London 21/01/1990 Sunday
The woman never turned up, from the babysitting job, so I phoned her up to find out why. She said she could only pay £30 a week, and I just laughed at her face. Erm, 9 hours a day, Monday to Friday for £30! I nearly told her to f off. She clearly doesn’t want me to do the job.
Today I went shopping with my mum and, on the way back, I saw a sign on a shop nearby, looking for people. The shop was open (it’s only five minutes away), I told my mum I was going there and for her to go home, and off I went to talk to the owner.
I said I never had a job before in my life but that I learn fast. He said he would give me ‘heavy’ work and would increase my wages as I learned things. He said he’d pay me £1.80 an hour, a joke, but I took the job on the spot. First because it’s nearby, second because I’m desperate to get a job and third because I’ll get more eventually. I started there and then, one hour breaking cardboard boxes, and then cleaning the window. He told me to go back tomorrow at 9, I forgot his name… He’s ½ Italian, ½ English. I kinda liked him. I’m yet another Brazilian being exploited in London, just like my father said. He did say he wasn’t sure he’d hire me. I hope he does, I have lost count of how many jobs I’ve looked for.