The next day he arrives at work excited for the new adventure, even though there was a pit forming in his stomach at the thought of working for Milo. His father hated Milo but supported him because he didn't want Sara and Salvador losing their jobs.

“Ah good, you pitched,” Milo said unusually cheerfully. “Sara, bring Luca a branded t-shirt and cap. We will get you sorted with a name tag by tomorrow.”

“Yes sir,” she disappeared into the storeroom behind the shop and after a few seconds came with a folded t-shirt and cap in her hands and presented it to him.

“Thanks Sara,” he said with a smile. She just nodded quickly and returned to work.

“Salvador will show you what to do, there are no breaks, no phones and lunch is to be eaten in 5 minutes. You leave at 7 pm and you all me sir. Understood?”

Gritting his teeth at the thought of the long hours he said “Yes sir,” and followed Salvador when he beckoned him.

“Alright, so this is where the canned foods are stored, I know you know the store but will show you everything just in case.”

He showed him around the store, where the mops and brooms were stored and where to go for lunch as Milo did not like it when they were in store when they were eating. Afterwards he set to work sweeping the floor before Sara mopped it while Salvador was busy helping customers.

Salvador finished helping the customers and was called to the back by Milo, and Luca could hear Milo yelling at him about something he misplaced. There was an argument and the suddenly a loud slap.

“Don’t you ever talk back to me or you will walk out of here without a job!” Milo exited the backroom first followed by Salvador after a while. He was holding a cloth to his lip and Luca could see red fingerprints on his cheek.

“Did you finish sweeping, Luca? I can use your help in the storeroom quickly if you don’t mind.”

Salvador asked. Following him, Luca could not keep his eyes of his split lip and Salvador noticed.

“Oh don’t worry about it, it happens once in a while. Nothing I can’t handle.”

They lifted fruit from the bottom shelf and moved it to the top shelf. As they were finishing, Sara came into the store and asked Salvador to cover for her as she was just running to the bathroom, seemingly unscathed by the fact that he was just assaulted by the boss. Salvador and Luca entered the shop as two customers entered as well and they quickly went to assist him.

A skinny, frail lady with a cane asked Luca if he could help her.

“I need some tomato sauce and beans. Please.”

“Okay, ma’am wait here, I will quickly run and grab them for you.” He gathered the products and put them on the till. “Here you go, it will be e$3.”

“Thank you dear, and she passed him a e$1 note.” He thanked her and put it in his pocket.

As soon as she was out of the door, he could hear Milo clearing his throat behind him and holding out his hand. He reluctantly dug in his pocket and placed the noted in Milo’s large dirty hand.

An alarm went off, signaling to them that the working day was finished, and waited for Salvador and Sara to see what to do now. They stood and waited while Milo counted the money and made sure it amounted to the correct amount. Then, he counted out 3 e$5 notes and gave them each one, and went back to typing on his computer. Ana and Salvador said a “Thank you sir,” in unison and left the store. “Thank you, sir,” Luca repeated after them and followed them.

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Ana stayed three factory blocks from the grocery and Salvador stayed in the same one as Luca, but Salvador walked home with Ana every night.

“Where do you stay, Luca?” Salvador asked. “Need me to take you home?”

“No, I'm staying in this one right here.” And he pointed to the tall apartment building behind him.

“Oh, cool! Same as me, we'll see you tomorrow!”

Luca waved at the duo and climbed into the lift to his apartment.

Entering the apartment, he saw his mother and sister asleep on the couch. He placed the e$5 on the counter and went to bed, falling asleep almost immediately. He woke up through the night with tears on his face after dreaming about saying goodbye to his father without realizing he will never see him again, but as soon as he turns around to walk away sees the future but is too slow to reach him, sending waves of sadness over him.

—-------

It's been three weeks since Luca started at the new store and he has received his fair share of write-ups and scolding sessions. But they never seem to go anywhere and even though Salvador must have over a hundred write-ups by now, Milo seems to be just using it as a tool to instill fear amongst his employees and never actually firing them.

His latest write-up was when he dragged the mop behind him when walking from one aisle to the next, because it was ‘sloppy’ and ‘unprofessional’. Every night he went to bed extremely tired and he could feel his body aching from lifting and carrying the heavy boxes. He hoped it would get easier with time.

One day, Luca was busy unpacking beans onto the racks. Milo was in his usual mood, and Luca dropped the tin of beans in front of a customer. This made Milo explode with anger. He immediately ordered Luca to the back of the store.

“Is it difficult to pack a can of beans onto a rack?! Do you not focus when you are doing the job?”

Luca avoided eye contact and just shuffled his feet. “Sorry sir, it was an accident.”

“Look at me when I am talking to you, child! That is going off your paycheck, maybe that will teach you to focus on the job.”

That night he cried when he got home, give his mother the only e$3 he received. “I’m sorry Mom.” He said through sobs. “I didn’t mean to drop the can, it slipped, I swear.”

She held him close to chest, “Hush my son, it's alright, we knew this was going to happen remember? He is the asshole, not you.” He nodded slowly and went went to his room where he cried until late at night feeling hopeless.

—----

Preparing himself for another day of physical and mental exhaustion, he gave himself a speech in the mirror. “You are not doing this for you. You are doing it for your mother and your sister. Your dad is dead and it is YOUR job to look after them. Man up Luca!” He splashes water into his and wiped it off with a towel. This has become his morning routine to force himself into the right mindset to deal with Milo and his mood swings.

He entered the store with the usual ping from the clock on the door and saw Milo motion for him to come to him.

“Come here child.” Child. He hated that word and the way Milo said it. ``There are tin cans of beans missing and Sara said you took it.” He looked at her but she was looking at her feet. Customers entered the store.

“Come with me.” They walked to the back of the store and into the storeroom. “Did you take it?”

“No sir. I just packed them a week ago and they were all in the box sir.” Instantly he felt a searing pain shoot through his jaw to his head and fell to the ground.

“Don’t lie to me little boy, did you take the beans?”

“No sir I promise!” Milo kicked him in his ribs, just enough to leave a nasty bruise.

“If you ever do it again, I will kill you, do you understand, child?!”

He was crying, tears mixing with blood as it ran down his mouth. He bit deep into his lip and blood filled his mouth.

“I didn’t do it sir!” Milo grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet and hit him again.

“Stop lying to me!” As he raised his arm to hit him again Luca, terrified, screamed, “I’m sorry, I did do it, I’m sorry sir, please don’t hit me again!”

Satisfied with his answer, Milo pushed him back to the ground and left him on the cold tiles.

Luca sobbed, Dad please come back, I can’t do this without you.

After work as he went to enter his lift, he felt a hand wrapping around his arm and spun around. “Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.” It was Sara. “I swear I never said anything about you stealing a tin of beans.”

Luca looked at her and then pulled his arm out of her hand.

He walked into the lift and faced her, tired from the day's traumatic experiences. “I know.”