A.A.'s response was immediate, its digital voice filled with warmth and encouragement. "You're doing great, Selena. It's almost 7pm, take bags A through C first, they arrive home at 7:07pm. You should be able to save 40 minutes of work time with this trip."
"Thanks, A.A," Selena relayed, smiling. "I couldn't do this without you, literally." Selena loaded the laundry into her bike's cargo basket, carefully balancing the three loads: A, B, and C. She pedaled across the street, the evening sun beating down on her as she made her way to the apartment building. The bags stacked so well, though it was cumbersome the burden wouldn't last too long.
Her first stop was Sarah Elijah's vehicle, where she delivered load A. The woman, an assistant to Jake Reinhold at Reinhold Industries, smiled and handed Selena a $10 tip.
"Thanks so much, Selena. This is so much cheaper than using the machines, and it saves so much time." she said, her eyes sparkling with appreciation. She was dressed very nice and had great taste, however the Reinhold's did not really pay much apparently, a small apartment in Midtown for the assistant to the CEO.
You did not want to mistreat employees that were elbow deep in company secrets. Especially someone like her. She looked at Sarah and gave her a charming smile and a pack of gum she had gotten a large box of at the cash and carry the first time she and James braved the place. "Thank you. You have the best customer service."
Selena beamed with pride, "Customer satisfaction is my goal." she said while tucking the tip into her pocket, but it usually meant juicy tips. She made her way to the next apartment, where she delivered load B to Fred Everett, the single youth pastor at the Heavenly Father Evangelist Church.
Fred smiled warmly and handed her a $20 tip, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "God bless you, Selena. You're doing the Lord's work," he said, his voice dripping with sincerity. "When will you join the teen flock?" Fred Everrett asked. Selena hid her disgust. She had seen shit that would make this young deluded follower of evangelism give up all hope, there was no god in her opinion. She hid her 'nothanks.jpg' look well.
"I think I will be very busy in the future on the weekends and evenings, Youth Pastor. Thank you for your offers though. I am too poor to worship." Selena said and smiled politely, feeling a twinge of discomfort from her past life ex-boyfriends family. She hadn't intended on communicating with that piece of shit- Josiah Barnes, and she didn't intend to, one way to assure that is to avoid that church's youth program.
Finally, Selena delivered load C to Mary Vio, a single mother of two young children. Mary smiled wearily and thanked Selena, but didn't have a tip to offer. Selena smiled understanding and patted Mary's hand. "Mary, these are for you and the kids," she said, her heart going out to the struggling single mom. She handed her two chocolate bars and a pack of gum. Mary seemed shocked at the consideration or had she sounded too old?
Selena smiled, "Well, got to go." she waved and moved her burden free bicycle in satisfaction. As Selena pedaled back across the street, she felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her. She had earned $30 in tips in one trip, and had made a difference in the lives of her customers.
But as she thought about Mary Vio and her two young children, Selena's mind turned to the tragedy that was to come. She had seen it in her past, the apartment fire that would claim the lives of Mary's children. Selena felt an urge to prevent the tragedy, she was already changing things or planned to. She was going to prevent that tragedy, she would investigate and be certain to be awake that night or at least warn her somehow
Selena returned home and found more bags waiting for her, she smiled and shouted "Thank you, James," she heard clanging from the garage.
James paused his work with a smile, she was so polite and thoughtful it made you want to be better as the responsible adult in the house. James hated hollering for no reason, but he opted to so she wouldn't ruin the surprise,"No problem kiddo."
Selena continued her laundry delivery route, pedaling her bike to the next set of apartments. She had four more bags to deliver: E, F, G, and H. These loads were smaller than the others. She locked her bike up and wiped the sweat off her brow.
Bag E belonged to Emily Patel, a young professional who worked from home. Selena delivered the clean laundry to Emily's apartment, on the first floor after her shift was over. Remembering details like this was important, Emily was an independent worker who did not like getting interrupted on the job.
Selena knocked on the door. Emily answered, the apartment was filled with plants. Selena liked this woman already. But why would a cranky 40 year old shut in to talk to her socially. "Your weekly supplies and laundry." Selena conducted the transaction, receiving a warm smile and a $5 tip.
Next, Selena delivered bag F to Jackson Reed, a recently widowed mechanic who lived alone now and was her first client. He spread word of mouth advertising for. Jackson gruffly thanked Selena and handed her a $10 tip, his eyes full of appreciation.
Bag G, was huge. It belonged to Maria Rodriguez, a busy working mom of three who appreciated Selena's laundry service. She owned and operated a small Latin American restaurant on the corner that did phenomenal business. Maria's life was about to change. She'd be in a house soon. Maria smiled and thanked Selena, handing her a $15 tip and asking her to come back next week.
Finally, Selena delivered bag H to David Kim, a quiet and reserved college student who lived in a small studio apartment. David thanked Selena and handed her a $20 tip, his eyes fixed on the game of StarCraft on his screen as he paid for the services. He was a Korean college student going to NYU and he spent his time in school, getting there or online. Pity he didn't have Wi-Fi.
As Selena finished her deliveries and pedaled back home, she felt a sense of accomplishment and relief. She had earned another $50 in tips and had made a difference in the lives of her customers. Soon she'd get a cell phone.
When she returned home, James was waiting for her in the living room. "Hey, kiddo! I saw you struggling with those bags earlier. I want to help you out," he said, his eyes twinkling with kindness.
James led Selena to the small backyard, where two large, sturdy carts were waiting and a trailer cart. "I want you to have these two big carts. They'll make it easier for you to deliver your laundry and help you grow your business, the trailer will be handy for going to the grocery and big deliveries." he said, his voice filled with encouragement.
Selena's eyes widened in surprise and gratitude. "Thank you, James! This means so much to me," she said, hugging him tightly. If she could move everything easier she could take on more clients. Selena was stoked.
James's eyes misted over as Selena hugged him tightly, his voice wavering with emotion as he spoke. He had grown accustomed to Selena's distance, her anger and resentment towards him for being a poor and disabled partner to her mother. But in this moment, he saw a glimmer of hope. "No problem kiddo. Anything for you."
As he patted Selena's back, James felt a surge of pride and love for this young woman who had once been an angry and confused child. He remembered the countless times he left, the years he had been away, serving his country in Iraq, and the sacrifices he had made for his family and Country only to be abandoned years later and receiving a small disability cheque from the government.
James's mind flashed back to the day he lost his limb in 2001, the pain and trauma he had endured, and the long and difficult road to recovery. They had been gone a lot after he got with Molly, and he knew that Selena had felt abandoned and hurt by his absence.
But in this moment, James saw that Selena had finally begun to drift back to him, to see him not just as a poor and disabled man, but as a complex and multifaceted individual who had made sacrifices for his country and his family. Although he wasn't her father, he had always thought of her as his kid. Had she warmed up to him?
As Selena pulled back and looked up at him, James smiled and said, "You don't know how much I'm proud of you." His voice was filled with emotion, and she could see the tears welling up in James' eyes as she smiled back at him.