Chapter 1~My Poor Self

 

Computer specialist

Mowing the lawn

Teacher assistant

Singing contest

House-sitting

Those were all posted on the brown board for “Ways to Earn $$”.

“Singing contest doesn’t sound bad. It says that there’s one slot left for the last contestant,” I shrugged my shoulders while looking at the singing contest paper.

“Eh…I don’t know, Robyn,” Morgan started to say.

“I think it’s a very good idea. Too bad I’m taking it,” Julia smirked from behind my back. She ripped off the paper that read, “Singing Contest”.

I absolutely hated Julia. She was the most popular girl in high school. She was a senior and I was a sophomore. Julia had long dirty blonde hair, like me. She also had blue sparkling eyes, like me. Most of our characteristics were the same, but our personalities were totally different. We didn’t always despise each other, though. I used to be part of Julia’s little popular ditzy group. I used to go out with the hottest guy in school. I used to be the one they all talked about, but then my life turned around. (I mean completely turned around.)

“Besides, I need the money more than you do. I’m saving up for college. What are you saving up for? Some little kiddy bike your Mommy wouldn’t get you for Christmas?” Julia laughed. Rose, Julia’s sidekick, snortled as she joined Julia in laughing.

“Why are you saving up for college when your grades won’t get you into any college?” Morgan snickered at Julia. Julia stopped laughing and glared into Morgan’s hazel eyes.

“Shut up! You shouldn’t be talking. What about your little friend, Robyn? She’s a poor immigrant.”

In a way, Julia was right. I didn’t want to admit it at the time, but I was poor. My dad worked as a waiter, I didn’t get any allowance, and my mom (who WAS the richest broker in town) passed away a couple months ago. So basically, I’ve been trying to live off of my dad’s salary for the past couple months. Notice the word trying.

“Come on Robyn, let’s go,” Morgan whispered to me. I ripped off one paper from the brown board while staring evilly at Julia. It read, “House-sitting.”  I walked away silently, unaware of the disgusted face Julia had on.

 

- - - - -Later that day- - - - -

 

            “Hello?” a boy on the other line picked up the phone.

            “Hi. Is Mrs. Galasso there?” I asked calmly.

            “Yeah, hold,” he replied.

            “MOOOOMMM!!!!!” I heard him scream in the background.

            “Hello?” a lady picked up the phone.

            “Hi, Mrs. Galasso? I’m calling about the house-sitting job,” I bit my lip. I never had a real job before. Actually, I never needed to have a job since my mom had a very large salary. I couldn’t depend on my mom’s salary anymore, especially since she didn’t exist anymore.

            “Oh hello, dear. What’s your name?” Mrs. Galasso asked.

            “I’m Robyn. I live in the Bronx. I saw your ad for house-sitting at my school,” I explained.

            “Yes, I know. I posted ads at almost every school in town. Do you think you can start Friday night at 6:00? My husband is taking me out for my birthday,” she requested.

            “Oh, sure!” I screamed with excitement, “So you’re hiring me already?”

            “Well you’re my only hope. No one else called for the job,” Mrs. Galasso responded, “The rules are simple for house-sitting. No one comes over, no parties, and you can pig out on all the food you want, as long as you make sure the house is in good hands.”

            I started to chuckle a little. Mrs. Galasso sounded like a rich woman living in a rich house.

“No problem! I’ll see you then!” I replied and hung up the phone. I held the ad for house-sitting in the palm of my light-skinned hand. It told me where the Galasso’s lived and surprisingly, they lived pretty close. I searched around for my baby blue Nike book bag and opened the tiniest pocket. There was a little white bottle inside that was filled with pills. I popped two in my mouth.

 

- - - - -House-sitting- - - - -

 

            “So you sure you can handle this?” Morgan asked me for the millionth time. I grabbed my dirty blonde hair and wrapped it into a messy bun. I wore a black tank top with a denim pullover and dark jeans.

            “Positive. All I’m gunna do is lay around the couch and make sure no robbers come in,” I explained, “Now hard could that be?”

            “Well, what if a robber does come? What are you gunna do? Hit him with an umbrella?” Morgan seemed worried.

            “I don’t know. I’ll think of something,” I reassured Morgan. She sighed and gave me that look as she continued driving. “Look, I know it’s my first job, but I’ll handle it. I’ll call you tonight, and if I don’t, send a search party for me. I highly doubt you’ll need to though!”

            “Whatever Robyn!” Morgan suddenly stopped the car in front of the Galasso’s house.

            “Holy cow!” I screamed, “This is the house I’m going to sit? It’s huge! I’m going to be all alone in this! I hate big houses. I don’t even do good in my own house. This house is twice the size of mine!” I started to lose confidence.

            Morgan patted me on the shoulder and said, “All you’re gunna do is lay around the couch and make sure no robbers come in. Now how hard could that be?” I gave a fake smile and walked up to the house. I rang the doorbell a couple of times before someone came to answer it.   

            “Hi, dear. You must be Robyn,” the lady assumed, “I’m Mrs. Galasso. Come in, make yourself comfortable.”

            I walked into her house and was astonished. There was a grand chandelier right above my head. There was a staircase that curved upstairs. Mrs. Galasso gave me a tour of the house before leaving me all alone with it.

            “We should be home by 11:00. I’ll pay you then. Bye!” Mrs. Galasso strolled out of the house with her husband at her side.

I closed the door after the two of them. My book bag was still on my shoulders. I took it off and searched around for the white bottle again. This time, I popped three pills into my mouth. I was going to need them. I went over to the family room (which, by the way, was three times the size of my bedroom) and planted myself on the couch. I moved my eyes and studied the room before turning on the TV. I started to watch Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the rest of the WB line up for Friday. I easily got sick of the TV and moved my way onto the kitchen. Food wasn’t really my idea of entertainment.