At around ten thirty in the morning. . .
I was doing a last bit of paper work when Liam called out for me.
'Mooooooom! Someone's knocking on the door! Quite fast!' Liam exclaimed.
'Oh my!' I exclaimed and trotted all the way to the door and checked through the peephole. It was a group of children. Clearly taking after Mr. and Mrs. Rosewoods. 'Wow, that was quick.' I said opening the door. 'Can I help you?' I asked curious.
'Are you Mrs. Baker, my lady?' The oldest soon asked with an agitated voice.
'Em, just Miss Baker will do. I am not married and I am still too young to be called that.' I asked politely hiding the mental age slap with a chuckle.
'Oh! My apologies. O-Our parents are Callum and Mira Rosewoods and, they told us that you were willing to hire us part-time, for. . . Fifteen coppers a week?' The oldest questioned himself. 'Everything has been happening so fast I cannot remember.' He admitted.
'Hehe, it will all depend on your age and experience, my lad.' I corrected him softly. 'And yes, did your parents gave you the papers for the employments available?' I asked and they nodded. 'Have you read through them, though?'
'Most of them, b-but because we are new in this interview thingy, we-we hope you hire us accordinly to your expectations.' The oldest daughter explained with a shy and embarrassed time.
'Hahaha! It is fine, but first, let's get you inside.' I said as I let them inside. 'As your parents already told you, I do not allow myself to hire anyone below eighteen full-time, you'll have to stick through part-time or casual time which is around, ten to twenty-five hours per week.' I shrugged my shoulders.
The children looked like they just hit jackpot. They extended their individual papers each to me.
'Thank you, thank you and thank you.' I thanked them. 'I will read through them and I'll call from the oldest to the youngest, does that sound good?' I asked them and they nodded.
'Okay!' They all nodded.
'Oh!' One of the twins raised their hands. 'Just so you know, I, Zack, am the oldest twin!' The twin called Zack declared himself.
'Only for twelve minutes!' The other twin reproched.
'It still counts, Zane.' Zack replied.
I giggled. 'You remind me of my own set of twins. The only difference is that they are a boy and a girl. In fact, they are actually one year older than you.' I recalled.
'Really?!' The twins looked around but they only found Liam and my baby girls crawling around. 'Where are they?' They asked curious.
'In school.' I replied with a smile.
The children went quiet. You could hear a pin drop fall onto the ground.
'. . . Are you a noble?' The oldest asked.
'No, I am just commoner.' I replied shaking my head. 'But I have been accumulating quite the amount of money with the restaurant, bakery and the buildings I have set for the residents and you, so. . . You can easily guess I make more money than the average single mother next door.' I chuckled. 'This allows me to give my children the education they need and desire.'
'Wow. . .' The oldest daughter smiled impressed.
'Oh! But there is a local school for local children inside the town, you got with your parents to check it out and see for yourselves.' I let them know.
'Thanks, we will probably check it out later.' The oldest son responded a bit uncomfortable.
'In that case, please take a seat while I call you out.' I let them sit whenever they like as I went into the office, but not before giving them a paper of the available employments for each one of them. 'Please read them out to make sure to what jobs you want to apply to.'
They did as I asked and sat down on a table looking throught the paper.
In my office after some time and deliberation. . .
They jobs I offered including farming assistants (which means getting paid to help their parents in the farm) included: barn boy, cook, server, dishwaher, and flyer distributior. I recalled as I checked through each paper. Thankfully, these jobs do not include writing or anything of the sort, otherwise, they would definetely not get the job. I chuckled for myself as I saw both terrible grammar and handwriting from the twins to the oldest.
So far, besides all of them being farm people, the oldest is best for part-time barn boy, farmer boy, and cooking assisstant. I determined. The first girl is best for part-time cook or server, or maybe even dishwasher too. I noted. The second son is more likely to be a casual dishwasher, cooking assisstant, or flyer distributor. I smiled at that. As for the twins, both of them could work as casual dishwashers or flyer distributors. I nodded to myself as I finished taking notes and stood up.
I went out of the office and checked the list of names. 'Valerian Rosewood?' I asked.
The oldest boy raised his hand. 'Here!' He stood up and followed me to the office.
We chatted for a bit, from what his day to day involved before being throwned out of his home alongside his family, and what jobs called out to him,
'Well, you do have a lot of farm experience thanks to your family.' I told him as we sat down. 'So, besides farm boy, what other positions are you exactly interested in?' I asked him.
'Well, the "barn boy" position was quite atractive to me.' Valerian responded a bit shy. 'I have a lot of experience with animals, for we used to have a lot more animals back in the ol' farm. So I feel like I am the best candidate for the job.'
'I see.' I re-read the notes and added a few more things. 'Besides helping your family and parents settling in, in your new home, do you have any plans for the future?' I asked him.
'Well, I would like to keep farming.' Valerian answered, tilting his head to the side unsure by my question.
'I see. . . Well Valerian, I truly believe you have the experience for the barn boy position, so I am going to give you a trial of two weeks. If you meet the expectations during those two weeks, you'll have the job.' I let him know.
Valerian gasped of happiness. 'Yes! Thank you, mam!' Exclaimed standing up.
I raised a finger to make him silent. 'But, since it is a part-time job, you have to either find something to do besides the work I give you.' I let him know. 'I might as well give the twenty-give hour per week per schedule, but by dividing that between five days, it would equal to five hours every day.' I explained how things were going to work out.
'I see. . .' Valerian sat down. 'Wait, just, five days?' He asked. 'What about the other two days?'
'If I were to give you the seven days but keeping the twenty-five hour per week schedule, it would result in you having to work three hours and half, to four hours every day, which can be more confusing that satisfying.' I explained things to him.
Valerian thought about it for a brief moment. 'What about, you only give me twenty hours of work when it comes to the barn job, while letting me have the other five hours as a farm assisstant for my father?' He suggested.
'Hmmm. . .' I made some brief calculations on paper and looked at the result. 'You would only have to work four hours the five days, and only two and a half hours the last two days.' I said raising my eyebrows. 'Impressive suggestion Valerian.'
'Hmm. . .' Valerian thought some more. 'How about, diving the job hours between the two part-time jobs?' He asked.
'Between five or the seven days?' I asked.
'Both.' Valerian responded.
'Well, half of twenty-five hours are twelve and a half hours.' I said to him as I made some more calculations for him. 'Dividing those twelve and a half hours by five days, they made two and a half hours per day.' I explained to him. 'Dividing it by seven it equaly from one hours to two hours per day.' I told him.
'Hmm. . . What about, three days, and three days and one free day?' He asked.
'That would be. . .' I made modifications on the paper. 'Around four point two hours per day.' I said smiling. 'Want to do that?' I asked.
'Yes please!' He said nodding.
'Very well.' I started to write the contract. 'Do you want the free day to be randomly, or a specific day?'
'Oh, em. . . I would like to have Sunday free.' Valerian answer. 'It's church day, and that day either dad or me accompany take turns to take my mom to church, especially now since she's pregnant.' He explained. 'With that free day, I could take care of her and my dad would not have to lose any days.'
'Very well.' I nodded to that while I wrote it down.
Once everything was signed and done. I gave him his contracts. 'And remember, keep them safe and if you loose them, break them, or even burn them, and the contract loses value and could legally cost you your new jobs.' I declared letting him out of my office. 'Oh and last but not least, the trial period starts with twelve coppers a day. Once you have completed the process of training and you have established yourself as the new barn boy, I will give you the raise up to fifteen coppers per day.'
Valerian looked at his new contracts as if his life depended on them. . . Which technically they did.
'Now let's see. . .' I checked the first daughter's name. 'Valerie?' I asked.
'Oh, h-here!' The girl of sixteen years old raised her hand and stood up.
'Come now.' I brought her to my office.
We sat down and chatted for a bit. Mostly about what she was able to do in certain situations.
'From what I can tell, you have a lot of experience with cooking and cleaning, and your matter of speech is pretty good to become a server, therefore I think I can give you a part-time job as either a cooking assisstant or a server, depending of what you prefer.' I told her.
'I-I would like to choose the server job, please.' Valerie answered.
'Very well, in that case I'll give you a two-week trial period. If you are able to learn and meet the expectations required, you'll get the job officially.' I told her. 'Any plans for the future?'
'Well. . . I want to raise money for my drowy for when I get married.' She said playing with her hair a bit. 'But. . . I also want to try a few things before settling in.' She admitted.
'I see. . . In that case, let's try baby steps first. Try to be the best worker you can be by eighteen and then decide what you want to do.' I recommended. 'Here are the papers to sign.' I gave the papers to her. 'Atlhough one more thing, since we will first go through trials, your payment is twelve coppers per day. Once you have completed the process, you will get a raise to fifteen coppers per day.'
Valerie nodded as she read them through. 'Em, could I have Sunday free? For church.' She asked.
'Oh do not worry, the restaurant only opens from Monday to Friday, Saturday and Sunday are free days.' I explained.
Valerie gasped fascinanted. 'Really?! Wait, How many days would I work then?' She asked.
'Well, the restaurant opens at nine in the morning due to the sun getting up later nowadays, and we close about at seven in the night.' I told her. 'Since I can only give you up to twenty-five hours per week, you'll be working up to five hours per day. Do you wish a morning, midday, or evening shift?' I asked her.
'Hmm. . .' Valerie thought hard about this one. 'I would like an midday or evening shift.' She requested.
'In that case, for your midday shift, you would start at eleven in the morning and it would end at four.' I told her as I wrote the notes for her schedule specifically. 'And for the evening shift, it would start at four and it would end an hour after the restaurant closes to the customer. Everything would depende on the schedule that I give you from now on.' I declared.
Valerie nodded and did the paperwork as she was told and then, we left the office and then I called the next sibling. 'Wyatt Rosewood?'
'Here!' Wyatt stood up and ran towards me.
'Hold your horses young man!' I stopped him on his tracks. 'We walk to the office, we do not run.' I told him as I started to walk to the office.
Wyatt walked next to me, giving me side eye stare every now and then, until we sat in front of each other inside the office.
'So, Wyatt, any specific jobs besides farm boy you want to apply?' I asked him.
'Well, I want to be accepted as either a barn boy, a cook assisstant, a casual flyer distributor, or even a dishwasher.' He told me. 'To be honest, I am okay with anything really.' He shrugged his shoulders.
'Hmm. . .' I went on to write "willing to do everything and anything legally" in the notes I was doing for him. 'But is there anything you would rather do, or anything in general is okay?' I asked.
'Yeah!' Wyatt confirmed, but then he seemed to hesitate a little. 'Although, to be honest, I would rather not to have to work on the farm most of the time.' He admitted lowerimg his voice. 'I, do not really like farming. At all.' He lowered his head.
I smiled and immediately crosses the options for farm and barn boy. 'In that case, I'll try to give you between ten and twelve hours per week between one or two jobs.' I proposed to him. 'Would that be okay?' I asked.
Wyatt looked up and smiled nodding to me.
'In that case, since you have anything that has to do with the outside, I am guessing that, since your mother has been pregnant, you have been helping her and your sister with the inside chores.' I inquired.
'Oh yes! While Valerie took care of cleaning and cooking, I would wash the clothes and dishes, and we often took turns to clean the house.' Wyatt related to me.
'That's nice! In that case, do you believe to be able to work as a dishwasher? One of my dishwashers had to go back to college this fall so I was going to send flyers to open the position up, but if you take the position it would save me weeks of interviews.' I offered him.
'Yes!! Yes!! I accept!' Wyatt exclaimed nodding completely.
'In that case, let's go to the schedule right away, although I must tell you beforehand, since you are still under sixteen, I cannot let you have more than twelve coppers per day, which also means you'll stay as a casual worker until you are sixteen.' I let him know. 'This is for legal and ethnic reasons, for I do not like seeing children miss out on important things such as school. Therefore, I highly suggest going to the local school and start learning with the casual job to both learn life skills and keep yourself away from the farm, do you understand?' I asked him. 'Most of the job hours will be in the evenings after school hours.'
Wyatt nodded shyly.
'Good. Now, since you clearly have a lot of energy and you are quick on your feet, I'll also hire you as a casual flyer distributor.' I declared adding another contract. 'Every time I need to distribute my flyers or announcements, you'll be my go-to guy. And you'll be paid fifteen coppers per batch you are able to distribute them throughout town. Sounds good?'
'Yes mam!' Wyatt nodded.
'So, the ex-dishwasher used to work up to five hours each day throughout the week.' I muttered as I moved some scheduling around. 'With this in mind, I think I make some of the part-time people have a free day or set them up to a different shift and give you some "casual shifts" while you gain experience. Does it sound good to you?' I asked looking at him.
'Yes!' Wyatt nodded immediately and thought through it a couple of seconds. 'Em, can I have Sunday free? '
'The restaurant is only open through Mondays to Fridays.' I told him while finishing to write the contracts.
'Oh. . . Em. . .' Wyatt thought about it some more. 'In that case, it is fine to work as the dishwasher.' He said as the thought about it some more. 'But, since I am going to school soon. . . Can the shifts be, in the evening?' He asked.
'Sure!' I remade the schedule in another paper. 'In that case, I'll start giving you shifts on random evenings. If you are capable of adapting to the work environment quickly, we'll keep up the random shifts. Either way, most of the time I'll ask you to come to work from three in the afternoon, making your shift end at eight.' I told him.
'Em, I thought you said the restaurant closed at seven.' Wyatt remarked.
'Yeah, the restaurant itself closed to customers at seven, but the employees require an hour at least to finish from washing dishes, tables and floors, to reorganizing the kitchen and food for the next day.' I explained to him.
'Oooooh. Yeah, that makes sense.' Wyatt nodded understanding.
'Good.' I nodded and then gave him four contracts already signed by me. 'Since you are still under aged, you have to get these papers signed by your parents. As soon as they get them signed, you are hired, sounds good?' I asked.
Wyatt nodded and took the contracts.
We then left the office and I went on to check on the last two as Wyatt sat down. 'Zack Rosewood?' I asked out loud.
'I am here!' Zack came trotting his way to me and we went into my office.
I mostly talked with him about what he liked to do in his free time with his family and by himself, and what does he do to find himself useful to his family.
In the end, I found him useful for a casual dishwasher in the evenings since I just hired the ex-dishwasher's minor replacement, therefore, I would like the child to come to work whenever someone cannot make it or did not make it to their shift. I also added him to the casual flyer distributor job.
I gave him the contracts that his parents needed to sign so he could work legally under me and then we left the office.
'Zane Rosewood?' I asked.
'Here!' The other twin came to me and we left to my office once more.
Zane's history is pretty much the same as Zack's, since they are twins they have pretty much stuck together since before they were born which made sense.
I put him in the casual dishwasher in the evening's position as well, since he and his twin were still pretty small (even more so despite being almost the same age as my twins), it was better to get them to work together. I also added him to the casual flyer distributor job.
In fact I believe I might hire the three flyer distributors soon enough.
'Well, here are the papers your parents need to sign, once they are signed you are officially hired.' I gave him the papers. 'Alright?'
'Yes mam.' Zane nodded enthusiastically and we both left the office.
'Well children, you all have been very good for being your first time being interviewed!' I congratulated them. 'But before you go, I hope to inform you about a few things.' I said getting serious.
They nodded.
'You see, there are ten rules for this restaurant.' I pointed to the rule board I put at a specific wall that everyone can see. It had both words and drawings making it easier to read. 'The rules go from no killing each other to no favoritism allowed to either human or non-human.' I let them know, receiving weird looks. 'Yes I work with non-humans as well. I'm sure you have seen as well as met Ivy the gnome and Hughard the half-orc as your neighbours, have you not?'
They nodded slowly.
'Well, I also tend to have non-human residents at the apartment complex, and two orcs actually serve as bodyguards for the restaurant.' I let them know. 'I will add that, I have also hired a dragonborn and a satyr, therefore I ask you kindly to not freak out when you see them.' I asked them as they looked a bit troubled. 'Although, the dragonborn works as a night guard so you'll barely see them at day time.' I added.
They seemed to exhale at that.
Yeah, the word "dragon" will naturally send chills down your spine. I nodded agreeing with them. 'One more thing, there's a specific rule that involved "no flirting nor courting" inside the restaurant and its domain. My domain specifically. Which means, if Valerie and Valerian want to flirt with another man or woman, they will have to specifically ask my consent.' I told them. 'I might give more no's and yes's though.' I let them know.
'What if they are a non-human?' Valerian asked with curiosity.
'There's a reason why I put the rule especifically there, Valerian Rosewood.' I answered. 'Newsflash, non-humans don't follow the same social rules or cues as the humans, which more often times than not makes them entitled to flirt with who ever they please and, this often brings us to half-bloods, being born.' I explained things as raw as I could to them. 'So, Valerie, if the satyr starts flirting with you or with any human female, let me know immediately, and I'll deal with it.' I asked her.
Valerie nodded profusely.
'As for Valerian, please avoid any female non-humans, unless they are working here or are asking directions. Believe me, it is not worth it.' I told him.
Valerian nodded slowly.
'As for the rest of you and the oldest of you too, whether you have already heard this out or not, please hear me out on these few things: one, you never tell you full real names to non-humans, it would basically chain you to them, they will do the same with you.' I started to dictate the most important things when dealing with non-humans. 'Two, never accept favors or gifts from non-humans. Three, respect before curiosity, never ask or point out any difference or specific part of their body or language if they are not willing to let you know, for it is offensive.' I told them. 'Are we good so far?' I asked.
The children nodded slowly.
'Four, do not compare their species with us or anyone else. Even if they don't sound offensive, a lot of those comparisons are offensive to them, treat others as you want to be treated, understood?.' I told them. 'Five, do not touch without consent. The same way you guys would not want to be touched by them, do not touch them as well unless you receive permission.' I continued on. 'Six, you do not give them anything unless you are absolute sure they can eat it or drink it. The same way around, you do not eat or drink anything you are given by them.' I sighed. 'The sixth rules is crucial when dealing with the fae, elves, fairies, goblins, gnomes, etc. You can give yourselves either fake names or nicknames so the non-humans can address you politely, but refrain yourselves from giving either a single true name, and much less a full name.' I warned them.
They nodded. 'Do not worry, in our old home, there a bunch of non-human travelers, so our parents taught us to keep our names simple and forgetable.' The oldest assured me.
'Thank you.' I exhaled feeling more rexaled. 'Seven, some non-humans have hierarchies and specific titles for each member. If they call themselves as "Sir," "Master," or whatever, you direct them as such out of respect and politeness, do you understand?' I asked and they nodded once more. 'Good. Eight, keep calm when it comes to physical differences. Remember, they are in the restaurant to either work or eat, in the mini houses to live, and in the cottages to work and live, alright? I do no ask you to be friends, but I ask you to be good neighbours.' I clarified the last part.
The children nodded once more.
'Nine, and one of my most crucial rules: do not even think of discussing subjects like religion, wars, or political differences. And yes, this applied for humans too.' I told them letting them hear my exhausted voice. 'First and last time I let that happened it almost caused brawl between the orcs and the old librarian who all live in the mini houses. Please do not do it, otherwise, you'll be forced to either pay or repair the damages. First and only warning.' I warned them.
They nodded extremely slowly at that, possibly making a mental note about it.
'Rule number ten, if you see any sort of discord towards a non-human by a human, or viceversa, you do not get in between them, but you let me or any supervisor know.' I stated the final rule. 'You are children. You do not have neither the height, maturity and much less the authority to try and stop such fights. Let a superior or me know, and we'll deal with them. Understood?'
They nodded understanding.
'Good. Anymore questions?' I asked them.
They shook their heads.
'Good. Now hold on a minute.' I asked them as I went into the children.
'What is she doing?' Zane asked his brother.
Valerian shrugged.
'You'll receive sweets!' Liam let them know.
The group of siblings turned to see him. 'Sweets?' They asked.
'Mom is the best creator of sweets in the WHOLE world!' Liam exclaimed raising a cinnamon bun. 'You should try them!' He told them as he ate a sweet.
The oldest raised an eyebrow. 'For a toddler, you are quite the talker.'
'That's because, I am half-elf.' Liam told them. 'Mommy adopted me. . .' He gulped his bun. 'When real mommy left me for her clan. . . Whatever that is.' He shrugged.
The smiles of Valerian and Valerie shrunked at such news.
'Here we go!' I appeared from the kitchen again, with a small pack of cinnamon buns glaced, buttercookies, and a small sack of random candies. 'For being good kids you receive this.' I gave the oldest the packs of buns and buttercookies, the second son the sack of candies. 'The cinnamon buns and buttercookies are made with cinnamon, butter, milk and suggar glace, and the sack of candy has candy of green mint, lemon drop, honey suckle, honey lemon, and toffees made of red berries, molasses, mint and lavender.' I explained my sweets to them.
Their eyes went wide and looked at the sweets. Especially the sack which clearly had enough of them.
'A-Are you sur ese can have them? Honey is expensive. Cinnamon as well.' Valerie said nervously.
'Their leftovers, and the restaurant will not open again until Monday, so you would do me a huge favor eating them before they either rot . . .' I turned to look at Liam. 'Or mister "bun-eater" over here eats every last one of them.' I said.
Liam froze in his place, and turned to see me with crumbs and glace in his face. He smiled half-apologetic, and half-mischeviously.
I then turned to see the group of children. 'Oh and before I forget. Tell you mother that I do not approve of pregnant women working when they are already being taken care of their husbands.' I le them know. 'Therefore, I would prefer if she does not try to work until asome weeks after birth. Okay? If she still wants to work somehow. . .' I turned to see my girls. 'Tell her and Hughard's husband that I require one or two nurses to feed my baby girls.'
Valerie raised her eyebrow. 'Why? Can't you nurse them?'
'Well one of them I got here from a dumpster, and the youngest's mother died at birth.' I told them. 'I did not gave birth to either of them, so no, I can't.' I shrugged. 'But let them know I am willing to pay one silver per month.' I added.
The oldest two looked surprised and then nodded to each other. 'We'll let the mother and the half-orc's spouse know. I am sure they'll come to you with their answer.' Valerian told me.
'And we'll bring the papers signed from them!' Zane exclaimed raising his papers, receiving a nod from his twin and Wyatt.
'Thank you.' I exhaled at ease. 'In that case, you may go now, and give your parents a hi from me!' I bid them goodbye.
They bid me goodbye and then left.
I took a deep breath and exhaled. 'Liam, you do know that because of your magical mischieve, you are not allowed to eat more desserts until tomorrow~~.'
'Aw~~~ man.' Liam pouted. Yet he keep eating his bun because he licked it.
I giggled and shook my head.