10

The basement is dark, gloomy and dusty. One corner is filled with carefully arranged tools and clothes for all sort of work. Although the mowing machine is not here , I remember Mr Gail bringing it out of the shed way at the back of the house.

While the other side is filled with boxes opened but filled with junk and old stuff.

I notice a huge box carelessly sitting off to a corner completely sealed up with tape. I'm tempted to go over there and rip it open. I don't even realize I'm moving towards it until I hear Esperanza calling out to me.

" Luke what you doing? You're supposed to be getting tools and clothes. " she says lifting an eyebrow.

" right. Well you've shown me what you wanted to. So you can go unless you want to see me change."

She scrunches up her face in disgust.

" and I totally understand if you admire watching people change but I don't exactly appreciate being watched."

" you're unbelievable. What makes you think I want to see that?" she asks slowly eyeing me from my head to my toes. " oh right, I remember. Your overly profound egoistical mindset. " Saying that she sashays out of here.

" how rude and insulting " I look towards the box one more time but I think of how kind Mr Gail's been and I realize I don't want to give him a reason not to trust me.

I quickly change, take the tools I need and head back up to start work.

~ ~ ~

" Done with this first part just to throw this in the garbage can at the back." I say to myself with pride.

I had been watching over my shoulder all day trying to figure out what was going on. But apparently nothing, because some girly tunes have been airing out a window at the top floor. Most probably Linda's room.

I place the two garbage bags on top the already filled wheelbarrow and push it to the huge garbage can at the back of the house. I leave it there to go get the shovels.

As soon as I get them, I hurry back but not even a blade of grass is left where I'd left the wheelbarrow. I retrace my step but after doing it for the fifth time. I realize it is actually missing.

I run around the estate trying to find it but to no avail . I decide to go back to the part of the lawn I already mowed and would you guess the surprise.

Not only is the wheelbarrow there but also the dirt which is no longer in the wheelbarrow but scattered all over. By all over I mean lawn and pouch. It's then I notice that the song's stopped playing .

I am not stupid, I know who the bloody hell did this. I run to the porch and knock on the screen door. It is immediately opened by Esperanza who is smiling looking all smug.

" Are you already done mowing the lawn? That was quick." she says with a devious smile on her face.

Almost on cue, Linda appears with an expressionlessly masked face, leaning against the door side with a bowl of popcorn from which she picks one after the other. " Though I think he should clean the lawn ."

" and the front porch. I don't think your dad would approve of a carelessly done job. " Esperanza says still smiling.

" And to think you just cleaned the porch today. Poor Ranza. Think he will lose his job?"

" Guess we can only wait and see."

I fix a scowl on my face and glare at them for a few seconds while they just stare back with no expressions whatsoever. I grunt angrily and head back to clean all over again . They slam the screen door behind me. As soon as they're behind doors, I hear them break into fits of laughter.

" Those stupid brats! wait till I lay my hands on them."

This time I take the shovel along when going to dispose of the dirt.

Let's see how they sabotage me now.

After disposing of it, i decide to head back the other way. I walk for some time silently and mentally noting the level of grass I had to cut tomorrow.

I backtrack when I notice unevenly cut grass and start swearing at the luck which had me working at the house of someone out to get me.

I leave everything and run back to the porch.

" finally you're done." Esperanza says as soon as she answers the door.

I look inside to see Linda sitting on a couch, eating from a bag of potato chips, watching some telenovela.

She looks up from her sit and grins widely at me, popping another chip into her mouth.

" The grass at the back is unevenly cut."

" oh no Lukey what'd you do ?" Linda asks in that annoying voice that reminds me of Alexia . " daddy would be so mad if he realized the grasses weren't cut right. I think you'd lose your job" she says pouting . Then smiles that particularly evil smile of hers. " don't you think so Ranza?"

" I don't know. Do you Luke? " with that they flutter their lashes at me.

" oh...oh...oh... it's getting to the part where he tells her he loves her."Linda says dragging Esperanza off.

I'm starting to feel foolish standing out here . So I start to head back.

" oh and Luke" Linda calls out. " please shut the door. "

I lock the door quickly and go back around with the mower to even out the grass.

I dispose of the dirt and come back to my initial position to clean the tools I'd been using.

I practically choke on air. The lawn is covered in filth, Cans, nylons, paper and empty snack packs.

I have had it up to here with these brats. This time I confront them.

I run up the stairs and immediately I knock, the two witches appear before the door. " you're finally done and can leave us alone. It was getting annoying seeing your face." Linda says yawning.

" done? done? " I ask pacing left and right and mentally saying to myself. Patience patience .

" though you should have done a neater job." Esperanza puts in scrutinizing the lawn.

To hell with patience I'll bloody murder these fools.

" I know you did this. " I say glaring at them.

" did what?" they both ask blinking innocently.

" you've been sabotaging my work all day." I say looking at them and thinking of the unbelievable lengths they took just to get revenge.

" Linda did you do that? That is so mean chicka." Esperanza says looking shocked.

Linda places her left hand on her heart and inhales deeply. "Me? I would never do that. But Esperanza did you? "

Esperanza nods no with a solemn face.

" but then who did?" they ask slowly turning to face me once more.

" you girls are unbelievable. "

" seriously you're still blaming us?" Esperanza asks exasperatedly.

" of course" I reply my eyeballs practically shooting out my socket.

" Ranza I think I know what is going on here. He's trying to blame us for his horribly done job, so we feel guilty and do it for him. " Linda says looking annoyed.

" oh I see now and he says we're unbelievable."

Seriously

I'm starting to doubt if they actually did it but I hold my resolve. " wow I'm impressed with your acting skills but it's not fooling me."

" Luke if you needed help you should have just asked us."

My eyes widen as Esperanza says that.

Sure , like I'd ever do that. On the day hell freezes over.

" I understand if you think it's fun to try tricking people into doing your job but we...don't... appreciate it." Esperanza says leaning towards me slightly.

Both girls smirk and shut the door on my face.

After a few seconds of standing at the door, I scream out of frustration when I hear them laughing.

I go back to clean up the place for the last time hoping that's their last sabotage for the evening.

~ ~ ~

As soon as I'm done , I place everything back apart from the clothes. I decide I'll just bring those back tomorrow, seeing as I can't change into what I'd worn earlier.

The two witches are still sitting on the couch eating dinner watching some soap opera, exactly as I'd seen them when I'd passed through here earlier.

" Luke you can't go yet." Linda says still looking at the TV.

The first thing that crosses my mind is what the hell did they do again?

" and why can't I go yet? " I ask suspiciously.

" well dad said to tell you to clean up in the bathroom in one of the guestrooms. "

At least Mr Gail was considerate enough to think of that.

Linda shows me where the room is located and immediately leaves.

After searching for booby traps and realizing there is none , I step under the shower and turn the water on. I let it flow down my body causing me to relax . The water slowly changes into a warmer temperature and I let it sooth my aching bones.

" ah!!! " I scream suddenly realizing the water is at the highest temperature. " please someone! anyone! Help me! Linda! Stop! please! I'm begging have mercy!"

But it doesn't stop, it only continues until I get out from under the shower.

I quickly change into my clothes and hurry downstairs where I see Esperanza standing with something in her hand. But Linda nowhere in sight.

I carefully come down the stairs and as soon as she takes sight of me , she starts laughing hysterically.

" sorry Luke it's just you're red and God it's funny."

I refuse to answer her and start to side step her to get to the door when she suddenly stretches her hand out to me.

I jump back with a million scenarios of me getting hurt playing in my mind but it's then I realize it's carefully wrapped food she is stretching out.

She looks like she is trying to hold back her laughter. " Mr Gail said you were to receive food on your lunch break but you were so busy I didn't see you take one." she says smiling deviously.

At that moment , Linda appeared at the top of the stairs sporting the same smile as Esperanza.

I grab the food from her hand and head out the door to my car. I hear them laughing once more and feel tears fighting to force themselves out but I hold them back in .

I open my car door, get in the driver's seat. I place the dish on the passenger seat, deciding I'd send it to Jack to show my gratitude for getting me this job. Also to make him feel my suffering in case the food is poisoned. I'm about pulling out of the estate when I glance at the overhead mirror. I place my head on the stirring wheel and start crying.

The backseat is filled with grasses.

" I really can't do this anymore " I say to myself.