Welfare sucks.
This is basically how it all started when I was just 18 years old and my baby was just barely 6 month old.
Welfare was making my life hell because I had worked a few nights a week as a waitress and not declared what I had made. They held up and then also screwed with my cheque, which got me in deep trouble with my landlord for being behind on the rent for this one-bedroom apartment in his basement. My baby was an angel and I was a very quiet tenant so it was strictly a money problem with my landlord.
The feisty old landlord was somewhat understanding at first and said that he understood why I was one month behind but later when he found out that I had earned a little money on the side he wanted his share. What I really earned was about $70 a week and with my reduced welfare it somehow came to less than I was making before. It seemed like the world was against me and there was no point in working. He gave me until the end of the week to come up with something or he said I would have to leave. Needless to say I was in shock, I had nobody to turn to and I already knew that Welfare wouldn't help.
I gave him a day to cool down and then went upstairs to see him and hopefully come to some agreement. He lived alone upstairs and I think the old coot was in his early 70's.
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"Look Mr. Locke I really need a little time until I can get this mess cleared up with welfare, I'm willing to do things for you like cleaning up, doing laundry, anything. Please don't throw me and my baby out on the street, I honestly have nowhere to go." I told him.
"Well Annie you have been a good and quiet tenant, but I could use the money. I only have a small government pension myself plus a company pension." He said.
"I'm sure there must be something I can do. Anything at all, Mr. Locke. Anything! Just until I get things straight." I said and tried a cute smile.
"I'm a little old for THAT young lady, I don't even know if I could get it up, if that's what you are thinking." He said crustily.
"Well I wasn't really thinking THAT, but if you wanted THAT and IF it would change things, then I would." I told him and he seemed to look at me a little differently, there was maybe a hint of a smile.
"You would Annie?" He said.
"Yes, Mr. Locke, I would, that's how desperate I am." I replied.
"Well I must admit Annie, I've seen you in the backyard sunbathing and you do have a mighty fine figure. But as I say, it's been so long, almost 12 years since Betty died that I probably can't anyway." He said as he gave me a sad look.
"I'll try if you want." I told him, hoping that it would buy me more time.
He looked me up and down for several minutes and seemed lost for words, I thought that I had already blown my chances of getting a negotiated settlement, but then he smiled and looked at me again.
"What time do you put the baby to bed Annie?" He asked and I told him about 8 o'clock for the night, but she doesn't sleep through normally.
"Well Annie, come on back upstairs about 8:30 tonight and we will see what happens, but don't expect no five minute job it may take hours. Leave the doors open downstairs so you can hear her if she cries. Oh, just make sure you draw the curtains and lock the front and back doors up here also." He said.
"Thank you Mr. Locke."