Summary--The First Job

In the story "The first Job," Esperanza felt she needed a job. She needed money to pay for her Catholic high school because it costs a lot of money. Esperanza thought she would find a simple job, one that wouldn't take a lot of work. She was looking for a job that most kids her age had. "I thought I'd find an easy job, the kind other kids had, working in the dime store or maybe a hot dog stand," said Esperanza. Esperanza's aunt found her a job at the Peter Pan Photo Finishers.

The first day on the Job, Esperanza had the need to look older. She put on a on a navy blue dress. Esperanza wanted to try and impress the  people at work because she was so young. "And borrowed money for lunch and bus fare" By having her own money, people wouldn't think of her as a child, although she is.

The first day on the job,  Esperanza was so afraid, she forgot to be confident in herself. She lacked her worth because she was afraid. She was afraid to ask questions. When she was unsure of something, she followed the crowd, rather than be sure of herself, and ask. She said, "when lunchtime came, I was scared to eat alone in the company lunchroom with all those men and ladies looking, so I ate real fast standing in one of the washroom stalls." Esperanza didn't know what to do at that situation, so she did what she thought was ok.

Esperanza tried as hard as she could not to stand out and have too much attention on her. She didn't want people to have their eyes on a child. But, that didn't stop other people from coming towards her. An older man came to her and immediately they started to connect. Suddenly, she didn't feel apprehensive anymore. Though, as time went on, the man completely  took advantage of poor Esperanza. He said to her it was his birthday and that he deserved a kiss. Esperanza thought she should kiss him, so just as she went for a kiss, he grabs her face and kissed her very hard. The man didn't let go.

 Esperanza was too young to understand that she shouldn't let anyone take advantage of her the way that man did. It was the first day on the job, so Esperanza needed someone to shake away her nerves. She didn't know it would be a man who doesn't really care for her.

-*Sidney Merine*