Purely Transactional

Over the next few days, Hikaru and I combed through classified ads and job boards to find them their first job. There were plenty of places hiring entry level workers, so we started making calls and setting up interviews. The first few days were rough, and I could tell they were getting frustrated. It was tricky to explain why someone their age hadn’t had a job yet, but I tried to direct them as best as I could.

“Why do people keep asking if I’m a felon?” they asked, watching me put together dinner. “There are plenty of other things I could have been doing other than breaking the law.” I shot them a smile over my shoulder, about to say something, then they added, “Hush, you know what I mean.”