***
The office of Special Security was near the terminal stop of the bus line. Vasya grew up in similar neighbourhoods and got even more accustomed to them during his odd jobs, but any other person, a regular office worker would instantly want to leave that post-nuclear area right away. The shadow of the Cement Plant dominated the area, with a few more smaller Soviet-era office buildings and small coal-fired boiler house. There was a small block of ugly panel apartment buildings in the distance. Special Security was in one of the non-descript grey office buildings with a door sign that read: “State Research Institute of Forestry, Fisheries and Agriculture”, - Vasya didn’t even know there was such in town. Rent was likely very affordable here.
“Well, glad you made it”, said the Director, “we need men like you in Security”. Vasya could easily understand what he meant. He easily stood out in the crowd, a head taller and at least twenty, forty kilos heavier than the average man. Vasya handed him the resume he printed out hastily in the last moment.
“I see”, said the Director. “A future electrician. We need that too. Know security systems?” “A little”, said Vasya. He remembered they had a class on it, but didn’t quite remember the details.
“Any jail time, convictions, investigations?” asked the Director. “What? No… of course no”, said Vasya. He was lucky in that regard, some other classmates were still locked up in the penal colony. Some naturally graduated from the juvenile camp right to the adult one.
“So what’s the work like?” asked Vasya. “Well, you know, security… But not that low-pay warehouse or retail security”, said the Director, “we provide people to gold mines, to banks and financial firms. Even personal bodyguards sometimes. In other words, we need responsible people”. “I see”, said Vasya. The office didn’t seem to support the claim.
“Are you married?” asked the Director. “Single”, said Vasya, “Mom keeps nagging though”, he added. “Oh, I see, so, you live with the parents?” asked the Director. “Yeah, I still do”, said Vasya, “is that a problem?” “No, no, of course not”, replied the Director, “well, I have got your details, your contact info, and will get back to you next week, say, Tuesday”. “OK, let me know”, said Vasya and looked at his watch. He could still make it to the class. The evening wasn’t completely wasted.
After the class, he dropped by the 24-hour store and luckily Sayeed was there, dozing in the corner, on the same folding chair. “Still nothing about Dima?” he asked. “No, not yet”, said Vasya, “look, have you heard of this company?” “Hmm, yeah, think some of our guys applied with them”, laughed Sayeed, “but why? Stick with your path, man, electrician is a way better job than this”. “You know anyone who works there?” asked Vasya. “No, I think only one or two applied from us, in secret from the Boss obviously”, said Sayeed, “he doesn’t like moonlighters”. “And they got rejected?” - “Yeah, they found something in their urine, drugs, maybe alcohol”, said Sayeed, “I don’t think that’s the reason though, just a pretext”. “You never thought of applying? Sounds like better pay…” said Vasya. “No, am a family man”, said Sayeed, “why do I need this “special security”, dangerous shit, regular security is enough trouble already”. “I see”, said Vasya.
He got home late as always, Mom was still waiting in the kitchen, reading a detective story, and then started warming up the dinner when he came in. It had been the same routine for the last couple of years or longer, ever since he started working and studying part-time. “Vasya, can I ask you something?” she said. “C’mon, you’re already asking me something”, replied Vasya sipping his tea while the food was being warmed up. “Are you seeing anyone? Do you have a girlfriend?” asked Mom. “Oh crap, not again”, said Vasya, rapidly losing his appetite. “But you’ve got to start a family sometime” said Mom in a begging voice he hated, “am getting old, I don’t want to die without seeing my grandchildren… And you, Vasya, do you want to end up old and alone?” “Wait, you’re killing my appetite”, said Vasya. “OK, eat now”, said Mom, resigned.
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