MEAN COLD AND CHEAP

 After leaving my last job in NJ. I called the agency that I signed up with and decided to quit. At least they understood my position and we left on great terms. I decided to find a job on my own. I searched for jobs with things I knew I did not want instead of things I wanted because of my past experiences but everything was either paying really low or asking to take Sunday and Monday as my weekend. I saw an ad in a local community newspaper and called the number. I was called back for an interview. We spoke briefly on the phone about my experiences and I was advised that this job was a live out position. We set up a day and time to meet. I went to the home which was a quick train ride away and a maybe 5 to 8 minute walk. I arrived and was greeted by a normal looking woman nothing strange or unusual about her. I walked in but noticed she kept the house very dark, dark enough where you needed to put light on if you wanted to read, even though it was bright and sunny outside. We sat down at the kitchen table and we talked about my work experiences not so much about my personal life the only question she asked me concerning my personal life was my education. I thought that was a little odd since I did not understand how education would fit into cleaning. I answered all her questions she even took me to the room her mother slept in and her mother and I even spoke briefly. So all in all everything went well. I went home feeling great about the job. I waited by the phone for the call to say I got the job but nothing. 2 weeks went by and I decided to give her a call just to find out that she hired someone else. Ugh back to the drawing board. Now 3 weeks has gone by since my interview and I was still looking. One day I get a phone call from the woman I had an interview with for the housekeeping job in Brooklyn, she asked if I was still interested in the position I gladly said yes and started the job the following Monday. I arrived on time and once again greeted by her. I walked in and again still gloomy and dark. She went over her instructions for me concerning the care of the home but this time she requested me to make breakfast and lunch for her mother. (here we go again) I obliged and went to work. Her mother was not to much trouble the only thing that bothered me was she would constantly ask for me to sit down with her when I brought her meals. She would tell me stories about her life and show me her stacks and stacks and stacks of non winning lottery tickets. Not the scratch of ones but the ones you pick number for. Everyday it got worse and worse for me with my time for cleaning cause I would have to try to accommodate this elderly woman and try to perform my duties. I have been working on this job for over a month now until one morning I arrived  to work and was told that the leaves from the trees were building up and fallen branches and twigs were laying around and she did not like how it looked every time she came home. I just stood there waiting for her to finish what she had to say but mostly I stood there in shock. She walked away and continued her morning rituals. I was....  believe it or not in shock. I said nothing to her as she left for work and I continued on my daily tasks making meals for her mother, keeping her company and trying to clean this 3 bed 2 bath house. The day came to an end and my employer came back home with a stern look on her face as she opened the door. She came over to me and asked why did I not clean up the yard. I told her that I clean the inside of a house not the outside. Her reply to me was the outside is part of her house and I am to clean it up tomorrow. So I told her unfortunately I can no longer work for you. She said in a very nonchalant voice. "That's fine" I gathered my things and asked if I could say goodbye to her mother but she said very coldly "NO" I then asked her for my pay for the days that I did work. She looked at me like I farted and said "I will send it in the mail". I   again asked her for it cause I knew what that meant. She said very coldly again but with a little more base in her voice " I will send it in the mail".  I walked out the door and called the police they arrived and I explained the situation to them, they knocked on her door and she opened it and she explained  her side and told them she will send my pay in the mail. They even asked her to just pay me to avoid being sued but she refused asked if that's all and closed the door. The police advised me to take her to court because there was nothing more they could. I walked home fighting back tears. I waited a whole week but of course nothing came in the mail. I repeatedly called but with  no answer. I called another Aunt of mine in tears and told her what happened. She explained to me that scam has been going on for a while and sorry it happened to me. She then asked for the number of where I last worked and she called them pretending to be a lawyer and requested the money be sent to me or I would take her to court. Well that plan never worked cause I never received my money. I cried some long tears that week, angry that I was so afraid to fight for myself.  But at least I did not have to clean her huge front yard. Another lesson learned