Not the dream

NOT THE DREAM

Camilla has always been an early riser, She loved the sunrise and the quietness that came with it. Back home in Brazil, she usually would wake up as early as 5  A.M.,  make herself a cup of hot coffee and just enjoy the sunset from her bedroom window. It was an early morning ritual for her.

 However, since arriving in the United States of America things have changed. She could no longer enjoy the little things that made her happy, especially because of the type of job she got upon arrival here. After spending almost two weeks living in the States, Camilla could not get a suitable job with her credentials and she was getting worried, and also losing the little money she had on her. The opportunity she had heard was abundant in the states was not as they made it to be.

 When it finally dawned on her that her dream job might not be forthcoming, she went to a thrift store and bought herself a map. She knew she had to go job hunting even if it was a menial job or die of hunger. A few days later she got a job as a bus girl in a five-star restaurant. The night she got the job she called her mum to inform her about it.

“You got the interpreter job,” her mother asked her enthusiastically.

“No mother, I will work as a waitress in a five-star restaurant.”

“

But that job is beneath your qualification,  and you know that.” 

“I know, but it is better than staying idle and with a job at least I can make some money till I'm able to get a better job,” Camilla replied, she just wanted to convince her mother that she was living a comfortable life and calm her worries. 

But that was not the case, things were not going according to Camilla's plans. However, she had to start from somewhere and the little money she came with to America was dwindling fast. She had not realized how expensive life was over here. 

For a place to call her home, Camilla got a one-room apartment on the first floor of a building that was almost run down with its paint peeling off, and the streets were never safe from thugs and hoodlums who caused chaos daily. The only grocery store that survived in the area was owned by a retired hoodlum. The windows in the building were almost broken and the drapes that managed to cover some windows were torn and stained.

Camilla tried to make the most out of her situation. She went to work with a smile every day. However, her poor command of the English language was enough for her fellow workers to treat her like a child and belittle her at every opportunity they had. 

*************

“Table for ten, not eight,” Avery, the head waitress shouted at her.

Camilla had lied to her mother about the job. She actually did not have it easy since started work at Sheraton restaurant. She had worked her way up from washing dishes or doing night cleaning to bus girl. Even though both jobs were back-breaking, the little extra pay she got as a bus girl made the difference for her.

“But..you told me eight earlier,” Camilla replied.

“They changed their mind, I need ten plate settings.” Avery almost screeched at her, her hand flying in the air in anger.

“Alright then,” Camila answered, she was already exhausted from the day's work and wanted to crash.

“Why can't people stay in their country?” Avery shouted before walking away. After she left, for some seconds, Camilla stood still hoping to calm her nerves, she felt that the pain in her heart would kill her from the verbal abuse she got from the staff, especially Avery who seemed to hate migrants.

As soon as Camilla felt better, she added two more plate settings to the table. Happy with her work, she turned to leave without paying much attention. She bumped into something hard and firm. Before she could crash to the ground, she felt a strong hand, hold, and steady her. She looked up and met the eyes of her savior briefly, his eyes were a light shade of grey and even though the eyes were sad they still mesmerized her for a moment.

“Are you okay?” the deep voice asked. He sounded irritated.

“Yes, thank you.” Camilla stood straight and adjusted her apron, she avoided looking at the man before her and put her eyes down.

“Be careful next time, you might hurt yourself or worse someone else.” Ethan reprimanded her, his face showing his impatience. The manager appeared almost immediately, he apologized to Ethan who was one of their wealthiest customers, and threatened to sack Camilla.

“No need for that.”  Ethan gave an angry look to Camilla and dashed off to his table where Gaius and the rest of the group were waiting for him.

“Next time I will fire you.” the manager shouted at her and left.

Camilla would have loved to defend herself but her English was not good and it only made her look more clumsy so she swallowed whatever word she wanted to say, there was no need to draw extra attention to herself and the English. It was enough that her co-workers always made fun of her whenever she spoke. There was no need to add to her pain. 

“You heard the manager, now stop lazing about and get your ass back to work.” Avery, who never missed a chance to mock her, said laughing.

“We know who the lazy one is.” Camilla retorted before walking away. She would have been proud of herself if she had turned to see the bewildered look on Avery’s face.

The workload cramped in as it usually was every Friday. Everyone was in a frenzy and slightly overworked.

“so much work for little pay,” Clara mumbled under her breath as soon as she came into the kitchen.

“It is just modern-day slavery.” Stephanie replied without pausing from the utensils she was washing. “most times I get back home so tired and sore I can't wait to finish school and get a better job.”

Camilla listened half-heartedly to their conversation without joining. She learned early in the job not to interfere or chip into any conversation unless directly invited. And both girls were not necessarily her friend.

“

Aside from the tips and the wealthy clients that come here often nothing else is worth the while.'' Clara continued, she was quite the chatterbox. “I like sir Ethan the most, he is so hot.” Clara fanned herself with her hands. “I will probably faint if he talks to me.”

“You are such a drama queen,” Stephanie replied. “Camila I heard you bumped into him earlier today, and he held you to break your fall.”

 Both eyes turned towards Camilla, she turned bright red under their scrutiny.

“You are so lucky, how did it feel when he held you.” Clara wanted to know  

“I can bet you fell on purpose,” Stephanie added maliciously

Camilla would have loved to avoid the conversation, but she had to get the record straight, they well knew Stephanie for spreading malicious lies. 

'Nothing of such happened, I just tripped and fell and the man was just there when it happened.’

 Stephanie smirked “yeah, you tripped and fell into the hands of the most eligible bachelor in town. How romantic.”

“You can believe what you want to believe,” Camilla said irritated

“You sound dumb,” Stephanie replied, taunting Camilla's way of speaking.

 Just then the kitchen door opened, and the manager barged in “we are up in our arms with work and you are idling away here. Seems you want a salary cut this month.” he glared from Stephanie to Camilla.

  For the first time since starting work at the restaurant, Camilla was glad to see the manager. She left the girls and went back to work, no matter how backbreaking it was, it was still her job.

 Some hours later her phone rang, and she removed it from her jeans pocket. It was a call from her friend in Brazil. Fear gripped her suddenly, and she felt lightheaded. Mary knew not to call her at this hour except for an emergency, Camilla’s mind went straight to our ailing mother.

“Hello, Mary,” Camilla said into the phone as calmly as she could mutter.

“Camila, I am sorry for calling you at this hour but there is an emergency. I took your mother to the hospital, and the doctor insisted on running some tests.”

“What happened?”

 Mary hesitated for a while before speaking “the Cancer came back and she has to start with Chemo immediately.”

“I will see what I can do, and thank you for all you have been doing for me and my mother.” Camilla could never thank Mary enough, they have been friends for quite some time now, ever since she and her mom moved into the residential government building and even with Mary's hectic schedules at work, including taking care of her son and husband, she still took out time to check on Camilla's mother.

“You are welcome, mon Amie. I know you will do the same for me.” Mary replied.  

 When the call was over, Camilla gave a gut-wrenching cry, a thousand miles away her heart yearned for her mother.