky an orange color.

He was now on the first floor of the last assigned building. He was finishing mopping the floor. He had some problems as the residents were passing by dirtying the floor again. He wanted to insult them, but he decided to suck it up and start over.

When he finished he saw the floor noticing the reflection of him in how clean he was. He nodded satisfied with his work and stretched his back crunching his back bones. Who would say that being hunched over for so long sweeping and wiping would be painful. He saw how a shadow was approaching behind him and he was already cursing the person who was about to step on his newly polished floor.

?: I see that I arrived just in time.

Gumball: huh?... oh, boss!? He didn't know it was coming.

Gerard: I wanted to see how you were doing at the end of the day. I'll be right back. - he gets on the elevator and Gumball shrugged. It had been over 15 minutes and he was wiping down the windows. He never realized that a certain folder-faced person was behind him watching. - second hand?

Gumball: WAA!.- he started and the man laughed.

Gerard: I'm sorry. It was not my intention.

Gumball: Hehehe, I didn't listen to the elevator.

Gerard: Don't go down the elevator, go down the stairs. He wanted to see if everything was clean.

Gumball: oh. What's up?

Gerard: the windows and the corridor are fine. included You cleaned behind the pots that were on some floors. But you forgot under them. On the stairs you cleaned every step including the railing, but there was still some dust under them. You cleaned the elevator well. Even the bathrooms that are on the first floor.

Gumball: sorry... me.

Gerard: Why are you apologizing?

Gumball: well... some sectors are dirty, right?

Gerard: boy, it's your first day. And let me tell you, you did excellent, even better than your average rookie. You will get better with experience. First of all. You saw something out of place in the buildings.

Gumball: well…-he takes out his cell phone causing the boss to tilt his head doubtfully. - in the first building I noticed that two light bulbs were burned out. The second and fifth floors. The third switch must be changed since it is stuck. In the second building that was there, I found nothing and in this one there is a leak in the bathroom under the vanity. The railings from the third building to the fourth floor are somewhat loose as they move and finally they have to change the doorknob that leads to the stairs on the top floor, it is somewhat loose. He said looking at him.

Gerard: did you write all that down on your cell phone?

Gumball: In case I forgot something.

Gerard: well done. You're right, those are all the bugs I found. Except for the bathroom that I didn't know. Put away the cleaning supplies, I'll be waiting for you outside. - the blue cat nodded while the man decided to leave. He decided to light a cigarette and wait leaning on a tree that was on the sidewalk. He heard the doors of the building open and the young man appeared next to him. - well, I'll keep it simple, boy. - the saliva gulp of nerves. – you have the job.

Gumball: seriously!? - The man nodded and noticed how the young cat was trying not to scream with emotion.

Gerard: The buildings you will be in charge of cleaning are the same. Sometimes there will be changes, such as a building you stop cleaning, but another is assigned to you. Everything will be informed through messages on your cell phone. He nodded quickly. – now, as soon as you pay it. – Gumball listened carefully. – there are two ways and that is your option.

Gumball: my choice? - He said doubtfully.

Gerard: that's right. The pay can be weekly or monthly. You choose. –

Gumball: mmmmm.- He closed his eyes thinking for a moment. – (If it is monthly I will have more money earned than a weekly… but sometimes we have "extra" expenses during the weeks that are difficult for my mother…) I prefer weekly if it is not too much trouble.

Gerard: okay. Let me tell you your working hours. in fact, they are the same ones you did today. You work from Monday to Saturday. And before you say anything. On Saturdays it is only in the morning. It's only two buildings. This and the first one you did. After noon and all of Sunday are your days off. there is a problem with that?

Gumball: No, sir!

Gerard: fine. – She was about to turn around, but he stopped. - oh, I almost forgot. Sometimes you may get an "offer", if you want to call it that, to clear out another extra building or two. Obviously you will be paid more. But just in case. Would you accept working overtime on some occasions? It is up to you to decide whether to accept or not and it will be assigned to someone else.

Gumball: Nope. I will accept.

Gerard: well, as you have started today Wednesday. Your pay will not be that much. But starting next week the pay will be as it is normally. When you finish your work on Saturday, see me again in my office to give you your payment. Since you probably don't have a bank account, I'll give you the cash in an envelope. He agreed. - Do you want me to take you home?

Gumball: No thanks. I will go by bus. Also, if they see me coming by car with someone they don't know, they will raise suspicions.

Gerard: okay, whatever you want. Good luck, Gumball. See you Saturday. – He said and began to walk. When he was about to turn the corner, he heard how the cat screamed with joy, making him laugh at that. I turn around for a moment seeing how he jumped from one side to the other and began to run, sometimes jumping from here to there towards the bus stop.

I hope you liked it, as always soon the next one.