A FAMILIAR NAME

LAURA

She rushed through her purse and was left with a few cents. She had walked and boarded a taxi to a different workspace. When she gets to these workplaces, they either tell her that there is no longer vacancy, or that she is not qualified since she wasn't carrying any documents with her.

Laura stood in the middle of nowhere. She did not believe her life will change 100 degrees just like that. She had transformed from the Royal Princess she was to a lady who gets rejected even after pleading. She would have loved it if she was able to get to complete her education. She loved to study more than anything in the world it is not her fault that she doesn't have a certificate. It wasn't her fault, but who will hear her out?

Laura had no idea when droplets of tears ran down her cheeks. Ever since the death of her parents, she hadn't cried again. But here she was crying like a child. She remembered how she assured Mrs Rosie that she will get herself a job. She had the feeling that things will be better that day, but what is this she was experiencing? Could her feelings have been wrong?

Did she read her feelings wrong this time? What exactly did she do to deserve what she had gone through? She only just wanted to work and make money so she can support Mrs Rosie. Was that so hard to do?

After lamenting in her thoughts, Laura peered at the time through her wristwatch, it was almost 3 pm. She can't believe she had exhausted all the time she had and yet found no job to do.

Maybe she should just give up and go back home. That will be better off she guesses. That way she can go home and think of a better plan. Laura wiped off her tears and made to call a taxi. Just then, she noticed a tall building by her corner. She slowly turned around towards the building, and she gasped in shock.

Ever since she had been walking around looking for a workplace, she had never come across such a beautiful and gigantic building before. She took her head up to read what was written as a logo. The name she read sounded familiar, but she couldn't remember where she saw the name.

"MAGIC MAN." She repeated the name over and over again, thinking it might ring a bell. But nothing came to her memory. Laura looked around the company, it was beautifully decorated. From her observation, it seemed the company was holding an event. Maybe she should give the company a trial, but then she shook her head, such a company wasn't a place for someone like her. If she was rejected by companies less classy than the one she was standing in front of, what makes her think she would be employed in this company?

Laura decided to turn around and just leave, but then she caught sight of an elderly lady in a uniform, she was sweeping the environment. Laura quickly paused. She began to wonder if the elderly-looking lady also submitted a CV before she got employed. Goodness! What was she even thinking?

Laura heaved a deep sigh. She was torn between going to the company or going back home. She had to choose one. After much contemplation, she decided that she would give herself one last shot. If it doesn't work out, then she will head back home without a second thought.

She slowly approached the lady who was sweeping the outskirt of the company.

"Uhm, excuse me, ma'am," Laura called in a low tone. The lady immediately turned around towards her.

"Yes, how may I help you, dear?" The lady asked with a beautiful smile lingering on her face. That made Laura feel much relief within her. The lady seemed to be nice.

"Uhm, by any chance do you have an idea if the company needs more cleaners?"

The lady's expression turned into that of pity. But she did not understand why the lady was giving her such a look.

"Oh dear, don't tell me you need the job for yourself?"

"Uhm, yea," Laura replied still confused as to why the lady said that.

She suddenly heaved a long sigh.

"Why will a young and beautiful girl like you be looking for a cleaner's job? It is meant for old hags like us without proper schooling."

Laura wished she could sigh deeply at that moment. She guesses she's no different from the old hag because she does not have what it takes for proper schooling.

"Ma'am, I don't care about the category of people given the job. If you look at me clearly, you will notice that I'm no different from you. I've got no CV with me, see?"

"Oh goodness, I see now," the lady glanced at the building and then at her.

"I don't know if it's going to be possible today, since the company is holding its tenth anniversary."

Oh, no wonder, she noticed earlier that the company was having a function.

"If it were to be other days, I would say, you can get the job. But today...I'm not so sure, unless-"

Laura didn't want the lady to complete her statement.

"Let me try my luck today, if it doesn't work out well, I will go back home." To be honest, Laura was scared that the next day might get much worse. She believed it was better to get rejected then than later.

"But is today not too unlucky of a day to try, why not do it tomorrow?" The lady asked.

"There might be no tomorrow, and to me, I think tomorrow and today are the same. If I get rejected today, then it means I might also get rejected tomorrow if I decide to wait."

"Okay dear, do whatever you can. I wish you good luck, and I hope you get the job," the lady said with a smile.

"Thank you so much, ma'am. I will do my best," Laura walked to the building but paused at the entrance. This is different, she is about to test the kind of luck she might have. Either bad or good is fine she guessed.