Chapter Four

James Andrew was in his house,reading an article in the newspaper about unemployed graduates and blaming the government for their incapability to solve the problem. He felt for them.

His brothers arrived as he was about to rise up and go inside. They exchanged pleasantries and he offered them seats and entertained them.

"Happy weekend, brothers. How are you doing? Your wives and children?" James asked his brothers.

"James you know I dislike many questions. One at a time," Paul Andrew said.

"Alright. Anyway, what made you two come here? You don't visit me often," James pointed out.

"Just to say 'Hi' to our little brother," the twins chorused and laughed.

They chatted for a while longer and Peter changed the subject they were discussing about. He asked James if there was any vacancy in his company where someone could work and receive high salary.

"Brother,does Cecilia want to work in my company?" James asked thoughtfully.

"My wife is not going to work,okay? I don't want her to. This is for another person," Peter uttered.

James and Paul exchanged glances and muttered,"Who?" to Peter's surprise. He was jokingly annoyed. Were they doubting or suspecting him? Were they thinking of something imaginable?

"She's a friend I just met and wanted to help. A graduate but with a petty job and salary," Peter confessed.

"Alright. Tell her to see me in the office on Monday with the necessary documents. I really admire punctuality," James stressed the last word to inform him that he did not tolerate lateness from any worker or worker - to - be.

________

Joyce was so elated when she heard the news. She jumped and shouted for joy and drew the customer's attention to where she was with Peter.

"Thank you so much. I know you'll help me," she blabbed with a smile.

"Thank God but you didn't have to behave weird. You're a lady,right? You should know how to comport yourself," he advised with a little bit of anger in his tone.

She became annoyed but was too joyous to act on it. She decided to let him scale through what he said because of the job he got her. If not..........

"I'm just so glad to leave this f**king and d**n place to a bigger company where I can really become rich," she explained, still in a happy mood.

"Hey! You don't even know if you'll be given the job yet. It may be my brother's company but I'm not sure if he will take you"

"Don't ruin my mood. Why won't he accept me? I'm not that bad. I'm brilliant. I might be of good use to him," she paused. "Might be? Oh,no! I will be of good use to him. I'm an asset,you know? And I'm talented. Whatever he asked me to do,I'll do it as long as it involves money," she finished dreamily. Money was her problem.

Peter was obviously embarrassed with the way she talked without breathing. She sure talk too much. "Sweet Jesus,you're loquacious!" He exclaimed.

She frowned and then smiled. "I'm not. I am just the type that really say all that is in my mind or else, I won't be feeling good for a whole week. I don't talk unnecessarily –" she was saying.

Peter raised his hand to stop her words but it seemed she was lost in them as she couldn't see him telling her to stop even though she was staring at him with her hands doing the demonstration.

"I say all my mind and –"

"Hey!!!" Peter shouted and that even draw more attention of the customers than hers.

Joyce was shocked as she blinked uncontrollably with her hands clenched. 'Peter,"she called.

"You talk too much. I don't like it. I have been waving at you but you seem to have lost your senses," he said calmly and the crowd's attention diverted from them one after the other.

"So sorry," she apologized and went away disappointed in herself.

But — still happy.