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Barbera paused for a moment, then she stressed,"You know this is for the Midnight Shift, don't you?" I assured her,"I don't see any problem with staying awake all night." Barbera consented,"Okay? I can start you off at three-thirty-five an hour. After thirty days, if you're still here, you'll get a twenty cent an hour increase. Because you're on the Midnight Shift." I interjected,"The Midnight Differential?" She added, "Something like that." I assured her again,"No problem."

"Fine," said Barbera. "Then you'll start tomorrow night at seven PM for Orientation. You'll get your uniform and your schedule for next week." "Okay, I'll see you then." Barbera was sliding sideways so she could stand-up from the table. "No, you'll see Judy. She's the Four-to-One Manager." Barbera stood and turned and walked toward the Office door before I had a chance to stand. She must have had something else on her mind.

The same time I would accept McNormal's minimum wage with appreciation, a local factory was on strike trying to get three times minimum wage plus benefits. I was living with minimum food, taking handouts and the factory workers were thumbing their noses at eleven dollars and hour. Something unjust was happening, but I couldn't argue. Depression will limit your alternatives.

While leaving the store and walking toward my car, I had a nagging feeling I was forgetting something. Like there was something missing. I was having brief second thoughts about retrenching my self esteem and taking a mimimum wage Grill Person's job on a Midnight Shift at the local McNormal's Family Restaurant. The severe back strain suffered at my last job prevented me from any employment that required lifting or factory work. Because of my poor living condition, other employers were shying away from hiring me. McNormal's would have to do for the time being, while looking for other employment. I swallowed hard as I sat in the car and started the engine. I wondered where this could possibly lead.