Penelope missed her job interview to save an elderly man collapsing on a crowded London street! But when she stepped into the office, she nearly fainted at what she saw
Penelope opened her purse, counting the few crumpled banknotes inside, and let out a weary sigh. Money was running dangerously low, and finding decent work in London had proven harder than she ever imagined. She mentally tallied her groceries, trying to steady her racing heart. The freezer held a packet of chicken thighs and some frozen burgers. The cupboard had rice, pasta, and a box of tea bags. For now, she could manage with just a pint of milk and a loaf from the corner shop.
“Mum, where are you going?” Little Emily dashed from her room, her big hazel eyes searching Penelopes face with worry.
“Dont fret, love,” Penelope said, forcing a smile to mask her nerves. “Mums just off to find a job. But guess what? Aunt Sophie and her lad Archie are coming round to keep you company.”
“Archies coming?” Emilys face lit up, her hands clapping with excitement. “Will they bring Whiskers?”
Whiskers was Sophies tabby cata fluffy ball of affection Emily adored. Sophie, their neighbour, had offered to look after Emily while Penelope attended a job interview in the city centre at a food distribution company. Getting to the office in London meant a long journeymore time spent on buses and tubes than the interview itself would take.
It had been over two months since Penelope and Emily moved to the capital. Penelope cursed her impulsive decisionuprooting their lives, burning through most of her savings on rent and groceries, all on a gamble for quick employment. But Londons job market was ruthless. Despite her two degrees and relentless drive, finding steady work felt like chasing a mirage. Back in her hometown of Winchester, her mum, Margaret, and younger sister, Alice, relied on her as the familys rock. They werent exactly the best at managing without her.
“Whiskers is staying home, love,” Penelope said gently. “Doesnt much fancy the trip. But well visit Aunt Sophies soon, and you can cuddle him all you like.”
“I want a cat too!” Emily pouted, crossing her arms.
Penelope shook her head with a quiet laugh. Emily always got this way around pets. Back in Winchester, at Nana Margarets house, theyd left behind Midnight, their sleek black cat, and a yappy little terrier named Biscuit. Emily played with them every visit and missed them terribly now.
“Love, were renting this flat,” Penelope explained. “The landlord wont allow pets.”
“Not even a goldfish?” Emily raised her eyebrows in shock.
“Not even a goldfish.”
Right now, pets were the least of Penelopes worries. Her mind was fixed on one thing: getting a job. Her last savings were dwindling, and each day brought a fresh wave of dread. At least shed paid six months rent upfrontthough it left her nearly penniless.
The doorbell chimed, pulling Penelope from her thoughts. Sophie and her five-year-old, Archie, stood at the door. As usual, Sophie carried a Tupperware of homemade chocolate biscuits and a slice of her mums famous lemon drizzle cake. Like Penelope, Sophie was a single mum, though she lived with her parents in a cramped flat nearby. Saving for her own place in London was like waiting to win the lottery.
