Chapter 1: Here I Go Again
Moving to another city.
Seems like a pain in the ass, but it is for the better.
Sometimes we need to make major changes in our lives to make our lives better.
Here I am making the drive in my piece of crap 2008 Corolla.
I sold all my furniture and just taking what I can take in this. I will be staying in a furnished inn until I can find something more permanent.
I don't know where I'm going, but I sure know where I've been. I mean, that is the story of my life. I know where I am going. I'm going to Niagara Falls. My new home for a while.
I changed careers, and now I will be working at a casino in Niagara Falls.
Traffic into the Falls area is mildly busy today.
It is Tuesday. A very sunny day, but a bit chilly for this time of year. It is September 12.
This drive is seeming to take forever. I hate driving in this piece of crap car on this stupid freeway to a new stupid city.
This stupid traffic. Doesn't anyone stay at home anymore?
I finally see the exit for Niagara Falls. That is a good thing. I have only been driving this crap for what?... A couple of decades now?
The street the inn is on does not have an exit, so I need to drive through the city a bit.
After what seemed to be driving in circles, I finally found the inn. This city is so complicated.
I got a great deal on this room. For 600 dollars a month with everything included, even cleaning. All I have to pay for is food.
Right now, I need to get over to the casino to find out when I start.
The casino is a Las Vegas-style with a hotel on top, entertainment, you know.
I needed to talk to the HR manager, Mister Serjerakiof.
I walked to the desk, "Hi there. I would like to speak to Mister Sir-Jack-It-Off".
The lady there was very snobbish. In a snobby tone, she said, "You mean Mister Serjerakiof?"
"Yeah, whatever."
"Huh. Just a minute."
She turned away and began to walk towards a set of offices just to the right of the check-in counter. She walked as if she had something stuck up her butt.
A few minutes went by and then she finally returned, "Mister Serjerakiof would like to see you now in the HR office."
"Right.", I said as I started to walk to the office area.
The moment I walked into the office, I was greeted, "Jake. Welcome."
"Good afternoon, Mister Sir-Jack...et"
"Jake, thanks for coming. Um, I was going to call, but... I have some not so good news."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. It seems like we made a mistake, and we kind of over-hired."
"Over-hired?"
"Yeah. We are going to have to lay you off."
"...but I haven't even started yet."
"Well, the good news is that the next time we decide to hire, you will be one of the first to be considered."
"Considered? I was hired."
"Sorry. We'll give you a call. Good day."
"I moved here from another city just for this job, and all you have to say is 'Sorry'?"
"Good day, Jake", he said softly as he closed the door in my face.
I slowly walked out of the hotel lobby, disappointed of course. I mean, what a kick in the butt. How can you hire somebody and then after just decide to fire them? Who does that?
Now what?
I have to decide to stay in Niagara Falls, go home, or somewhere else. In any case, I need to find work, fast.
I sat in my car in the hotel parking lot for what could have been an hour, just thinking.
I have decided. I have made up my mind. I am not wasting any more time.
