Up early Saturday morning, I was ready to make life happen. In my new black jeans and white long sleeve shirt I hit the local newsagent. The summer heat made being dressed as I was hotter but I long since learned to cover up the tattoos of my past. I wasn't perfect and not necessarily ashamed of my past but I needed to move on and those daily reminders I preferred to keep hidden. With a newspaper purchased, I found a seat in a quiet cafe, bought a cheap coffee and began my search for any part-time jobs.

Prepared to do anything so long as I had cash coming in, I circled every part-time job advertised. I also looked for work near the student accommodations. There were few jobs advertised, and it was worth my time to scout the area.

By lunchtime, I left my name with several cafes but none were hiring. But I was undeterred. I stopped for a cheeseburger for lunch and called Lee. I dialled his number, and the call went straight to voice mail. It was the first time to happen. In all the times I had called Lee he had always answered my calls.

"Hey Lee, it's Cody. Call me when you get this message."

I tucked my phone away and hit the streets again. With no luck that morning I arrived at China Town, stood at the gates between the massive ornate dragons adorning the entrance and thought why not? With experience in three languages I figured why not and what better chance to practice than with working among people who spoke those languages? The first place I entered was a large elegant restaurant catering a hundred people. Staff worked the tables and the fragrant aroma of spiced food filled the room. Towards the rear of the restaurant and an elderly gentleman worked behind a small bamboo decorated bar. Experience told me he'd be the best one to speak to given his age and as I approached an opportunity presented itself to me. Able to understand the gentlemen's murmured complaints in Korean about staff not turning up to work, I stepped forward and introduced myself.

In Korean, I explained I was a university student looking for part work and would he employee me.

His face appeared comical when he observed a six foot two white boy speaking to him in his language.

"How is it you speak fluent Korean?" He asked.

"A friend taught me."

"What is his name?"

"Woo-Jin Lee."

"Mmm, not from here."

"No, interstate. I'm here to study at the university."

"What are you studying?"

"A teaching degree in languages."

"Korean."

"No Japanese. But I speak Korean and Mandarin."

"Mandarin too. You want a job. When do you want to start and what days are you available?"

That moment I wondered did I deserve the luck I was receiving. But I would deny none of the opportunities that came my way.

"I can start work straight away, my courses don't start until next year. I'm willing to work all the hours you can give me until then."

"Mmm. Can you start tonight five pm."

"Yes. I can."

"Excellent. I will give you paper to fill out. Bring back tonight then you start. Work ‘til eleven tonight and tomorrow twelve to ten in evening. Fine."

"Yes, definitely fine."

The gentleman walk out from the behind the bar and entered the employees door. I remain where I stood; the surrounding bustle gave me an anticipation I had not enjoyed in a long time. I couldn't remember the last time I had been as happy.

The gentleman returned and handed me an application for work.

"My name is Shin. You see me later when you return. What you wear now is good."

"Thank you, thank you, kamsamnida."

I left the restaurant in a daze and wasted no time returning home to fill out my application. Nowhere on the application did it ask for past criminal records unless you counted other relevant information at the bottom. Instead, I left out that part of my life. I doubted it would come up but if it did, I would deal with it then.

I retrieved my phone from my pocket and realised I had not heard from Lee. This would be the around the time uncertainly appeared and progressively grows into trepidation. When it’s easy to make up excuses when no answers are found. When the call diverted to the message service, I left a message, convinced Lee’s phone was flat. A quick check of my emails on my phone showed no new mail and so I sent another to Lee.

Lee.

Tried calling twice, no go on phone. Email if you can. Got a part time job in Korean restaurant. Can't believe how well things are going. Call me when you can.

Cody.

At four thirty, I returned to the restaurant, conveniently named Korea. I found Shin and gave him the application, which he gave the once over before placing it on the top of the cabinet by the kitchen door.

"I forgot to give you this. It's for your bank account details."

I took the paper, folding it and placed it in my back pocket. "I'll return it tomorrow to you."

"You never asked about hourly rate, its sixteen dollars. Fine."

Sixteen dollars was slave labour. At the factory I earned twenty-five dollars an hour.

"Fine." I tell him, it would do for now.

Shin indicated to follow him to the kitchen. Not introduced to the four men working, they worked feverously over the hot plates as we passed. Shin pointed out the small corner with a table and several chairs where breaks were taken and the restroom out back.

Shin handed me an apron, and said, "You clean tables tonight."

I nodded and followed Shin out. For the first hour I worked with a small Korean girl named Kelly. Full of questions I wasn’t interested in answering, I instead directed the questions back to her. Kelly was more than happy to tell me about her family and life. Any work needed doing that first night, I did. My efforts did not go unnoticed.

At the end of the evening when the restaurant closed its door, the tables and chairs were cleaned and the floors mopped. It was then I met the rest of the staff. They were kind and curious about me but I didn’t share too much about my life with them. That night I learned Shin never employed outside the family but he had made the exception in my case. To this day, I don’t know why Shin took me on but the impact Shin had on my life I would never forget.

On my way home that night I couldn't help but think about Lee. He had still not contacted me and the emotions I had been trying to ignore were beginning to strangle me.