The Last Memory: Chapter 7

"What about that hardware store over there?" Trenton suggested, looking over at Pam.

"I don't see how that could hurt," Pam said, pulling into a parking spot next to the store. "You go in and seeing they are hiring. I'm going to get a coffee from across the street."

"Sounds like a plan," Trenton said, smiling as she got out of Pam's car. At this point, she was highly irritated, but she didn't want the other woman to know. They had been driving around for about an hour, and Pam had an excuse as to why every place that Trenton picked to apply at was a bad idea. Finally, the other woman had said 'yes' to one place that she picked, and though a hardware store wasn't Trenton's first pick, it was good to have a job than no job at all.

Trenton looked around, noticing that the area seemed desolate compared to the busy city streets they had driven through. Hopefully, they are hiring, she thought as she walked in the door. Trenton noticed a front counter on her left. An older man in overalls and a ball cap was standing behind it, looking at a bolt that he was clutching in his hand. "Hello," Trenton said, trying to get the man's attention.

"Hello, si…ma'am," the older man stated. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, I was looking to apply for a job," Trenton said, walking up to the counter. "Do you have any openings?"

"Depends," the older man said. "Can you tell me where this bolt came from? I found it on the floor, so I know it has to have popped loose from something around here."

Trenton looked at the man, noticing that he was completely serious and then looked around the front counter to see if she could find the spot missing a bolt. A cabinet against the far wall caught her eye, and she waved the man over. "See how that cabinet is hanging crooked?" Trenton asked the man.

"Yeah," he said.

"Check this out." Trenton took the bolt from his hand and inserted it into the bracket holding up the top hinge of the cabinet. "See," she said. "Just like new."

"I'm impressed," the man said, holding out his hand to shake hers. "Name's Randy. When ca you start?"

"Today," Trenton replied. "Tomorrow. Whenever you like."

"Tomorrow at 8 a.m. it is," Randy replied. "Don't forget to bring your ID. We need to fill out some paperwork."

"Will do," Trenton said with a smile. "See you tomorrow." With that, she exited the store and took them deep breath. She had finally gotten a job. Now she needed to see if Pam really had her ID.

Trenton looked around for Pam, noting that she had said that she would be at the coffee house across the street. She looked both ways, crossed the street, and headed towards the coffee house's entrance.

"Trenton!" She heard a voice call from behind her. She turned around to see the same man that had been in Pam's driveway earlier that day, standing in front of the hardware store. She wasn't sure what to do. She didn't even know him, but something made her want to talk to him.

"What are you looking at?" a voice asked.

Trenton turned back towards the coffee shop, noticing that Pam was standing next to her. Trenton looked back towards the hardware store, not sure how to explain to Pam that the man that was in her driveway the morning was calling her name from across the street, but the man was already gone. "I'm looking at my new job," Trenton said, pointing to the hardware store.

"You got it?" Pam asked, surprise in her tone.

"Yeah, I start tomorrow," Trenton said.

"Well, this deserves a toast," Pam replied. "Let me buy you a drink."

Trenton followed the other woman into the coffee house, noting that though Pam's tone of voice sounded excited, her body language showed just the opposite.