Page 10 of Broken Chains

"If it's going to be a problem, I'm going to have to let you go," Mr. Powell said and Kenneth shot me a look, begging me to help him.

"I'm not going to cause any problems. I assure you."

Mr. Powell got pulled away to deal with another customer.

"You can't skip school like this, Kenneth. I don't care how much you think you need the money."

"Look, my family's going through some shit right now. I need all the extra hours I can get."

"Not good enough. You can't help your family without an education."

"God, you sound like Oliver now. I get enough of this crap from him."

"Well, he's right." I didn't know what possessed me to say the next words out of my mouth. "Do you drink?"

"No, ma'am."

"Do you do drugs?"

"Never."

"You seem like a good kid, Kenneth, so let's make a deal. Are you willing to work hard and earn your paycheck?"

"Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."

"That's what I suspected. So I'll tell you what. I need an assistant. I've been working on a greenhouse to grow vegetables to support the diner I work at, but I've been too busy to really get it up and running. I will hire you to assist me, but I have two stipulations."

"First, how much are we talking?" he asked, and I smiled.

"How much do you make here?"

"Seven dollars an hour."

"Fine, I'll pay double that."

"What? You serious?" His eyes nearly bugged out of his head.

"I'm serious. Fourteen dollars an hour. Two stipulations."

"Okay, what are they?"

"One, no more skipping school. You only work evenings after school and after homework assignments are complete."

He thought about it for a moment. "Okay. With the double pay I'll still be making at least what I pull in here," he said excitedly. "Can I work weekends, too?"

"Yes, weekends are fine as long as it's okay with your parents."

He snorted. "Trust me, they don't give a shit, but I'll confirm with Oliver if it makes you feel better."

"Deal. Now, part two. This is the harder one. You have to make me a promise that you'll stay in school until you graduate and as long as you remain drug free, alcohol free, and work hard, I will promise to keep you on that entire time."

What in the world possessed me to make such an offer was beyond me, but it felt right. For some reason I felt connected to this kid and wanted to help him out.

He struggled with that last one.

"I'm a year behind. I don't graduate for another two full years. I'm already the oldest in my class. It's a lot to ask."

"It's important," I said.

---