Well, tomorrow could be interesting...

[rebeccajo 14]

Well, this may be a case of being careful what you wish for.

I work for a local attorney who is from old money. His family made their fortune beginning three generations back with a dairy. My boss, who is a sincerely great guy (albeit a tight wad) used to lift bales of hay and help tend the cows at the dairy when he was a young man. The dairy is long gone - a convenience store remains. Now there is rental property and land to be managed. Original portions of the old farm are presently being developed into a HUGE subdivision of VERY expensive homes in our area - the lots alone sell for $50000.00.

When we came home this evening, there was a message on our machine from my boss' brother, who runs the store. He wants Wes to come in tomorrow about a 'position' at the store. Lord knows what this could be - it could be anything from running a cash register to working in the office. I am wondering if our entire family is going to end up on that family's 'dole'.

I know they are trying to help us. And in all fairness it might be something decent. But then again - what if it's something that Wes doesn't really want to do? How can he turn it down? My boss said to me today that Wes needs to establish himself - that if he at least gets a job SOMEWHERE, people in this area will get to know him - that other employers will also say to themselves "well if he has worked already, he MUST be legal". We live in a somewhat backward area, and Wes and I have actually wondered if people don't realize he is legal to work, even with the EAD (everybody here on VJ knows how uninformed John Q. Public is - right?) - most people just think 'green card'.

Oh man - well even if it's running a cash register, it might help stop the financial bleeding around here a bit.......

Edited March 25, 2006 by rebeccajo

[MaryandMian 1]

Rebecca I would have Wes go and see what opportunities he may have to start with this company? You know the old saying once you have a job its easier to find another one? So maybe this will help with the bills, give him something to do and then he can still continue to try and find a better position if he is not happy. Plus he can get out of the house. Wishing you all the best.

Mary

[MichelleandCraig 1]

AWWW...Well, Craig & I have both (and almost anyone if he/she is over 16!) experienced being in jobs that we did NOT want to be in, so for the sake of all of you, I certainly hope it's something good that Wes could be interested in! I know what you mean on the 'financial bleeding' front as well..very well put! Will be thinking of you and hoping! Take care both of you...Michelle & Craig

[rebeccajo 14]

I sure don't mean to seem ungrateful about this. It's just like this...they have a deli in the store. I would not want my techno-geek klutz hubby around anything with a spinning blade.......

[Welshcookie 17]

I hope it turns out to be something good.....how does Wes feel about it?

[yogib37 3]

HI

Just is my opinion I would have Wes go in. It gets him out of the house and maybe he will feel better about himself. Maybe he will feel that he is part of something.

I have to agree with your boss. He is really trying to help you. Just be thankful he is a caring person. so what if he runs the cash box in front.

I have a aunt who's brother in law started out in a gorcery store as a bag boy.. Now he OWNS the chain. so you dont know where things will lead too..

Yogi

[rebeccajo 14]

Yes, I am kind of touched that they have called about this. I just hope that it's something he can enjoy - does that seem ungrateful? I've worked for my boss over 14 years (off and on). It's more like a small dysfunctional family than an office environment. I'm certain one reason they have done this is they are worried about us.

Wes says he thinks that even if it's selling lotta tickets and jugs of milk, it will be fun. We need to be there by 9 am. He's in the shower now and I'm next - we should be back with a report in a couple of hours.

Edited March 25, 2006 by rebeccajo

[Jasman0717 9]

[TracyTN 237]

At least it will get him out and about, meeting people and bringing in some wedge. Not his dream job, but nothing says he still can't apply elsewhere in the meantime.

Be sure and let us know!

[KarenCee 3]

Hugs Becca....hope it's something promising Joel has the same worries too...and I can understand where he's coming from. My baby is a wonderful techie...and that's where he wants to work. Our school has a nice sized tech department and I was told to have him apply once he gets here. Well, once he has his EAD of course. That has helped him, I think, with his worries.

Can't wait to hear your news hon.

[rebeccajo 14]

Well, damn if they don't want him to start at 2 o'clock this afternoon.....LOL

You would almost have to live around here AND know this family to get the hysterics of this. And you would have to see the place Wes will be working. I said up top that it's a convenience store, but that's not entirely true. It's more like a little grocery - and they sell all manner of stuff. There's a small greenhouse, a deli, a little restaurant. They collect phone bills, sell lotto tickets and money orders, and of course have the obligatory beer and cigarettes. When I walked back the hallway I even saw some office entry carpets with prices on them! The family that owns the store are an old established wealthy family with lots of contacts and they wheel and deal in all sorts of stuff - my boss' father (who actually owns the business) has been known too, for instance, buy a tractor trailer load of new metal buckets for a song, and resell them at this store, making several thousand dollars on the deal. Dad (as I call him) is also a County Commissioner.

So anyway, we go in this morning and Dad has already been there and left (he flits about like 5 year old with ADHD who has been given a cell phone and a car). Larry (a guy who has been there about 15 years and handles the accounting) sets about trying to track Dad down. Meanwhile, I'm out front talking to Pat, the cashier - turns out she is leaving. We've known each other many years, and she starts dishing all the dirt in the store to me - who's a hag, who's lazy, etc. Then baby brother comes in - he's my boss' little brother, and he and Dad run this little empire. He starts telling ME about the job - I say twice - look, Wes is in the back in the office. John keeps telling me all about the position and finally I start walking towards the office and tell him that Wes doesn't bite and let's all do this in the office! You have to know the dynamics of this - I have known these people for over 14 years. I've been through the births of their children, their divorces, deaths in the family, so on an so forth. It's kind of this weird upstairs/downstairs kind of thing. You work for them, they pay you, they are the boss - but I have also been known to tell my boss off and where to go.

Anyway, John finally meets Wes and starts telling him that this is no big job with a big wage. He says that he understands Wes is actually a techie, and muses about how he needs him to come up to his house and gets his printer routed to all the kids (there are 4 little ones) computers. His cell phone goes off and it's one of the kids growling at his dad to get home so they can get enroute to a tennis match. John asks Wes if he can be back at the store at 2 pm to get started - he never really has asked him if he wants the job, and it's done in such a way that's its comical. John rolls out the door at about the time Dad comes in. Again we have the hand-shaking (this is something new to Wes - european men don't have this custom) and the VERY casual conversation about tasks in the store. Dad tells Larry to get out the W-4 forms, etc. etc. I ask - well how much does this pay? Dad and Larry go in a back room and have a look at the books and Wes and I are standing at the office counter laughing to ourselves. I say to him ' baby, this is NOT the normal way business is done in America - but it works for this little enterprise'! They come back out of the office and Dad announces the wage - it's just a bit over minimum wage but it's 40 hours. They send us off with the rudimentary paperwork and that's that.

Wes is grinning from ear to ear. He thinks it will be fun and he will learn a lot. We go in this store all the time for milk and gas, so he knows the guy that he will be working with this afternoon.

I can't help but laugh my butt off about this. It's gonna help a good deal with the money. We have been terribly, terribly stretched and this will give us more time. I know that Wes will meet more people and that's got to be good. I KNOW that people coming in the store are gonna love him and the VOICE! He might even bring in business, who knows!!

Welcome to America, darling!!

Edited March 25, 2006 by rebeccajo

[pax 0]

Awwww, what a nice story! And good for you and Wes!

[KarenCee 3]

Wooo Hooo! Good on Wes!!! LOL, I live in a small community like this too, albeit not as you've described yours. Everyone here knows everyone and some still make deals with a smile and a handshake. Well, I'm happy for ya Wes, and you too Becca. I can almost feel y'all taking that deep breath of relief...

[MaryandMian 1]

Congrats on your job Wes.

Mary

[meauxna 15]

Yay, Wes!!!!

I think it's a terrific deal---no better way to meet everyone in town and get chatty---lots of opportunities can come from it, and who knows what the family will have him doing (ahem, that could be a good or bad thing. proceed with caution!)

My first business was a little grocery like you describe & I can't go anywhere without running into an old custy, even 20 years later! I don't recommend buying this biz tho. I discovered that when you own a grocery, you won't starve, but you won't get rich!

(lol, we got a liquor license just so we could buy our personal beer supply at wholesale---ah, the wisdom of one's 20s!)