"Help Wanted" the sign had said and drawn her in. Now that she was inside, though, Maddie was starting to have second thoughts. The sign had said to ask for "Luke" and frankly, the flamboyantly dressed crossdresser was the only man in the room.
Well, it wasn't like she hadn't dealt with them before. And if the place was this plush, well, perhaps there would be plenty of tips and money to be made.
Swallowing down her own jitters, Maddie approached the man...woman...person and smiled softly.
"Excuse me. I couldn't help but notice that there was a help wanted sign on the door..."
At least if she didn't get this job she could always say it was for the best.
"SHH!" Luke quickly hushed the woman (another one who looked a mess-- sigh, what was WITH women today?), wanting to listen to the girl finish her song. It would be rude to interrupt. He wondered if the dark haired girl was a fan of his? Maybe she remembered his hit, "Mud Slide Into Love"? No, fan of his were few and far between. She probably just wanted a job or something.
How boring. Like her hairstyle.
Some lucky day He may come back again So until then I'm trav'lin' light...
"Okay," he said in a hushed voice, though enthralled with the red head's performance. Nice voices always gave him shivers. "What can I do for you, honey?"
Well. Apparently he wanted to listen to the song. Maddie hushed up immediately and did her best not to look cowed. It wouldn't be good to look too timid in front of a potential employer. Even though this town gave her plenty of reasons to be edgy.
"I was wondering if the position advertised on the help wanted sign was still available. I'm in need of work and willing to do anything." She paused. "Well, anything legal."
There was no telling what a man dressed like a woman would ask her to do. The hag cackled at the thoughts racing through her head and Maddie smiled broader to ignore the rants.
Luke's eyes raked over Maddie critically. She could use a lot of work but maybe he could take her under his wing. He was a giving soul, so kind and so pure to help someone as pathetic as this. She had split ends. It was so, so sad.
"Sing something. Any song you know. But sing it softly-- we don't want to take the spotlight away from our performer."
It was a simple enough test and if she had any bad intentions, he would know instantly. He wanted a hard worker, yes, but he wanted someone loyal. Loyalty went a long way with him.
"Sing?" she squeaked and then straightened her expression. "Well, I suppose I can sing, but it's nothing worthy of getting paid for, but if..." Luke was quickly fronwing. "Right, yes. I think I know something..."
Maddie cleared her throat -- as if that would improve her singing and gave it a go. Enough road trips and a Doobie Brothers tape had given her this much.
"When the sun comes up on a sleepy little town down around San Antone and the folks are risin’ for another day ‘round about their homes. The people of the town are strange and they’re proud of where they came.
Well, you’re talkin’ ‘bout China Grove, wo, oh, oh, oh, China Grove. "
She trailed off and smiled weakly. "How was that?"
Oh LORD, that girl should never try to get into show business. That was something... dark about her aura. It was like when ink spilled onto paper-- it was blindingly white with bits of dark trying to creep in. She was no normal human girl, either. Why did all these freak shows show up at his place of business? Oh well, if she was a spirit or something, it was his duty to guide her.
"You're hired. You'll start off with opening and closing and cleaning. I'll teach you how to take drink orders later on. You start tomorrow. Be here at 5:00 pm. We'll talk about payment then."
He didn't bother asking her name or for references. Luke just didn't roll like that. He was a free spirit, willing to help the little guy. Or something. Mostly he didn't want to hire beautiful girls and take the attention away from him.
"R-really? Thank you!" Maddie felt the anxiety fade -- she wouldn't have to sing! -- and she straightened her posture just that little bit more. Though if she'd known that Luke had an inkling about the Drude within her, well, she would have far from enthused.
"5 o'clock, right. Is there any kind of uniform you'd like me to wear? A dress code of sorts?" She did a quick scan of the room to see if there was anyone else who would have been in her position.
"Oh... oh honey," Luke shook his fabulous head sympathetically. "Just... no teeshirts." Maybe she didn't have enough money for nice clothes. That poor, poor dear. "Something nice, okay?"
Teeshirts, augh. Luke almost vomited. Unless it was a hot young man in a tight teeshirt, it just wasn't right.
Well, it wasn't like she hadn't dealt with them before. And if the place was this plush, well, perhaps there would be plenty of tips and money to be made.
Swallowing down her own jitters, Maddie approached the man...woman...person and smiled softly.
"Excuse me. I couldn't help but notice that there was a help wanted sign on the door..."
At least if she didn't get this job she could always say it was for the best.
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How boring. Like her hairstyle.
Some lucky day
He may come back again
So until then
I'm trav'lin' light...
"Okay," he said in a hushed voice, though enthralled with the red head's performance. Nice voices always gave him shivers. "What can I do for you, honey?"
Besides a complete makeover.
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"I was wondering if the position advertised on the help wanted sign was still available. I'm in need of work and willing to do anything." She paused. "Well, anything legal."
There was no telling what a man dressed like a woman would ask her to do. The hag cackled at the thoughts racing through her head and Maddie smiled broader to ignore the rants.
Reply
"Sing something. Any song you know. But sing it softly-- we don't want to take the spotlight away from our performer."
It was a simple enough test and if she had any bad intentions, he would know instantly. He wanted a hard worker, yes, but he wanted someone loyal. Loyalty went a long way with him.
Reply
Maddie cleared her throat -- as if that would improve her singing and gave it a go. Enough road trips and a Doobie Brothers tape had given her this much.
"When the sun comes up on a sleepy little town
down around San Antone
and the folks are risin’ for another day
‘round about their homes.
The people of the town are strange
and they’re proud of where they came.
Well, you’re talkin’ ‘bout China Grove, wo, oh, oh,
oh, China Grove. "
She trailed off and smiled weakly. "How was that?"
Reply
"You're hired. You'll start off with opening and closing and cleaning. I'll teach you how to take drink orders later on. You start tomorrow. Be here at 5:00 pm. We'll talk about payment then."
He didn't bother asking her name or for references. Luke just didn't roll like that. He was a free spirit, willing to help the little guy. Or something. Mostly he didn't want to hire beautiful girls and take the attention away from him.
Reply
"5 o'clock, right. Is there any kind of uniform you'd like me to wear? A dress code of sorts?" She did a quick scan of the room to see if there was anyone else who would have been in her position.
Reply
Teeshirts, augh. Luke almost vomited. Unless it was a hot young man in a tight teeshirt, it just wasn't right.
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She'd certainly experienced that sorta of pity before. Maddie smiled instead of focusing on the memories of her mother.
"Of course. I think I have a polo shirt or something."
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