Page 13 of Not My Problem

Working in accounting I didn’t have a lot of contact with the shelter, but when I first started at the agency I’d visited every department and team to learn about their work. The shelter manager, Julia Montego, had given me a tour and shared about the work. Having stayed in various homeless shelters as a teen, it was interesting to see how things worked from the other side.

“I don’t think I’m qualified for that.”

“It’s an entry level job,” I said quickly, already way too invested in her getting the job. “They’re mostly looking for people who can maintain boundaries, can reliably work different shifts, and aren’t afraid of hard work.”

“Well, I’ve been a cocktail waitress and a bartender,” Zoe said thoughtfully. “I’ve had to dodge a lot of wandering hands and throw out belligerent drunks. And I don’t mind cleaning. Maybe I should apply.”

“Tell you what, I’ll email you the job posting and if you’re still interested, you can apply and I’ll put in a good word for you with the shelter manager.”

“You’d do that?” She seemed surprised.

“Sure, I’m a pretty good judge of character. And you’re Jan’s granddaughter, so you can’t be all bad.”

She smirked then nodded. “Yeah, forward the job, thank you.”

Zoe wrote down her email address, then I found the link to the job announcement on our website and forwarded it to her. When I glanced up at her she was frowning at the screen, her lips moving as she silently sounded out some of the words. I almost offered to read it to her, but I knew she could read, she just struggled with the mechanics of it.

Suddenly she gasped and turned the screen towards me. “That’s the salary?”

“I know it’s not much, but we are a nonprofit and it’s only a part-time on-call position, so you also don’t get benefits.”

Zoe shook her head. “That’s four dollars an hour more than I’ve ever made at any other job.”

“Washington has one of the highest minimum wages in the country, and that pushes all the other salaries up too.”

Her eyes were round. “I hope I at least get an interview.”

“I’m sure you will.”

I found my work cell phone and sent an email to Julia, letting her know that a friend was applying for one of her on-call positions and I could vouch for her. That was all I would do. I wouldn’t pressure the manager to hire Zoe, and she wouldn’t let me anyway. But a good word from me would likely at least get my houseguest an interview. After that, it was up to Zoe to get the job.

I told her as much after she submitted her application.

“I appreciate the referral,” she said. “But I definitely want to get the job on my own merits.”

I didn’t tell her that Julia was so desperate for on-call staff she’d probably hire anyone with a pulse and a clean criminal record. While we were talking an email came in from Jan.

“Oh, your grandmother finally responded.”

Zoe came around the table to stand behind me, close enough that I could smell the shampoo she used. Then she caught herself and stepped back.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to get in your space and be nosy, I was just curious what she said.”

I read it out loud to her.

“Dear Gretchen, thank you for taking such good care of my house. Zoe is indeed my granddaughter, although I didn’t know she existed until about two months ago. Her mother left home right after she turned eighteen. She was a wild girl and things were difficult. I always thought that she’d come home eventually but she never did. After her father died I tracked her down in Chicago, but she never responded to my letters, if she got them at all (I understand she moved around a lot). I would have tried harder if I had known about Zoe, but I figured I would take the hint that Connie didn’t want to talk to me. I’m gutted that I never got to see my daughter again or see Zoe growing up. Please tell her that I’m looking forward to seeing her and she is welcome to stay at my house as long as she likes. In fact, give me her email and I’ll tell her myself. Hopefully, she’s here for a nice, long visit. I’m sure she’s a self-reliant girl, but I’d appreciate it if you could keep an eye on her and help out if she needs anything. I’ll be back on the twenty-seventh. Looking forward to seeing you both. Jan.”

“I’ll send her your e-mail,” I said after I’d read the message.

“Thanks.”

I responded to Jan, then closed my computer. When I looked up, Zoe was staring into space.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

She nodded. “Yeah, I guess, well even though she invited me, I wasn’t sure if my grandmother really wanted to see me.”

“Sounds like not only does she want to see you, but she’s excited about it.”