Not Worth $.40

I had found the perfect summer work-study position working with the elderly. As an returning adult student I had my choice of positions, but this one was close to home and would give me some valuable experience. I should have smelled the rat however when the boss had no time to meet me. I explained that I had been instructed to be sure the conditions of my employment were clear to the boss, as once the internship started there would be no possibility to find another position. I was assured she had done this before, was too busy to be bothered with me, but she had read a nd signed the university's agreement.

The two main rules of the internship were:

The work had to be pertinent to my degree and,
They must pay $.40 of my salary.

My first day at work I got a note from the boss telling me to clean the book closet. Since I was a senior in counseling, not maintenance, I demanded to have a moment of the boss's time. She was ticked when I entered, so I calmly explained the terms of my employment.

She leap from her chair screaming, "40 cents? I can not afford 40 cents! YOU ARE FIRED!"

So much for reading and understanding the agreement.

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